Problem Description
Some players reported being unable to play Dota 2 because of constant crashes with the error “dota2.exe has stopped working” which occur at random points during the game, no dumps founded and the console showed nothing when the game crashed.
Content Summary
Solution 1: Set the Affinity in Task Manager
Solution 2: Uninstall Visual C++ Package and Install the Latest Version of Visual C++ Redistributable Package
Solution 3: Reset Hotkeys
Solution 4: Update BIOS
Solution 5: Create New Windows User Account
Solution 6: Uninstall the Vulkan DLC
Solution 7: Remove VPN software such as Astrill VPN
Reference
Solution 1: Set the Affinity in Task Manager
Step 1: Open the Steam client.
Step 2: Navigate to the Library tab and locate DOTA 2 in the list of the games.
Step 3: Right-click DOTA 2 game and choose the Play Game option.
Step 4: After the game opens, press the Alt + Tab key to exit back to the desktop.
Step 5: Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc key to open Task Manager.
Step 6: Click on More details to expand Task Manager and search for the dota.exe process.
Step 7: Right-click on this entry and choose the Go to details option.
Step 8: Select the process in the Details menu, right-click on it then choose the Set affinity option.
Step 9: Reduce the number of usable cores by half. For example, if you are using an octa-core processor, you should try and select only the first four cores, and so on.
Step 10: Restart the game.
Solution 2: Uninstall Visual C++ Package and Install the Latest Version of Visual C++ Redistributable Package
Step 1: Open Control Panel > Uninstall a Program.
Step 2: Locate Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package and click on Uninstall.
Step 3: Click Finish when the uninstaller finishes with the process and repeat the uninstalling process for all versions of the Visual C++ Package.
Step 4: Download the latest versions of Microsoft Visual C++.
Step 5: Install the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package.
Solution 3: Reset Hotkeys
Step 1: Open the Steam client.
Step 2: Navigate to the Library tab and locate DOTA 2 in the list of the games.
Step 3: Right-click DOTA 2 game and choose the Play Game option. Click the gear-like icon from the home screen which should open the game settings.
Step 4: Stay in the Hotkeys tab and locate the Reset Hotkeys option.
Step 5: Restart the game.
Solution 4: Update BIOS
Solution 5: Create New Windows User Account
Solution 6: Uninstall the Vulkan DLC
Step 1: Open the Steam client.
Step 2: Navigate to the Library tab and locate DOTA 2 in the list of the games.
Step 3: Right-click on the game and choose View Downloadable Content.
Step 4: Remove the Tick next to the Dota 2 – Vulkan support entry and click the Close button.
Solution 7: Remove VPN software such as Astrill VPN
Has anyone else been getting the “dota2.exe has stopped working” crash upon starting the game? from r/DotA2
Reference
- Dota2 Development Forum: Bugs: Performance & Technical Support: Dota2.exe has stopped working
- Dota 2 Steam Community: DotA2.exe has stopped working
- Dota 2 Steam Community: dota2.exe has stopped working FIXED
