Run DarkSouls.exe in admin mode (right click the exe -> run as administrator) Install the latest DirectX drivers! This includes the ones that came with the game AND (if that doesn't help) the newest copy from Microsoft's site! So if you haven't used it yet and are black screening near the intro / opening of the game, then enable the 'Skip Intro' feature Similarly, the new version of the DSFix is working fine for people. Old versions of this mod are causing the game to crash after updating it! If you installed a mod, such as DSFix, then disable it (rename it or move it). Remove ANY game controllers that are plugged in (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, etc). If that doesn't work, then make sure to name it back to the original file! If you are crashing because of vsfilter.dll, then try renaming this file (locate it through search). Solve Dark Souls Freeze / Error on Load / Crash It should now work! The reason it may have caused a crash error message (such as 'Dark souls Prepare To Die Edition Executable has stopped working') for you previously is because an old version of GFWL was actually installed instead of the newest version. There are 2 parts - uninstall both.Ģ) Download & install the latest version of Games for Windows Marketplace Client 1) Open the Control Panel and uninstall GFWL (Games for Windows Live).

Dark souls 1 crash on startup