Steam crashing often- strange C++ Crash message

[CroutonsofDeath{RD}]

Hey. I've been getting a strange Steam crash. Steam will run usually for about 25 minutes before crashing and giving me a strange C++ error that Google hasn't given me any insight on. The crash often happens mid-game, but unless the game is a source engine game, it will keep running. The crash has happened in "The game that shalt not be named on eGO" and a few other third party games, but all VALVe games cease running if this crash happens. Here is that funky C++ error I get.

Error: Microsoft Visual C++
D: Program FilesSteamSteam.exe

Steam.exe
-06205 Pure Virtual Recall

Here are my computer specs, I've made sure all my drivers are updated as well as .net Framework/C++ etc. (Sorry if its long and gibberishy, I used that Belarc advisor thingy in the "Read before you post" thread." My vid card has 512 mb on it.)

OS: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

Ram: 3072 Megabytes

Processor:
3.00 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Hyper-threaded (2 total)

Video Card:
Radeon X1650 Series [Display adapter]
Radeon X1650 Series Secondary [Display adapter]
ASUS VH242H [Monitor] (23.4"vis, s/n 99LMTF014400, September 2009)

HDD:
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 119.99 GB 16.43 GB free
d: (NTFS on drive 1) 500.11 GB 47.05 GB free
e: (NTFS on drive 2) 160.04 GB 26.49 GB free

 

[featherfoot07]

Steam may be trying to set it self into Compatability mode. What version of windows are you running?

I would go as far as to say you are at least running vista, in which case to fix said error you would do this:

open comand prompt:
type "regedit"

then follow one of these lines,

HKEY_current_user/
microsoft/
windowsNT/
CurrentVersion/
AppCompatFlags/
Layers

if it is not there also check here:

HKEY_Local_Machine/
microsoft/
windowsNT/
CurrentVersion/
AppCompatFlags/
Layers

If in any of those places you see anything to do with steam, remove the entry and then exit the registry editor.

If this does not fix anything let me know.

 

[Meowcenaries]

I've come to no avail searching in steam support and microsoft support. So, my guess would be a corrupted file somewhere also, try what featherfoot told, could work.

 

[CroutonsofDeath{RD}]

Steam may be trying to set it self into Compatability mode. What version of windows are you running?

I would go as far as to say you are at least running vista, in which case to fix said error you would do this:

If this does not fix anything let me know.

I am not using Vista, 99% of all games made 2005 and later run at maximum 24 fps on XP, under vista all games run at a maximum of 7 fps so its out of the question.

I posted my system specs in my first post, I guess you missed them but here is my exact OS:
OS: Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

Regardless, I opened the regedit, but I don't see any of the lines you've mentioned, there is no "Microsoft" under Current user or Local machine and I don't see any of the other ones. I'm assuming they are in different places in XP, or not there at all? I would've looked through all the folders that do show, but TBH unless I have a guide I don't like using the RegEdit.

 

[spidEY]

Have you tried deleting all files and folders inside the Steam folder, except Steam.exe and steamapps folder? That way, when you run Steam. it will re-download itself and generate new content, while leaving all your games intact.

 

[Dead Tom]

Have you tried deleting all files and folders inside the Steam folder, except Steam.exe and steamapps folder? That way, when you run Steam. it will re-download itself and generate new content, while leaving all your games intact.

Well if the error is the Steam.exe error with C++ shouldn't he just get a new steam.exe. To keep the games just back up your steamapps folder and do a clean install of Steam.

 

[CroutonsofDeath{RD}]

Well if the error is the Steam.exe error with C++ shouldn't he just get a new steam.exe. To keep the games just back up your steamapps folder and do a clean install of Steam.

I'll try that.

 

[CroutonsofDeath{RD}]

Well, I tried the previously mentioned method, it didn't work. I'm still getting this error, although one time it said "Pure function recall" instead of 'virtual' recall, though the rest of the error message was the same.