Why Does Bully Keep Crashing on Steam? Troubleshooting and Solutions

Bully, the classic open-world action-adventure game, remains a beloved title for many. However, players on Steam sometimes encounter frustrating crashes that disrupt their gameplay. If you’re experiencing frequent crashes with Bully on Steam, you’re not alone. Several factors can contribute to this issue, ranging from compatibility problems to outdated drivers. Let’s explore the common causes and, more importantly, how to fix them.

Common Causes of Bully Crashes on Steam

Before diving into solutions, it’s crucial to understand why Bully might be crashing on your system. Here are the typical culprits:

  • Compatibility Issues: Bully was originally released in 2006, making it an older game. As such, it might not be fully compatible with modern operating systems like Windows 10 or 11 without some tweaking.
  • Outdated Graphics Drivers: Old or corrupted graphics drivers can cause instability and lead to game crashes. Games rely heavily on the GPU, and outdated drivers can create conflicts.
  • Hardware Limitations: While Bully isn’t a demanding game, insufficient RAM or an underpowered CPU/GPU can still cause crashes, especially if other programs are running simultaneously.
  • Software Conflicts: Conflicts with other software running in the background can sometimes trigger crashes. Antivirus programs, overlays (like Discord or Steam overlay), and other applications can interfere with Bully.
  • Corrupted Game Files: Damaged or incomplete game files can prevent Bully from running correctly and lead to crashes. This can happen during installation or due to disk errors.
  • Overclocking Issues: If you’ve overclocked your CPU or GPU, it could be causing instability and leading to crashes. Bully might not handle the increased clock speeds well.
  • DirectX Problems: Bully relies on DirectX. Issues with your DirectX installation can cause the game to crash.

Troubleshooting Steps to Fix Bully Crashes

Now that we understand the potential causes, let’s go through a series of troubleshooting steps to resolve the crashing issues.

1. Run Bully in Compatibility Mode

Compatibility mode allows you to run older programs as if they were running on an earlier version of Windows. This is a common fix for Bully crashes.

  • Right-click on the Bully executable file (Bully.exe) in the game’s installation directory (usually found in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Bully Scholarship Edition).
  • Select Properties.
  • Go to the Compatibility tab.
  • Check the box labeled “Run this program in compatibility mode for:”
  • Select Windows XP (Service Pack 3) from the dropdown menu.
  • Also, check the box labeled “Run this program as an administrator”.
  • Click Apply and then OK.

2. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Keeping your graphics drivers up-to-date is crucial for smooth gaming. Here’s how to update them:

  • NVIDIA: Go to the NVIDIA website and download the latest drivers for your graphics card. You can also use the NVIDIA GeForce Experience software to automatically update your drivers.
  • AMD: Visit the AMD website and download the latest drivers for your AMD Radeon graphics card. Alternatively, use the AMD Radeon Software to manage your drivers.
  • Intel: If you have an Intel integrated graphics card, go to the Intel website and download the latest drivers for your chipset.

After downloading the drivers, follow the installation instructions provided by the manufacturer. Restart your computer after the installation.

3. Verify the Integrity of Game Files

Steam has a built-in feature to verify the integrity of game files. This will check for any corrupted or missing files and redownload them.

  • Open Steam.
  • Go to your Library.
  • Right-click on Bully: Scholarship Edition.
  • Select Properties.
  • Go to the Local Files tab.
  • Click on “Verify integrity of game files…”

Steam will then verify the game files, which might take a few minutes. Once completed, try running the game again.

4. Close Background Applications

To minimize software conflicts, close any unnecessary applications running in the background.

  • Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open the Task Manager.
  • Go to the Processes tab.
  • Identify any non-essential applications that are consuming significant resources (CPU, memory).
  • Right-click on these applications and select “End task”.

Close programs like web browsers, music players, and other games. Also, temporarily disable your antivirus software to see if it’s causing the crashes (remember to re-enable it afterward).

5. Reinstall DirectX

If you suspect that your DirectX installation is the problem, you can try reinstalling it.

  • Navigate to your Bully installation folder C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Bully Scholarship Edition.
  • Look for a folder named Redist or similar.
  • Inside, you should find a DirectX installer (often named DXSETUP.exe). Run this installer.
  • Follow the prompts to reinstall DirectX. Restart your computer after the installation.

6. Adjust Graphics Settings

Even though Bully is not graphically intensive, reducing the graphics settings can sometimes help with crashes. If the game starts, try lowering the resolution, texture quality, and other graphical options.

7. Reinstall Bully

As a last resort, try reinstalling Bully. This will ensure that you have a fresh copy of the game files and can resolve any persistent issues.

  • In Steam, right-click on Bully: Scholarship Edition.
  • Select Manage and then Uninstall.
  • Once the game is uninstalled, download and reinstall it from Steam.

Conclusion

Bully crashing on Steam can be a frustrating experience, but by systematically troubleshooting the potential causes, you can often resolve the issue. Start with compatibility mode and driver updates, and then move on to verifying game files and closing background applications. If all else fails, reinstalling the game might be necessary. With a bit of patience and effort, you can get back to enjoying the classic gameplay of Bully without the interruptions of crashes.