All of a sudden I can't launch FO3 from any of the exe's (Fallout3.exe, FalloutLauncher.exe). Initially it wouldn't even load with the disc, giving me an error that it "timed out" trying to read the disc. After a reinstall, it will load, but only with the disc.

The only thing that's changed on my system lately is the installation of Steam and Fallout New Vegas, mainly because I wanted to test the PITA factor of a steam game to decide if I'm keeping my preorder of Skyrim.

Is this issue caused by Steam? I don't understand why FO3 won't launch all of a sudden. I never needed the disc before.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Edit.. Now it's working as it should (launching without disc) but any insight as to what may have caused this would still be appreciated.

Well the steam version of fallout 3 obviously doesnt need a disc so perhaps it was getting confused??

Sorry I wasn't more clear above. I have the retail version of Fallout 3 installed from a disc (GOTY). From the first time I installed it, I never needed a disc to play it. I've read that this has something to do with Games for Windows Live.

Anyhow, I recently installed the Steam client as well as Fallout New Vegas (through Steam) because I wanted to test modding a Steam game, and I also wanted to test the "offline mode" of Steam.

I played New Vegas for a few weeks then decided to play Fallout 3, at that time it started suddenly asking me to insert the disc. When I did insert the disc, it gave me an error saying it timed out trying to read the disc.

After I reinstalled it, at first it wanted the disc again, which it read that time without problems. After starting the game once, it no longer asked for the disc. I'm assuming this might be related to the ini somehow, but I'm not sure.

Oh sorry, i dont know in that case, but i do know there is a mod called windows live disabler so dont know if that would help or effect it at all.