How to fix "Error during initialization" error in Don't Starve and other Steam games

 

Despite the fact that Don't Starve was released almost ten years ago, some players may experience various errors. One of the most common is "Error during initialization". In this article, we will tell you what needs to be done to solve this problem.

There are several sections in our guide, each of which can fix the error. Follow each step in the instructions one by one. First of all, we recommend checking that all installed drivers are present. As programs that automatically download components, you can use Snappy Driver Installer or DriverPack Solution. You should especially pay attention to the drivers for video cards AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel HD Graphics.

Installing Intel HD Graphics

For some users, the problem occurred in the absence of a driver for Intel HD Graphics. In this case, do the following:

1. Go to the manufacturer's official website at the link.
2. Use the "Get Started" button and on the page that opens, use "Download Now" to download the Intel Driver & Support Assistant. With it, you can automatically install all drivers from Intel.
3. Alternatively, you can go to the "Graphics" section and find your graphics adapter in the list. Use the filter on the left side of the page, and download and install the appropriate components for your device.

Installing and updating VCRedist and DXRedist from the game folder

After checking all the drivers, you need to start downloading VCRedist and DXRedist. Use the instructions below to install or reinstall missing components:

1. Open the Steam client and go to the "Properties" of the game.
2. Click on the Local Files section and click on Browse to open the game folder.
3. Go to the "VCRedist" directory and run the file "vcredist_x86" or "vcredist_x64", depending on the current operating system bitness. Example path: "C:/Program Files/Steam/steamapps/common/dont_starve/VCRedist" .
4. Install the components.
5. Go to the "DXRedist" folder and run the "DXSETUP" file. Example path: "C:/Program/Files/Steam steamapps/common/dont_starve/DXRedist" .
6. Install the components.

Installing and updating VCRedist and DXRedist from the Microsoft website

If there are no suitable files in the directories from points "3" and "4", you will have to download the installation programs yourself from the Microsoft website. Do the following:

1. Follow the link to the DirectX End-User Executable Libraries Web Installer page and select Download.
2. Follow the link to the DirectX End-User Runtime page and click Download.
3. Follow the link to the Visual C++ Redistributable Packages for Visual Studio 2013 page and click the Download button. Select the appropriate package and use "Next" to download. You can download all three files one by one.
4. After downloading all the files from points "1,2 and 3", run each of them in turn and install. When opening "directx_Jun2010_redist" you will have to specify a folder for downloading files. It is recommended to create a new directory in any free space and place the files in it. After that, you need to run the "DXSETUP" file and install the components.
5. Try launching the game right away.
6. If the error reappears, restart your computer and re-enter the game.

Both files - "directx_Jun2010_redist" and "dxwebsetup" will install the DirectX components, however, we recommend that you run both programs in turn.

How to fix the error with DXFix

The " Error during initialization" error can also be related to a conflict in DirectX versions and its incorrect operation, so you can install the DirectX dependency remover - DXFix.

Follow the link to automatically download the hotfix. Please note that the program modifies system files, so if errors appear, disable your antivirus. After launching the application, all corrections will be made automatically. Try opening the game right away. If errors occur, restart your device and reopen Don't Starve.

Be careful when installing files from unknown sources. The link to DXFix is ​​from the official OBS (Open Broadcaster Software) forum. Many users got rid of the error in this way.

Disabling third-party software

Some users have reported that third-party software can break Steam games. Before starting Don't Starve, it is recommended to turn off any applications that are not related to the project, such as MSI Afterburner. Also, problems may arise with the Duet Display program - it will have to be removed before launching Steam.

Error with built-in video card

There is another reason for the error to appear, which is associated with a weak built-in video card. The game will not launch if the hardware you are using has less than 256 MB of VRAM. Most often, such hardware can be present in laptops and weak PCs.

The problem occurs when the OS does not work properly, which uses the built-in video card as a priority. In this case, you will have to switch the operation of the device to discrete. 

Installing Windows Updates

In rare cases, the problem is related to the lack of recent updates in Windows 10. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the "Start" icon and click on the gear to go to "Settings".
2. Open the "Update and security" section.
3. Use the Check for Updates button.
4. If the system detects missing components, then install the available updates.
5. Restart your computer to apply the changes and launch the game.

Please note that if some components and functions of the OS were previously manually disabled, for example, 3D hardware acceleration and so on, then it is necessary to return the system to its previous state.

Cache Integrity Check

The most common offer on all forums, which can sometimes help players out. Follow the steps below:

1. Open Steam and find Don't Starve in the list of games.
2. Right-click on the project name and go to "Properties".
3. Click on the "Local Files" section.
4. Use the "Verify Integrity of Game Files" button.
5. After the verification is complete, launch the game.