PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf Worms W.M.D closes at launch, shows a white or gray screen, or crashes during a match, start with the game’s Visual C++ components and Steam file verification. Team17 specifically recommends repairing the bundled Visual C++ 2012 x86 and x64 packages, while Steam recommends verifying files, updating Windows and drivers, and disabling conflicting background software.
These steps target Windows PC versions, especially Steam. Game Pass and other launchers require different repair menus, so do not apply Steam-only paths to those editions.
Find your symptom first
| Symptom | Start with | Likely category |
|---|---|---|
| Steam shows the game running briefly, then returns to Play | Fixes 1–4 | Visual C++, damaged files, overlays, or permissions |
| White, gray, or black screen before the desktop crash | Fixes 5–8 | Display routing, driver, or corrupted display settings |
| Crash after entering a match or loading a map | Fixes 1, 5, and 8 | Drivers, capture software, modified content, or a specific save/map |
| Crash after pressing a controller or keyboard button | Fixes 1, 5, and 8 | Input utilities, overlays, configuration, or per-user settings |
1. Restart Windows, Steam, and background utilities
Exit Worms W.M.D, then choose Steam > Exit rather than simply closing the Steam window. Restart Windows and launch the game from your Steam Library.
For a controlled test, temporarily close non-essential software such as MSI Afterburner, RivaTuner Statistics Server, Discord, NVIDIA or AMD overlays, Xbox Game Bar, OBS, RGB utilities, controller or macro tools, and third-party antivirus game modes. Steam identifies outdated drivers and non-essential software conflicts as common causes of games failing after “Preparing to Launch.” See Steam’s launch troubleshooting guidance.
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If the game works, re-enable those programs one at a time to identify the conflict. Do not assume that any particular overlay is always responsible.
2. Verify the game files in Steam
- Open Steam > Library.
- Right-click Worms W.M.D and select Properties.
- Open Installed Files.
- Select Verify integrity of game files.
- Wait for Steam to finish, then restart Steam and test the game.
Steam can download replacement files when its scan finds damaged or missing data. This process should not deliberately delete your saves, Workshop content, or settings. Do not repeatedly verify if Steam reacquires the same files every time; that can indicate disk errors, antivirus quarantine, insufficient permissions, or a failing drive. Steam explains the process in its file-verification instructions.
3. Repair the bundled Visual C++ 2012 runtime
This is the most game-specific fix in Team17’s launch guidance. On a standard Steam installation, browse to:
C:Program Files (x86)SteamsteamappscommonSteamworks Shared_CommonRedistvcredist2012
- Run the x86 installer and choose Repair.
- Run the x64 installer and choose Repair.
- Restart Windows.
- Launch Worms W.M.D through Steam.
Team17 recommends repairing both architectures. A 64-bit Windows installation may still need the x86 runtime because a game can use 32-bit libraries. If the folder or installers are missing, continue with the next fix rather than downloading DLL files from an unofficial website.
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4. Install or repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables
If the Steam installers are unavailable or repairing them did not help, use Microsoft’s official Visual C++ Redistributable downloads. Install both:
vc_redist.x86.exevc_redist.x64.exe
Restart Windows and test again. Microsoft’s current package covers the Visual C++ 2015–2022 runtime family, but it does not make every older runtime unnecessary. If an error names an older component such as mfc110u.dll, repairing the bundled Visual C++ 2012 packages remains relevant.
Do not download individual DLL files from random “DLL fixer” sites. The official installers are safer and provide the required runtime components together.
5. Update Windows and the graphics driver
- Open Settings > Windows Update and select Check for updates.
- Install pending updates and restart.
- Install the latest driver from your GPU manufacturer’s official site.
If the crashing began immediately after a driver update, the newest driver is not automatically the best choice. Try the vendor’s clean-install option or roll back to the previous stable driver. This is general troubleshooting, not evidence of a specific Worms W.M.D driver bug.
6. Check the dedicated GPU and monitor connection
Team17 specifically advises checking the physical display connection. On a desktop PC, look behind the computer and make sure the monitor cable is connected to the dedicated NVIDIA or AMD graphics card—not the motherboard’s HDMI or DisplayPort output. If available, test a direct HDMI connection.
On a laptop, Windows may allow you to select the high-performance GPU:
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics.
- Add or browse to the game executable.
- Set it to High performance and save.
Labels and GPU-selection behavior can vary by laptop manufacturer and Windows version.
7. Test administrator permissions, but keep using the launcher
Team17 warns that launching the executable directly can cause errors for this game. The normal method should be to start Worms W.M.D through Steam, Game Pass, or the launcher where you installed it.
For Steam, Team17’s administrator test is:
- Open Steam > Library.
- Right-click the game and select Properties.
- Choose Installed Files > Browse.
- Right-click
WormsW.M.D.exeand select Properties. - Open Compatibility and enable Run this program as an administrator.
- Close the dialog and start the game through Steam.
Use this as a diagnostic step rather than a universal permanent solution. If it works, investigate folder permissions, antivirus blocking, Windows Controlled Folder Access, or an incorrect installation location. Avoid relying on an old desktop shortcut or launching the executable outside Steam.
8. Reset display settings and collect diagnostics
Use this step when the crash continues after runtime repairs, verification, driver checks, and permission testing—particularly after changing resolution or fullscreen mode.
- Close the game and Steam.
- Back up the game’s configuration or save folders.
- Locate the configuration folder through the launcher’s Browse local files option or obtain its location from Team17 support.
- Rename the configuration folder, for example to
config-backup, rather than deleting it. - Relaunch the game and test windowed or borderless mode first.
- Reapply resolution and fullscreen settings gradually.
The configuration location can differ by launcher and edition, so do not assume that one Internet path applies to every installation. Do not delete saves or Steam Cloud data without a backup.
If the crash happens only during gameplay
Check GPU stability, overlays, capture software, overheating, unstable overclocks, Workshop or modified content, and whether one map, mode, or save triggers the crash. Launch fixes do not necessarily resolve a mid-game stability problem.
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Suspect per-user settings, permissions, corrupted configuration, or cloud-synchronized data. Back up first, then test with a fresh configuration. A new Windows user account can help determine whether the problem is tied to the original profile.
Check the practical requirements
The Steam listing specifies DirectX 11, 2 GB of minimum RAM, 4 GB recommended RAM, and older minimum GPU examples including Intel HD 4400, GeForce GTX 280, and Radeon HD 7750. Meeting those historical minimums does not guarantee compatibility with every modern Windows configuration.
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The listing still displays Windows 7, 8.1, and 10 as historical requirements, but the Steam client requires Windows 10 or later. Treat Windows 10 or Windows 11 as the practical current target for Steam. The Linux and SteamOS version is not equivalent to the Windows version; Proton versions and graphics stacks can change its behavior.
Having DirectX 11 or DirectX 12 installed also does not guarantee that every older optional runtime library is present. Use Steam’s bundled installers and Microsoft’s official redistributables rather than random downloads.
When to contact Team17
If all eight fixes fail, contact Team17 support with useful diagnostic details instead of only saying that the game crashes. Include:
- Your launcher and store edition.
- Windows version, CPU, GPU, and RAM.
- GPU driver version.
- Whether the crash occurs at launch, after the logo, when pressing a button, while loading, or during a match.
- Any error message.
- Whether Visual C++ repair or Steam verification changed the behavior.
- A DxDiag report: press Win + R, enter
dxdiag, select Save All Information, and attach the saved report. - The faulting application or module shown in Event Viewer > Windows Logs > Application.
Do not reinstall Windows, edit the registry, delete save data, or pay for a registry cleaner or one-click driver updater as a first response. A complete game reinstall is a later fallback after runtime, file, display, and software-conflict checks.
Game Pass and other PC launchers
Team17’s launch guidance also covers Game Pass and other PC editions, but Steam’s _CommonRedist path, Steam file verification, and Steam Properties menu apply only to Steam. For another launcher, use its repair or reset option where available, then apply the Microsoft runtime, Windows-update, graphics-driver, overlay, dedicated-GPU, and display-configuration checks above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does reinstalling DirectX 12 fix Worms W.M.D?
Not necessarily. Use the game’s bundled redistributables and Microsoft’s official Visual C++ packages first; DirectX 11 or 12 alone does not guarantee that every required older runtime component is installed.
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Should I download mfc110u.dll separately?
No. Repair the bundled Visual C++ 2012 x86 and x64 packages or use Microsoft’s official redistributable downloads. Avoid third-party DLL repositories.
Why install both x86 and x64 Visual C++ packages?
A 64-bit Windows system can still run software that needs 32-bit libraries, so both architectures may be required.
Can I play Worms W.M.D on Windows 11?
Windows 11 is the practical current target, but no configuration is guaranteed. The historical Steam requirements list older Windows versions, while the Steam client requires Windows 10 or later.
Will verifying Steam files delete my saves?
Verification repairs missing or damaged game files. It should not deliberately delete saves, but back up important data before making broader configuration changes.
What if I own the Game Pass version?
Use the Game Pass app’s repair option and do not use Steam-only paths. Microsoft runtime, driver, Windows, overlay, display-output, and configuration checks still apply.
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