Issues Running Steam

Gaming
1

I've just moved over from Windows, running Zorin OS 18 Core. I've been having quite a few issues resulting in needing a clean install multiple times. The main issues seem to have come from Steam so far.

I initially installed the regular Zorin, had some graphical issues when hovering over a game tile in my library. Uninstalled, and reinstalled using the Zorin with modern Nvidia graphics.

However, now I'm getting issues with Steam closing every minute or so. I initially installed the package so I can store my games on another drive, and used the terminal to run sudo apt install libnvidia-gl-550:i386. So I'm thinking its possible I might have installed the wrong version.

Here is the popup I received:

Screenshot from 2025-10-21 23-52-12
Screenshot from 2025-10-21 23-52-12616×460 12.2 KB

How exactly do I install the required 32bit versions of the libraries, as well as the recommends for vulkan support?

2

Hi,

First we need to know in which format you installed Steam? Was it flatpak or .deb (Zorin OS) or from Steam homepage (.deb)?

It's recommendable to install the Zorin OS (.deb) version as it need less hassle. If you got the flatpak versionn uninstall it first. Then install the Zorin OS version.

3

I installed Steam via the Software Manager. I selected the Zorin OS APT Package, which I believe is the one you are recommending to install.

4

Okay, then run these commands. It will show us card and driver;

sudo apt install inxi
inxi -Ga
5 
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GA104 [GeForce RTX 3070] vendor: ASUSTeK driver: nvidia
    v: 580.95.05 alternate: nvidiafb,nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 550.xx+
    status: current (as of 2024-04; EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Ampere code: GAxxx
    process: TSMC n7 (7nm) built: 2020-2023 pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s
    lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s ports: active: none off: DP-2
    empty: DP-1, DP-3, HDMI-A-1, HDMI-A-2 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:2484
    class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.11 with: Xwayland v: 23.2.6
    compositor: gnome-shell v: 46.0 driver: X: loaded: nvidia
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch
    display-ID: :1 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 90 s-size: 542x301mm (21.34x11.85")
    s-diag: 620mm (24.41")
  Monitor-1: DP-2 note: disabled model: Dell AW2518H serial: #ASOXphSwHnbd
    built: 2019 res: 1920x1080 dpi: 90 gamma: 1.2 size: 544x303mm (21.42x11.93")
    diag: 623mm (24.5") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia nouveau drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0
    drv: nvidia device: 1 drv: nouveau device: 2 drv: swrast gbm: drv: nvidia
    surfaceless: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: nvidia mesa v: 580.95.05
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070/PCIe/SSE2
    memory: 7.81 GiB
6

According to inxi you have 580 driver installed. I would completely wipe the driver and start over. There's an app in Zorin if you search for Additional driver (Software & updates) and uninstall the driver. Then install driver 580 from scratch. IT should take care of the 32-bit libs that are missing.

Note: It require a reboot to take effect.

7

I've already wiped and reinstalled Zorin. However, I'm kind of lost as far as what to do at this point.

Checking my drivers, I already have the 580 drivers installed, and they were installed from the start, which if the 32bit libraries are included why is it prompting to install them?

Screenshot from 2025-10-22 01-23-17
Screenshot from 2025-10-22 01-23-17727×206 16.9 KB

But the picture I sent earlier seems to be asking for something else. A 32bit version of the Nvidia libraries, as well as a recommended library for Vulkan support, which I want. Are these different from the drivers I already have? Or does the driver already include those packages and the pop up is more a warning?

8

You could try
sudo apt install libnvidia-gl-580:i386

9

You should not be getting such a warning - your regional server is not properly syncing with main.

From Software & Updates app, switch "Download from" to Main Server

Then sudo apt update and install steam.

I do not recommend trying to install the package manually - since this can often result in the system trying to replace your critical 64bit system files with 32 bit. This will break the system.

Ultimately, this is a fault of regional servers not doing proper maintenance.

2 Likes
10

Good you could chip in @Aravisian as I'm having Radeon card and they just work (tm)!

11

Yes, I am hoping to follow in your footsteps in that regard. Tired of Nvidia and it's backwards facing drivers.

12

Thanks for the info. I did install the libnvidia-gl-580:i386, and after a reboot I'm getting a black screen with an x cursor.

I should be able to do a fresh install if my install is broken now.

But just to clarify, I shouldn't need to install any additional libraries, correct? When I did a test to install Steam, it ended up getting stuck infinitely trying to load user data.

13

Correct.

If you perform a fresh install, once complete, change to Main Server.
Then in terminal run

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

sudo apt install steam

That should be all you need to do.

2 Likes
14

Interesting, so after a couple of restarts, I was able to log in and get my desktop instead of a black screen/x cursor issue. Not sure if that will return or if I can uninstall the library I installed, or if it should be fine.

I'm switched to Main Server, it had me set to Server for Canada. So far no random closes for Steam. And the first game I tried with Vulkan had some microstuttering, but DX11 seems fine enough. I think that solves the issue of Steam not working. Thank you both for the assistance :slightly_smiling_face:

2 Likes
15

You may want to try upgrading Mesa for better Vulkan support.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ernstp/mesarc

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

1 Like