Fix MW2 keeps crashing or freezing on PC, not launching

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If you’ve been enjoying Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (MW2) but suddenly encounter frustrating crashes or freezing issues, you're not alone. Many players experience these problems, and while they can be caused by a variety of factors, the good news is that most of them are fixable. Whether you’re playing on a high-end PC or a more budget-friendly setup, this guide will cover everything you need to know to get MW2 running smoothly again.

1. Check Your PC's System Requirements

Before diving into more complex solutions, it's essential to make sure your PC meets the system requirements for MW2. Running the game on a system that only meets the minimum specifications can result in crashes, freezing, and overall poor performance.

Minimum System Requirements:

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600X
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 / AMD Radeon RX 470
  • RAM: 12GB
  • Storage: 175GB SSD

Recommended System Requirements:

  • OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • CPU: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
  • GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 / AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT
  • RAM: 16GB
  • Storage: 175GB SSD

If your PC meets the minimum but not the recommended specs, try lowering your game settings (see Graphics Settings below) to improve stability.

2. Lower Graphics Settings for Better Performance

If your system meets the minimum specs but you’re experiencing crashes or low performance, tweaking your graphics settings can make a significant difference. Reducing certain settings can improve FPS and reduce the strain on your hardware, leading to a smoother experience.

Suggested Settings for Lower-End PCs:

  • Texture Quality: Set to Low, especially if your GPU has limited VRAM (Video RAM).
  • Level of Detail: Lower this setting to reduce strain on your CPU and GPU.
  • Field of View (FOV): Lower the FOV to reduce the load on your graphics card.
  • Shadows: Set shadows to Low or Off. Shadows are resource-intensive and can drastically impact performance.
  • Anti-Aliasing: Turn it off or set it to low for a noticeable performance boost.

Advanced Tip:

  • NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and AMD FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) are both supported in MW2. If you have an RTX or RX series GPU, enable DLSS or FSR for a performance boost without compromising image quality.

3. Run MW2 as Administrator

Sometimes MW2 may fail to start or crash if it doesn’t have the necessary permissions to run properly. To avoid this, you can try running the game as an administrator.

Steps:

  1. Go to your MW2 folder and locate the game’s executable file (usually ModernWarfareII.exe).
  2. Right-click on the file and select Properties.
  3. Go to the Compatibility tab and check Run this program as an administrator.
  4. Click Apply and then OK.

If you're using Steam, you’ll also need to run Steam as an administrator to ensure smooth operation.

4. Update Your Graphics Drivers

Outdated or corrupted graphics drivers are a common cause of crashes, especially after major updates. Both NVIDIA and AMD regularly release driver updates with bug fixes for new games like MW2.

How to Roll Back a Driver:

In case the new driver causes issues, you can roll back to a previous version using the Device Manager:

  1. Open Device Manager (Press Win + X and select Device Manager).
  2. Expand the Display Adapters section and right-click on your graphics card.
  3. Select Properties, go to the Driver tab, and click Roll Back Driver.

5. Verify Game Files Integrity

Corrupted or missing game files can lead to crashes and performance issues. Fortunately, both Steam and Battle.net offer simple ways to check and repair your game files.

For Steam Users:

  1. Right-click MW2 in your Library and select Properties.
  2. Go to the Local Files tab and click Verify Integrity of Game Files.
  3. Steam will check and replace any missing or corrupted files automatically.

For Battle.net Users:

  1. Open the Battle.net launcher.
  2. Click on the gear icon next to Play and select Scan and Repair.
  3. Wait for the scan to complete, and the launcher will fix any corrupted files.

6. Disable Overlays from Background Apps

While useful, apps like Discord, Steam, and GeForce Experience may cause performance issues, including crashes, when their overlays are enabled in-game. To avoid potential conflicts, disable the overlays.

For Discord:

  1. Open Discord.
  2. Go to Settings > Game Overlay.
  3. Disable In-Game Overlay.

For Steam:

  1. Open Steam and go to Settings.
  2. Navigate to the In-Game tab and uncheck Enable the Steam Overlay while in-game.

7. Run a System File Check (SFC)

Sometimes, corrupted system files can interfere with game performance and stability. Windows has a built-in tool to scan and repair these files.

Steps:

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
  2. Right-click Command Prompt and select Run as administrator.
  3. In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /scannow and press Enter.
  4. Windows will scan for and repair any corrupted system files. This may take some time, so be patient.

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8. Check Your Firewall and Antivirus Settings

If you’re facing MW2 crashes on launch, your firewall or antivirus program may be blocking the game’s connection to its servers. Ensure that MW2 is added to your firewall’s exception list.

To Add MW2 to Windows Firewall:

  1. Open Windows Security.
  2. Go to Firewall & Network Protection.
  3. Select Allow an app through firewall.
  4. Find MW2 in the list and check both Private and Public boxes.

For Antivirus Software:

Check your antivirus settings and add MW2 as an exception or temporarily disable the software to see if that resolves the issue.

9. Fix Resolution and Config File Errors

Incorrect resolution settings can cause crashes or the game to display incorrectly. If your game resolution doesn’t match your monitor’s native resolution, you might need to edit the game’s config file.

Steps:

  1. Go to your Documents folder and locate the MW2 folder (usually Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II).
  2. Open the config file (config.cfg) with Notepad.
  3. Look for the resolution settings (typically two values like 1920x1080).
  4. Adjust them to match your monitor's native resolution.

10. Clear the Config File (If Game Won’t Start)

If you've made changes to the game settings and MW2 won’t start or crashes on launch, you may need to delete the configuration file. The game will generate a new one when you restart.

How to Delete the Config File:

  1. Navigate to your Documents folder and find the MW2 folder.
  2. Delete the config file (e.g., config.cfg).
  3. Restart the game, and MW2 will create a new configuration file with default settings.

11. Increase Available Storage for Cache

High-resolution textures can overwhelm your system and cause crashes. Activating a cache can help by temporarily storing resources on your hard drive.

How to Enable Cache:

  1. Go to MW2's settings and enable the Cache option under Graphics.
  2. Ensure you have at least 32GB of free storage space to handle the additional data.

Conclusion

If Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is constantly crashing or freezing, the issues are often solvable with the right approach. Whether it's updating drivers, lowering your settings, or running the game as an administrator, following these tips should help get you back into action without interruptions. If the problem persists after trying all of these steps, it might be time to consider reaching out to Activision’s support team for further troubleshooting.

Do you have any other solutions or insights? Feel free to share your experiences in the comments below!

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