Fix Borderlands 2 Keep Crashing At Startup On Pc

Borderlands 2 is a 2012 first-person shooter video game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K Games. The game is highly rated on Steam, and players love the graphics & gameplay very much. However, the Borderlands 2 title is also prone to multiple bugs and errors that players are experiencing, such as the crashing issue at startup on the PC. It’s frustrating.

Now, if you’re also one of the victims of such an issue on your computer quite often or even consistently, then don’t worry because this is a common issue among PC games. This issue can be fixed manually without wasting further for the developers to come up with patch fixes. In most cases, the chances are high that the startup crashing or the game not launching issue is appearing due to some conflicts at your end and not the dev’s fault.

Why Does Borderlands 2 Keep Crashing?

Your PC doesn’t meet the minimum requirements of the game.
Some game files are missing or corrupted.
Your PC/Laptop may have an outdated GPU driver.
Your Windows OS or the game version is maybe outdated.
Maybe the DirectX version is outdated.
Any of the overlay apps are running in the background.
Windows Firewall or Antivirus program is blocking the game.

Fix: Borderlands 2 Keep Crashing at Startup on PC

Fortunately, we’ve shared a couple of possible workarounds that should help a lot. Ensure to follow all the troubleshooting methods one by one until the problem gets fixed for you. Some affected players do acknowledge that a minor workaround can also come in handy. So, don’t skip any method, even if it’s a basic one. Now, without further ado, let’s jump into it.

1. Check System Requirements

First, you should check if your PC configuration is compatible enough or meets the system requirements of the Borderlands 2 game or not. Sometimes incompatible hardware and software specifications can eventually trigger plenty of issues. Well, the startup crashing issue is one of them. Here we’ve shared both the minimum and recommended system requirements for you. Let’s check it out.

Minimum Requirements:

22. Update Borderlands 2

Even an outdated game patch version can trigger several potential issues on the gaming device that leads to the crashing issue, lags, stutters, and more. It’s recommended to check for the game update periodically and install the latest update whenever available. You can follow the steps below to do the same.

OS: Windows XP SP3
Processor: 2.4 GHz Dual Core Processor
Memory: 2 GB(XP)/ 2 GB(Vista)
Hard Disk Space: 13 GB free
Video Memory: 256 MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 /ATI Radeon HD 2600
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible
OS: Windows XP SP3/Vista/Win 7
Processor: 2.3 GHz Quad Core processor
Memory: 2 GB
Hard Disk Space: 20 GB free
Video Memory: 512MB
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 / ATI Radeon HD 5850
Sound: DirectX 9.0c Compatible

2. Disable fullscreen optimizations

It seems that disabling the fullscreen optimization option did work for some users. To do so:

Open the Steam launcher > Click on Library.
Right-click on Borderlands 2 > Click on Manage.
Select Browse local files > Go to Borderlands 2 installed location.
Now, right-click on Borderlands 2.exe > Select Properties.
Click on the Compatibility tab > Tickmark Disable fullscreen optimizations to enable it.
Once done, click on Apply and then OK to save changes.

3. Run the Game File as an Administrator

It’s also recommended to always run the game executable file as administrator access on the Windows PC so the User Account Control (UAC) can allow all the access properly. Sometimes the system may think you’re trying to run the game without authorizing it. This is a one-time process for each game. Make sure to follow the steps below to do so:

Right-click on the Borderlands 2 exe shortcut file on your PC.
Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.
Now, you can just double-click on the game exe file to launch it.

Once done, you can also do the same steps for your specific game launcher (E.g., Steam Launcher) used to run the game. So, you’re giving the same UAC access to the game launcher too.

4. Download the GeForce Game Ready Driver

Nvidia has recently released an optimized and quite stable GPU driver for the Borderlands 2 title specifically. Yes! the driver has been officially optimized for Borderlands 2 and a couple of other games too. Therefore, it’s highly recommended to manually download and install the GeForce Game Ready Driver on the PC if you’re using an Nvidia graphics card.

5. Download the AMD Adrenalin Edition Driver

Well, AMD graphics card users are also facing the Borderlands 2 startup crashing issue that’s why the company has released a new Adrenalin Edition driver update for the users. This particular version is officially optimized for the Borderlands 2 title that can be installed on both Win10 and Win11. Affected AMD graphics users can simply visit this link to download and install the optimized driver version. Make sure to check the version.

6. Update Graphics Drivers

You should try checking for the graphics driver update on your Windows PC and installing the latest version to ensure no update is pending at your end. An outdated or missing graphics driver can trigger issues with properly functioning graphics-intensive programs. To do that:

Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
Click on Device Manager from the list to open the interface.
Now, you’ll need to double-click on Display adapters to expand it.
Then right-click on the dedicated graphics card name you’re using to bring the context menu.
Next, click on Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
The system will automatically check for the available update.
If an update is available, it’ll automatically download and install the latest version.
Once done, make sure to restart your PC to apply the changes.

If you cannot find any update, then make sure to head over to the official graphics card website and search manually for the latest update. If a new version is available, just download the file on your PC and install it. Whatever graphics card you use, jump to the link below as per the manufacturer.

Nvidia GPU
AMD GPU
Intel GPU

7. Update to Windows 10/11 64-bit (Version 1909)

Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Now, type winver and hit Enter to open the About Windows popup view.
Here you can easily see the currently running Windows OS version as well as the build version.

If in case, you’re running the outdated Windows OS version or build then make sure to follow the steps below.

Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
Click on Windows Update from the left pane > Check for updates.
If there is an update available, you should select Download and Install.
Wait for the update process to be completed.
Once done, reboot your PC to apply changes.

8. Check for Optional Updates

You should also check for the optional updates by following the steps below because some of the device driver updates and security patch updates may appear in a separate section.

Press Windows + I keys to open up the Windows Settings menu.
Click on Windows Update from the left pane > Click on Advanced Options.
Now, scroll down a bit and find the Additional options section.
Click on Optional updates > If there is an update available, make sure to select the update.
Click on Download & install > Reopen the system once the update is installed.

9. Switch to Dedicated GPU

You should also ensure that your using the dedicated GPU on your Windows computer instead of using the integrated HD graphics. To do so:

For Nvidia GPU:

Right-click on the desktop screen to open the context menu.
Now, click on Nvidia Control Panel to open it.
Head over to 3D Settings > Select Manage 3D Settings.
Open the Program Settings tab and choose Borderlands 2 from the drop-down menu.
Next, select the preferred graphics processor for this program from another drop-down menu.
Finally, your Nvidia GPU should show as High-Performance Nvidia Processor.
Save the changes and reboot the PC.

For AMD GPU:

Right-click on the desktop screen to open the context menu.
Now, open Radeon Settings > Navigate to Additional Settings.
Go to Preferences > Select Power > Choose Switchable Graphics Application Settings.
Select Borderlands 2 from the list of installed applications. [If the game isn’t in the list, you can select Add Application and include the game exe file]
Finally, select High Performance from the Graphics Settings, option > Reboot the PC.

10. Don’t Use DLSS (Try Using TAA or AMD FX)

Several affected Borderlands 2 PC players did mention the in-game graphics settings correction on multiple online forums. It seems that TAA or AMD FX for Anti-Aliasing turned out to be good instead of using the DLSS option. So, you can also try using TAA or AMD FX option.

Launch the Borderlands 2 game > Go to the in-game Graphics Settings menu.
Now, select Video Mode > Scroll down to the ‘Anti-Aliasing’ option.
Make sure to select ‘TAA and AMD FX’.
Once done, save changes, and restart the game to check for the issue again.

11. End Background Processes

The chances are high that somehow your system becomes laggy or gets overloaded by a lot of unnecessary background running tasks. These tasks basically consume system resources like CPU, Memory, or internet bandwidth which can seriously impact the game launching experience. If those tasks (third-party) aren’t necessary for you then try closing them completely by following the steps below.

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc shortcut keys on the keyboard to open Task Manager.
Click on the Processes tab > Make sure to select the task individually that you want to close.
Then click on End Task to close it.
As mentioned, do the same steps for each task you want to close.
Once done, close the Task Manager window, and restart your PC.

12. Verify and Repair Game Files

Sometimes missing or corrupted game files on the PC may occur some issues with the game application launching properly or start crashing. It doesn’t mean you’ll always get an error message or warning notice after crashing. A minor but useful game file may get corrupted or missing quite easily. Luckily, most game launchers have a useful feature to automatically verify and repair game files online. To do so:

Launch the Steam client > Click on Library.
Right-click on Borderlands 2 from the list of installed games.
Now, click on Properties > Go to Local Files.
Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
You’ll have to wait for the process until it gets completed.
Once done, just restart your computer.

13. Adjust Steam Overlay and SteamVR Options

Multiple Borderlands 2 PC players have also reported that they’re facing the crashing issue a lot along with an error message “Ego Dumper” after the crash. It’s most probably happening to the SteamVR users and we have a possible workaround to fix it. To fix it:

Open the Steam client on the PC > Click on Library.
Right-click on Borderlands 2 from the left pane > Select Properties.
Now, click on General > Make sure to Turn ON the ‘Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game’ option.
You should also Turn ON the ‘Use Desktop Game Theatre while SteamVR is active’ option.

14. Delete Temporary Files from System

It’s also recommended to manually delete all the stored temporary files from the system by following the steps below. Maybe a corrupted temporary file or dump is conflicting with the actual game to run properly.

Press the Windows+R keys to open the Run dialog box.
Now, type %temp% and hit Enter to open the Local Temporary folder under AppData. [C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local\Temp]
Here you’ll see a bunch of temporary data files listed > Just press the Ctrl+A keys to select all files.
Then press the Shift+Delete keys to permanently remove those temporary files.
Some temp files may not get deleted. So, just skip those files, and delete the rest of them.
Once done, you should restart the computer to apply changes.

15. Adjust Nvidia Control Panel Settings

As per the recommended Nvidia control panel settings, we’ve provided some adjustments that you should also try at your end if in case, the Borderlands 2 game is crashing a lot. This method is only applicable to Nvidia graphics card users.

Right-click on the desktop screen (blank) to open the context menu.
Now, select Nvidia Control Panel to open it > Select Manage 3D settings.
Click on Program Settings > Select Borderlands 2 from the list. [If not available, click on Browse and add it to the list]
Make sure to change or adjust some of the settings mentioned below:
Image sharpening – Off
Low latency mode – Off
Power Management – Prefer maximum performance
Texture filtering – Quality – Performance
Threaded optimization – On
Once done, save changes, and reboot the PC to change effects immediately.

16. Disable Windows Firewall

If in case, you’re using the default Windows Firewall protection on your PC then you should turn it off temporarily and check for the issue again. To do this:

Image sharpening – Off
Low latency mode – Off
Power Management – Prefer maximum performance
Texture filtering – Quality – Performance
Threaded optimization – On
Click on the Start Menu > Type Firewall.
Select Windows Defender Firewall from the search result.
Now, click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off from the left pane.
Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) option for both the Private & Public Network Settings.
Once selected, click on OK to save changes.
Finally, restart your computer.

17. Turn Off Antivirus Protection

You can also try turning off the Windows Defender option on your PC to ensure there is no antivirus software blocking the game files to run properly.

Press Windows + I shortcut keys to open the Windows Settings menu.
Click on Update & Security > Click on Windows Security from the left pane.
Now, click on the Open Windows Security button.
Go to Virus & threat protection > Click on Manage settings.
Next, you’ll need to simply turn off the Real-time protection toggle.
If prompted, click on Yes to proceed further.

If in case, you’re using any other antivirus program on your PC then make sure to turn it off.

18. Set High Performance in Power Options

Mostly the Windows system is set on the default Balanced Power Mode which offers both performance and power consumption at the same time. But sometimes, this mode can occur performance issues on your PC when it comes to graphics-hungry programs. It’s better to set the power mode to High Performance, which can improve the tasks. However, this mode will consume more power or battery juice than normal. To do this:

Click on the Start Menu > Type control panel and search for it.
Open Control Panel from the search result.
Now, go to Hardware and Sound > Select Power Options.
Click on High Performance to select it.
Once done, make sure to reboot the PC to apply changes.
It might fix the Borderlands 2 Crashing issue on your PC.

19. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime

If your Windows computer isn’t running the latest version or the required version of the Microsft Visual C++ Runtime then you may encounter several issues whatsoever. To do that:

Press the Windows key from the keyboard to open the Start Menu.
Now, type apps & features to search.
Open Apps & Features from the search result.
Click on the Microsoft Visual C++ program(s) from the list individually.
Select each program and click on Uninstall.
Follow the on-screen instructions to complete uninstallation.
Next, visit the official Microsoft website and download the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime.
Once done, install it on your computer > Restart the system to change effects.

20. Perform a Clean Boot

As per some reports, multiple programs are always running in the background from when the Windows system boots up. So, those services may consume the system resources and internet data without your knowledge. It’s better to perform a clean boot and turn off unnecessary startup applications by following the steps below.

Press Windows + R shortcut keys to open the Run dialog box.
Now, type msconfig and hit Enter to open System Configuration.
Go to the Services tab > Enable the Hide all Microsoft services checkbox.
Click on Disable all > Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
Now, go to the Startup tab > Click on Open Task Manager.
Click on the Startup tab from Task Manager.
Make sure to click on the particular task which has a higher startup impact.
Once selected, click on Disable to turn it off. [Do the same steps for each program that has a higher startup impact]
Finally, make sure to restart your computer to apply changes.

21. Try Disabling Overlay Apps

Sometimes a couple of applications may come with an additional overlay app that basically helps the streamers or gamers a lot. However, these overlay apps can eventually conflict with the game files to run smoothly and may cause several issues like FPS drops, black screen issues, lags, glitches, etc. You should try disabling the overlay apps manually before launching the game again to cross-check whether the crashing issue has been fixed or not. To do so:

Disable Discord Overlay:

Launch the Discord app > Click on the gear icon at the bottom.
Select Overlay under App Settings > Turn on the Enable in-game overlay.
Click on the Games tab > Select Borderlands 2.
Finally, turn off the Enable in-game overlay toggle.
Make sure to reboot your PC to apply changes.

Disable Xbox Game Bar:

Press Windows + I keys to open Windows Settings.
Click on Gaming > Go to Game Bar > Turn off Record game clips, screenshots, and broadcast using the Game bar option.

Disable Nvidia GeForce Experience Overlay:

Launch the Nvidia GeForce Experience app > Head over to Settings.
Click on the General tab > Disable the In-Game Overlay option.
Finally, restart the PC to apply changes, and launch the game again.

There are some other overlay apps that can cause trouble for you something as MSI Afterburner, Rivatuner, RGB software, etc. You should turn them off as well.

Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
Click on Borderlands 2 from the list of installed games at the left pane.
Now, the client will automatically search for the available update.
If there is an update available, you’ll see the Update option > Just click on it.
Wait for a couple of minutes or so until the game update completes. [Depends on the storage space and internet connectivity]
Once done, make sure to close the Steam client.
Finally, reboot your PC to apply changes, and launch the Borderlands 2 game again.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.

Why Does Borderlands 2 Keep Crashing?#

Fix: Borderlands 2 Keep Crashing at Startup on PC#

1. Check System Requirements#

22. Update Borderlands 2#

2. Disable fullscreen optimizations#

3. Run the Game File as an Administrator#

4. Download the GeForce Game Ready Driver#

5. Download the AMD Adrenalin Edition Driver#

6. Update Graphics Drivers#

7. Update to Windows 10/11 64-bit (Version 1909)#

8. Check for Optional Updates#

9. Switch to Dedicated GPU#

10. Don’t Use DLSS (Try Using TAA or AMD FX)#

11. End Background Processes#

12. Verify and Repair Game Files#

13. Adjust Steam Overlay and SteamVR Options#

14. Delete Temporary Files from System#

15. Adjust Nvidia Control Panel Settings#

16. Disable Windows Firewall#

17. Turn Off Antivirus Protection#

18. Set High Performance in Power Options#

19. Reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime#

20. Perform a Clean Boot#

21. Try Disabling Overlay Apps#