Delete of steam.exe failed, Win32 Error 5 Access is denied. Steam update 26%

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After installing steam, during the initial update, steam.exe causes an error and crashes at 26 or 27% on the update. The error messages can be:

  • Steam.exe (Main Exception): ERROR: delete of steam.exe failed,Win32 Error 5 'Access is denied'
  • Steam.exe (main exception): ERROR: deleted Steam.exe but the file is still there

This can occur on Windows Vista and Windows 7, 32 bit or x64.


Solution to steam.exe update error

  1. Remove steam from the computer and do a fresh install (dont worry, the update will still fail here)
  2. Restart the computer and spam the F8 key to get the safe mode menu (right after your initial startup screen, before windows logo)
  3. Startup in SAFE MODE WITH NETWORKING.
  4. Open steam. The window may disappear. Open it again.
  5. the update of steam.exe should now get past the 26% mark. Restart into regular windows, and try opening steam.


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