Hopefully if you're running Windows 10 and you had problems launching then you landed hear sooner rather than later.

Using information gleaned from various sources including this Steam guide - https://gtm.you1.cn/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=159995553

And these Uplay pages - http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/739489-PC-Win7-8-vista-Solutions-gt-Far-Cry3-Has-Stopped-Responding

http://forums.ubi.com/showthread.php/734619-Another-crash-on-startup-Failed-to-execute-command-farcry3_d3d11-exe-(error-740)-Forums

I figured out the best way to fix the following errors I was getting with FC3:
1. Silent crash to desktop with no splash screens or erros.
2. Crash in loading screen with error code "740"

It turns out that one program needed Admin to run and the other program(s) needed Windows 8 compatability to run.

For your ease of use I've put the guide what I would say is backwards as I like to know how what I'm changing at each step affects what I'm running. In this case, setting Compatability on both FC3 .exe's and then subsequently setting Administrator on the separate .exe should result in a first launch.

I feel it's important to include the following information;

It is safer to not have programs and user accounts run as Administrator (or sudo). Ideally use a normal user account as your daily driver. First try to run your games without administrator mode on to see if you really need to apply this.

Read more here; https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/aaron_margosis/2004/06/17/why-you-shouldnt-run-as-admin/

To simplify; Because you're allowing many programs to connect to the internet, if any program is hacked it can be used to control your machine. This can be as simple as a flaw in Steam or Far Cry 3 that would allow someone to gain control of your machine remotely.

But sadly, because of many flaws in games from the past we may need to allow some limited access to the internet or allow administrator rights where newer games work with the modern operating system.

To improve your safety, if you must run Steam or games "as Administrator" try to run it from a standard or limited user account. This way if these programs are used against you the damage may be limited. To do this, create a separate - empty - administrator account with a strong password you have written down safely and downgrade your normal daily use profile to a user.

Alternatively, create a new user account of course - vice versa.

More info on account swaps here;
https://www.tenforums.com/user-accounts-family-safety/107334-downgrading-local-admin-account-standard-user-account.html

What was causing crash on launch was compatability issues, this time we simply resolve them using Windows built in tools:

However you like, for example:

• Steam
  
• Library
  
• Far Cry 3 - right click, Properties
  
• Files - Local files
  
• Then enter the "bin" directory...

Alternatively in Steam; Library, right click Far Cry 3, Properties, Local Files, Browse local files...


^ Now you should be here.

From here go start with farcry3_d3d11.exe, go to the Compatability tab and for good measure use the Change for All Users button to set compatability to W8 for everyone.

Click OK on both windows to save and get out.

If you were to try and launch now it would either crash silently or at the loading screen, so you'll need to do the same to farcry3.exe or enable DX11 in your settings file in Documents\my games\far cry 3\[settings].xml

For some insane reason you cannot add Run as Administrator easily to FC3UpdaterSteam.exe.



Select the file and right click and select Troubleshoot Compatability, that should bring up this window:


Select "Troubleshoot Program":


Select "Requires extra privelleges" and continue:

Now you need to test the program, once it gets to the main menu exit the game and confirm to Windows that these settings are correct. It should run now.

Beware that if Windows 10 detects that you have a touchscreen it will automatically start enabling related services.

The steam user Dat Boi identified as with other users that the Windows service TabletInputService seems to cause a memory leak with the game so disabling it should stop crashes in the following situation:

You are able to launch the game and get to the main menu, but within 10-20 minutes of getting to the main menu you get a CTD.

Disable the service by loading Task Manager (Press Ctrl+Alt+Del or right click on the Taskbar):


Click the Services tab and go to Open Services (again, two ways shown):


Find the Touchscreen service and right click to bring up Properties:


Set to Manual or Disable:


Alternatively, just go Task Manager - Services -TabletInput... - Stop

Here's the best thread I have seen on the subject:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/games_windows_10/far-cry-3-crashes-on-windows-10-after-15-minutes/e2f593eb-321d-4acd-ba72-1d8a3bfd06eb?auth=1

Finish up confirming admin rights to FC3UpdaterSteam.exe to Windows 10 then launch the game via Steam and it should now play. You're now free to modify the game inline with the other guides by other authors here.


What you have done here is:
Made farcry3 and farcry3_d3d11 run as if under Windows 8, and make FC3UpdaterSteam.exe run as an Administrator by default.

If you have a touchscreen PC you've probably had to disable the Windows touchscreen service.


But now you're here!


Hope that helps!