
After setting it to run in Windows XP (Service Pack 3) you may receive an error " Ordinal 43 could not be located in the dynamic link library c:\windows\system32\xlive.dll" which is a message indicating you need Games for Windows Live.
Attempt to launch Fallout 3 to see if the error persists. Optionally, you can try compatibility with Windows XP SP3. Check the drop down box and troubleshoot with different Windows versions. Select the Compatibility Tab and check the box that says Run this program in compatibility mode for:. Run Fallout 3 in Compatibility Mode - See images below for examples of what this looks like
Select the Compatibility tab and tick the Run this program as an administrator box. Right click the Fallout 3 application file and select Properties. Default location: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Fallout 3 goty. Go to your Fallout 3 install folder within Steam. Ensure that the resolution of the game matches that of your display monitors by selecting Options from the Fallout 3 Launcher and selecting the correct resolution under Graphics Adapter and Resolution. If using dual monitors, disable your second one from your Windows display settings. Launch the game in Windowed Mode by selecting Options from the Fallout 3 Launcher and ticking the Windowed box under Mode. Issues associated with launching and playing the game can often be resolved by changing the following display options: If you continue to experience issues, you can also try the following troubleshooting steps:
Note: Fallout 3 is not optimized for Windows 7 and later operating systems. Click here for a direct download from Microsoft.
You should also ensure you have Games for Windows Live installed. To resolve Fallout 3 crashing issues on Windows 10, you should first ensure that you meet the game's minimum requirements and you have the latest NVIDIA or AMD graphics card drivers installed. The troubleshooting steps provided below will only work if you are not experiencing the above issue.