Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchStart with hardware and software basics before changing graphics settings. Compare your PC with Embark’s published ARC Raiders tiers, install every pending Windows update, reboot, launch the game as administrator, and then isolate background applications with a clean boot. If Easy Anti-Cheat is blocked, add it and the game to your security software’s allow list. Reinstall only after those checks, using Embark’s folder-cleanup sequence.
First, establish what is actually failing
“Poor performance” can mean several different problems: a game that never reaches the menu, a black or frozen screen, brief hitches during play, consistently low frame rates, or crashes after a particular action. Each symptom points to a different check, so write down the details before changing anything.
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- The exact symptom and any error text.
- When it began and whether it started after a Windows, driver, game, or hardware change.
- Whether you use Steam or another supported PC installation.
- Your Windows edition and whether it has the latest updates.
- CPU model, graphics-card model, installed RAM, monitor resolution, and the quality preset.
- Whether the issue appears only in ARC Raiders or in other games as well.
- For stutter, the location and action that reproduce it: first match, entering a new area, opening a menu, or continuous movement.
This record prevents you from treating a launch failure as an FPS problem and gives support staff a reproducible case if the basic fixes do not work.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
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Check your PC against ARC Raiders’ three published tiers
Embark Studios describes the following configurations as targets for particular resolutions, quality levels, and frame rates. They are baselines, not guarantees for every patch, background workload, thermal condition, or memory configuration.
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| Target | Operating system | Processor | Memory | Graphics card | Stated result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Windows 10 or later, 64-bit, latest update | Intel Core i5-6600K or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 | 12 GB RAM | NVIDIA GTX 1050 Ti, AMD RX 580, or Intel Arc A380 | 1080p at 60 fps on Low |
| Recommended | Windows 10 or later, 64-bit, latest update | Intel Core i5-9600K or AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | 16 GB RAM | NVIDIA RTX 2070, AMD RX 5700 XT, or Intel Arc B570 | 1440p at 60 fps on High |
| Epic | Windows 10 or later, 64-bit, latest update | Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | 16 GB RAM | NVIDIA RTX 4070 Ti or RTX 5070, or AMD RX 7900 XTX | 1440p at 90 fps on Epic |
The minimum tier is not a promise that every scene will remain at 60 fps; it identifies the class of system Embark uses for Low at 1080p. If your processor, GPU, or memory is below that tier, hitching and low frame rates are expected risks rather than evidence that one graphics toggle is misconfigured. A system at the recommended tier is aimed at High at 1440p, while the Epic figures require a substantially faster CPU and GPU for 90 fps.
ARC Raiders also requires DirectX 12 and broadband internet on Steam. A machine that cannot provide DirectX 12 support or a stable connection cannot be made compliant by lowering a preset. The Steam release date listed by Valve is October 30, 2025; requirements can be revised in later updates, so treat Embark’s current Help Center page as the authority for changes.
Fix launch freezes, black screens, and infinite loading
Use these actions in order. They begin with reversible changes and move toward isolation and reinstallation.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →1. Install Windows updates, restart, and launch as administrator
- Open Settings > Windows Update, install every pending update, and restart even if Windows does not explicitly require it.
- After the restart, close applications you do not need, including recording tools, chat overlays, hardware monitors, and other game launchers.
- Find the ARC Raiders shortcut or executable, right-click it, choose Run as administrator, and approve the User Account Control prompt.
Embark identifies outdated operating-system files, limited permissions, background applications, and overlays as possible causes of loading failures. Running once with elevated permissions is a diagnostic step; it does not mean you must run every game permanently as administrator.
2. Perform a clean boot to isolate software conflicts
A clean boot starts Windows with Microsoft services hidden and non-Microsoft services and startup programs disabled. It is an isolation test, not a permanent gaming configuration.
- Press Win+R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - Open the Services tab and select Hide all Microsoft services. Do not disable Microsoft services before checking that box.
- Click Disable all for the remaining, non-Microsoft services, then select Apply.
- Open the Startup tab and choose Open Task Manager.
- In Task Manager’s Startup apps list, disable the remaining startup items.
- Close Task Manager, select OK in System Configuration, restart Windows, and test ARC Raiders before launching other programs.
If the game works after the clean boot, re-enable services and startup items in small groups, restarting and testing after each group. When the failure returns, divide that group again until you identify the conflicting application. Restore normal startup afterward by opening msconfig, selecting Normal startup, re-enabling the services and startup items you need, and restarting.
3. Allow Easy Anti-Cheat and ARC Raiders through security software
Easy Anti-Cheat is required to play. Windows Defender or a third-party antivirus and firewall can block it, which may prevent the game from launching or completing its loading sequence.
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- OC Mode : 1500 MHz (Boost Clock)/Default Mode : 1470 MHz (Boost Clock)
- Open the settings for Windows Defender or your installed security suite.
- Locate the application, firewall, or exclusions area.
- Add
EasyAntiCheat.exeand the ARC Raiders executable to the allowed list, following the product’s own interface. - Restart Windows and test the game again.
Use the exact executable installed with the game rather than downloading a replacement file from an unofficial site. If your organization manages security policy, you may need an administrator to approve the exception.
4. Reinstall only after the earlier checks fail
Reinstallation can repair damaged files, but it takes time and can remove local data if you delete the wrong folder. Embark’s sequence is:
- Uninstall ARC Raiders from the launcher or Windows’ installed-apps controls.
- Delete
C:Program FilesEmbark Studios. - Delete
%localappdata%Embark StudiosARC Raidersonly after confirming that doing so will not remove data belonging to another Embark game installed on the same PC. - Empty the Recycle Bin.
- Restart the computer.
- Redownload the game.
- Run the installer as administrator.
Do not skip the folder check when you have more than one Embark title installed. If you are unsure what a local folder contains, stop before deleting it and verify its contents or obtain support guidance.
Diagnose stuttering and low FPS after the game opens
Start by comparing your hardware tier and reproducing the problem under the same resolution and preset. A PC below the minimum target is likely to stutter even on Low. A PC that meets the recommended or Epic target but still hitches should be investigated for interference before you purchase hardware.
Separate a frame-rate limit from intermittent hitching
- Consistently low FPS: The system may be below the target tier, the resolution or quality level may exceed what the hardware can sustain, or another workload may be consuming CPU, GPU, or memory.
- Short freezes or rhythmic hitching: Record when they occur and test with overlays and background applications removed. A clean boot can show whether another service is involved.
- Stutter that begins only after a long session: Note the session length, temperatures, and whether the issue appears in other games. This pattern helps distinguish an ARC Raiders-specific problem from a broader system or thermal issue, but the published troubleshooting steps do not establish a universal temperature threshold.
- Stutter only during loading or the first match: Treat it first as a loading or background-process symptom. Complete the launch checklist and security checks before changing hardware.
Use the published targets to choose a realistic test
Test at the resolution and preset associated with your tier. For example, a system matching the minimum configuration should be evaluated at 1080p Low, not compared with an Epic 1440p/90-fps expectation. A recommended-tier PC should be evaluated against 1440p High, and an Epic-tier PC against 1440p Epic. Record the result over the same repeatable route rather than judging from a single glance at a crowded scene.
Meeting a tier does not guarantee identical performance across every update. Embark’s figures describe target configurations, while your motherboard firmware, cooling, memory configuration, applications, and patch version can change the result. If the machine is at or above the relevant tier, document the exact reproduction conditions and proceed with isolation rather than assuming a GPU purchase is the answer.
Remove background and overlay interference
Restart the PC, launch only ARC Raiders, and test the same action that produced the hitch. If the problem improves, perform the clean-boot procedure described above. Re-enable one service or startup group at a time until the conflict returns. This method is slower than disabling everything permanently, but it identifies the cause without leaving Windows in a degraded configuration.
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Embark specifically warns that background applications and overlays can interfere with the game. Close or disable them for the test, including chat, capture, performance overlays, RGB utilities, and other launchers. Do not assume that an overlay is harmless simply because it does not display a visible notification; the isolation test is what establishes whether it matters on your PC.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsChoose the next action by symptom
| Symptom | First checks | If it persists |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate crash before the menu | Windows updates, restart, administrator launch, close background applications | Clean boot, then allow-list Easy Anti-Cheat and ARC Raiders |
| Black or frozen screen during launch | Windows updates, restart, administrator launch, remove overlays | Clean boot; security exceptions; reinstall using the documented sequence |
| Infinite loading screen | Reboot, administrator launch, background-process isolation | Check Easy Anti-Cheat permissions, then reinstall if necessary |
| Low FPS on Low settings | Compare CPU, GPU, and RAM with the minimum tier; confirm resolution and target | Clean boot and document reproducible conditions before considering hardware changes |
| Intermittent stutter on a qualifying PC | Record where it occurs; restart and test without overlays or background apps | Clean boot, re-enable services methodically, and report the exact reproduction details |
| Anti-cheat-related launch failure | Confirm Easy Anti-Cheat is installed and not blocked | Add EasyAntiCheat.exe and ARC Raiders to security allow lists; reinstall only if required |
What not to treat as an official fix
There is no verified, universally safe ARC Raiders-specific GPU driver version, shader-cache policy, or launch option established by the available official guidance. Community launch flags and registry edits can create new failures, make support diagnosis harder, or behave differently after an update. Do not present one as a guaranteed cure for stutter or crashes.
Likewise, lowering every setting is not a substitute for checking the requirements. If the processor or graphics card is below the minimum tier, a lower preset may reduce load but cannot turn the system into the published 1080p/60-fps configuration. If your PC meets a target, use the clean-boot and security checks to identify interference before spending money.
When to stop troubleshooting locally
Escalate with a concise, reproducible report when the game still fails after updates, a restart, administrator launch, clean boot, security allow-list checks, and—where appropriate—the documented reinstall. Include your hardware tier, Windows version, platform, exact error text, whether Easy Anti-Cheat appears in the failure, and the steps that reproduce it. State whether other games work and whether a clean boot changed the result. This information is more useful than saying only that the game is “laggy.”
If reinstalling solved the launch problem but performance remains poor, keep the two outcomes separate in your report: file or permission failure was repaired, while frame-rate or hitching behavior remains. That distinction helps support focus on performance conditions instead of asking you to repeat the installation.
Practical checklist
- Confirm Windows 10 or later, 64-bit, fully updated.
- Confirm DirectX 12 support and broadband internet for the Steam installation.
- Compare CPU, GPU, and RAM with the minimum, recommended, or Epic tier.
- Record the symptom, error, timing, platform, resolution, preset, and reproducible action.
- Install updates, restart, and run ARC Raiders as administrator once.
- Test with overlays and unnecessary background applications closed.
- Use
msconfigand Task Manager for a clean-boot test; restore normal startup afterward. - Allow
EasyAntiCheat.exeand ARC Raiders in Windows Defender or your security suite. - Only then perform the Embark folder-cleanup reinstall, taking care with other Embark games.
- Avoid unverified launch flags and unsupported tweaks when reporting the issue.
Following this order identifies whether the cause is an unsupported configuration, a Windows or permission problem, interference from another program, security software blocking anti-cheat, or damaged installation data—without confusing one symptom for another.
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