- Right-click on the COD: Modern Warfare 2 exe file on your PC.
- Select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.

- Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
- Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.
- Now, run the game to check for the issue again.
Please Note: If in case, you’re using the Steam client to run the Call of Duty: MW2 game, then make sure to follow the same steps for the specific game launcher too.
3. Clear Download Cache on Steam
Well, clearing your download cache on the Steam client can resolve issues with the games that won’t download or start or go through the saved game data files validation process. You can follow the steps below to fix it.
- On the Steam client on your PC.
- Click on the Steam tab from the top left menu.
- Click on Settings > Select the Downloads tab.
- You’ll find the ‘Clear Download Cache’ option at the bottom.
- Select ‘OK’ to confirm > You’ll need to log in to Steam again.
4. Repair the Game Files
There are several reasons behind the missing or corrupted game files on the PC that may trouble a lot of players. You can follow the steps below to verify and repair game files on the computer so that the game can run properly.
- Launch the Steam client > Click on Library.
- Right-click on COD: Modern Warfare 2 from the list.
- Click on Properties > Go to Local Files.

- Click on Verify Integrity of Game Files.
- This process may take some time to get completed. So, have some patience.
- Once done, make sure to reboot the PC to apply changes.
5. Rollback Graphics Drivers
Another thing you should do is downgrade the graphics driver version on your PC by following the steps below. Sometimes the recently installed graphics driver update may have bugs or stability issues that can conflict with the game launching. To do that:
- Press the Win+X keys to open the Quick Access Menu.
- Click on Device Manager from the list.
- Double-click on Display adapters to expand it.
- Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that’s active or you’re using.
- Now, click on Properties > Click on the Driver tab from the new popup window.
- Click on Roll Back Driver and follow the on-screen prompts to complete it.
- Just wait for the same and reboot the PC to apply changes.
If the rollback driver option isn’t available, you can manually try downloading and installing the latest Nvidia Graphics Driver version 517.48 on your computer graphics card as per the model number.
6. Do a Clean Installation of the Graphics Driver
If there is no update available for your GPU, you can go to the official graphics card website from the links below and search for the model of your graphics manually. Make sure to download and install the latest GPU driver for your model number per the manufacturer. Just like you run and install the application file on the PC by double-clicking on it.
7. Disable Antivirus Protection
You can also try turning off the Windows Defender option on your PC to ensure no antivirus software is blocking the game files to run properly.
- Press the Win+I shortcut keys to open Windows Settings.
- Click on Update & Security > Click on Windows Security from the left pane.
- Now, click on the Open Windows Security button.
- Go to Virus & threat protection > Click on Manage settings.
- Next, you’ll need to turn off the Real-time protection toggle.
- If prompted, click on Yes to proceed further.
If in case, you’re using any other antivirus program on your PC then make sure to turn it off.
8. Uncheck DLCs that don’t have File Size
It’s recommended to uncheck DLCs that don’t have a file size that can fix the Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 33/39/45 files that failed to validate and will be reacquired error. To do this:
- Open the Steam client > Go to Library.
- Right-click on Call of Duty: MWII > Select Properties.
- Go to the DLC tab > Some files may not have the file size.
- So, uncheck those files and then launch the game.
9. Delete the Saved Game Files
If the above methods didn’t work for you, then delete the saved game files on the computer to remove all the game progress initially. It’ll basically regain the saved game progress files from the servers automatically. To do that:
- Open File Explorer on your PC > Go to Documents.
- Find the installed ‘Call of Duty’ folder and right-click on it.
- Select Delete > Once deleted, launch the game to check for the issue.
Last but not the least, several affected COD: MWII players have reported that performing a clean boot on the PC did fix the system boot-up issue because some apps or tasks start at the very beginning. These tasks run all the time and consume a lot of system resources. You should follow the steps below to do so:
- Press the Win+R keys to open the Run dialog box.
- Type msconfig and hit Enter to open System Configuration.
- Go to Services > Click on Hide all Microsoft services to enable it.

- Now, click on Disable all so that rest of the services gets turned off.
- Click on Apply and then OK to save changes.
- Next, go to Startup > Click on Open Task Manager.
- Click on the Startup tab > Ensure to select the specific task that has a higher startup impact.
- Click on Disable to turn it off > Make sure to do the same steps for each task that has a higher startup impact.
- Finally, reboot the PC to apply changes, and check for the issue again.
That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.
Thank you! My game restarted!