Some Steam interface links won't work

[MadMax]

Some of the clickable links in steam just don't do anything at all.

I'll have to methodically go through to work out what does and doesn't but has anyone observed and fixed this type of behaviour or have an idea what the most likely problem is?

I use ZoneAlarm Extreme (paid for version, which includes other stuff such as forcefield and antivirus), windows vista 32. (Guessing at firewall/antivirus or even browser settings)

Thanks for any suggestions.

Cheers,
Max

[Thermal Ions]

Haven't come across it myself. I'm presuming a restart of Steam or reboot hasn't helped, and that you haven't changed the skin (Settings --> Interface), as some skins you can download aren't complete / made for the current steam application version?

[MadMax]

Thanks for the reply.

No this has been the case for a real long time. As in many months.

I haven't changed from the default skin either.

I've ensured all programs in zonealarm program list have relevant access. I'm thinking it is the forcefield component at this stage. I'll have to try work out how to turn the darn thing off to try. Not easy to work out either.

[Jakob_Pavlov]

Is your problem anything like this mate? http://www.theoldergamers.com/forum/...hd-videos.html

I never did find a solution.
I also cannot use the "Add as a friend" link when browsing someone's profile in Steam....which is a right pain as the search function in the "Add a friend" dialogue is not great in my experience.

P.S. Forgot to add; Win Vista (32-bit), but Norton, not Zonealarm.

[Jigoku]

Try this: Steam is not a registered protocol

I think the "Run Steam Installation Again" section is what you should try first.

[Jakob_Pavlov]

Originally Posted by Jigoku

Try this: Steam is not a registered protocol

I think the "Run Steam Installation Again" section is what you should try first.

Thanks for the suggestion mate.

I don't think re-installation will fix it, as I have reinstalled Steam at least once since the problem started occuring.
It's also never given me a problem with purchases as is suggested in the article you linked to!

It's funny that it suggests alternative browsers may cause an issue....I also thought that so have tried switching back to IE (from Firefox) multiple times but that didn't make a difference.

I'll give repairing the exe and repairing the registry a try when I get a chance.

Thanks again,
Pav

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by Jakob_Pavlov

Is your problem anything like this mate? http://www.theoldergamers.com/forum/...hd-videos.html

No I don't have any problems installing demos, I can also purchase games no worries. A typical problem is say when the news GUI pops up when you start steam (yes I always "RUN AS ADMINISTRATOR), and if I click on it to view the game detail screen it simply doesn't respond, no error messages, nothing. Happens in a number of links throughout the steam gui, but not all.

Jakob, thanks I will have a look at that and probably try a steam reinstall over old one. Not too keen on the registry edits if that reinstall doesn't work (as next stage). Oh I think I need to first try the steamservice repair command. Will investigate further once at home tonight.

Cheers for that.
Max

[Jakob_Pavlov]

Wow! It's fixed!

The link that Jigoku posted did not do all of the work.....but it set me off in the correct direction!

Basically it appears it was a Registry permissions problem.

When trying to run the SteamService.exe /repair I ran into a "Failed to install Steam URL Handler" error.......this set me off Googling and after a while I found this article.

After a little digging in Regedit (wear your strongest underpants....) it appeared that the registry keys associated with Steam had issues.....namely that they had no owners and no user or administrator permissions.

I added owners (Admins and my profile) to the Steam keys that existed and ran the /repair command again......I got a similar error !
I looked back in the registry though and sub-keys had been added underneath the Steam keys that existed before, so I did the same owner and permission changes to these and ran the repair command again......similar error.....but more sub-keys.....and so on (only three sub-layers of keys).
Ran the repair command one last time and it worked!

Demos, downloadable videos, and most importantly single clicks to add friends now work!!!!

Thanks to all involved in this thread.

I am crossing my fingers that Steam does not die on it's arse tomorrow after my tinkering!!!!

[MadMax]

Excellent. Hope it helps me tonight as well. Thanks for the extra link too to try.

I wonder if those registry scanner/cleaner programs would pick up/fix any issues. (I usually avoid them too. I have the mentality of "stay away from anything that touches the registry, that you can actually avoid doing". Although I have edited the registry in the past, with fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed.)

[MadMax]

Well good news from me as well.

The ...SteamService.exe /repair appears to have done the job for me.

It took up to 8 or 10 minutes to run as well.

Thanks again.

Cheers,
Max