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Dakar Desert Rally Crashing on PC: A Diagnosis Checklist
By Dakar Rally Game editorial team. Sources and practical guidance; no hands-on benchmark claims.
Record when the crash happens
A crash before the menu, a crash while loading a stage and a crash at one particular location are different symptoms. Write down which one you see, the store version you are using and any error message. Note whether the problem began after a game update, a driver change or connecting new hardware.
Avoid changing everything at once. If you reinstall the game, replace drivers and reset settings together, a successful launch will not tell you which change mattered. Start with reversible checks, repeat a simple test and keep a short record. For general compatibility, compare your machine with the corrected system requirements.
Verify the installation before reinstalling
For a Steam installation, use the game's Properties screen, open Installed Files and choose Verify integrity of game files. Valve documents this process for checking installed content. Let it finish before launching another test. For a different store, use that launcher's own verification option rather than Steam-specific instructions.
After verification, try the same launch or stage that failed previously. If the result changes, record it. If the crash persists, check for an available supported graphics driver from your hardware vendor and restart after installation when requested. Use the graphics diagnosis guide if the game runs but performs poorly; a low frame rate is not the same problem as a process closing.
Make the failure reproducible
Try a short run with nonessential overlays closed and only the input devices you need connected. Keep the test consistent: same event, vehicle and settings. If a specific action triggers the crash, describe the sequence in plain language. “Load this stage, change to this view, then drive to this point” is more useful than “the game is broken.”
Do not delete saved progress as an early troubleshooting step. If support later requests a configuration reset, make a backup and understand which files are affected before proceeding. A random file-deletion suggestion from another game's forum may have no relevance to Dakar Desert Rally.
Prepare a report support can investigate
Saber's reporting page requests a DxDiag report and crash dump for PC crashes. It identifies the crash folder as C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Local\Dakar2Game\Saved\Crashes. Follow the support page when collecting those files and submit them through the official support channel rather than publishing them in a public comment.
Include the steps you tried and their results. If only one event fails, say so; if every launch fails, say that instead. A concise report with a repeatable trigger gives support something concrete to investigate and prevents another round of advice you have already tested.