Hl2 Crash

FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds EntertainmentSan Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
<div class="IPBDescription">Anyone else getting this?</div> When I run HL2, it plays the VALVe logo properly, then a few seconds after the video mode switch, when it looks like it's trying to bring up the main menu, the game crashes with a (see attached screenshot). This happens every time.

I'm running a Radeon Mobility 9000 with 64 meg RAM. I'm using unsigned drivers, but I've also tried the latest signed drivers from ATI (4 months old) and both exhibit the same problem. I'm able to run lots of other games without any glitches, crashes or problem, including CS: Source, HL1 engine games, UT2004, Call of Duty, War III, Doom III, etc. I've made sure I have no spyware, viruses, hardware conflicts, etc., but still no go.

It seems like I'm the only person having this error! Anyone else having it or fixed it?
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Comments

  • CobletCoblet Join Date: 2004-01-31 Member: 25803Members
    Mate at least you can install it, I'm getting an error with some icon file in a .cab file... but the icon file is in the next .cab, not the one it's looking for <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • ZaziZazi Join Date: 2002-05-26 Member: 672Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Might not be completely related... but have you tried:

    -Running memory tests to make sure your memory isn't bad?
    -Patching Windows?
    -Reinstalling?
    -Uninstalling and reinstalling steam, hl2, the works?
    -Done "chkdsk /r" in your recovery console?
    -Tried increasing your video memory? (if it is shared with your on board RAM, then you can do this in your BIOS... with most newer laptops anyway.)


    Obvious stuff, I know... but pfft.
  • OneEyedOneEyed Join Date: 2003-03-14 Member: 14493Members
    Maybe its the intel celeron processor that it most-likely uses.
  • ZaziZazi Join Date: 2002-05-26 Member: 672Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    Oh God... if I did ANYTHING but using a word processor on my Celeron laptop, I'd have to kill myself. Ahem, anyway...
  • AposApos Join Date: 2003-06-14 Member: 17369Members, Constellation
    edited November 2004
    Sounds like what I had Flay.

    Delete or rename the source models gcf. Restart Steam. It should now download the file over again, which might take awhile.

    Let me guess: when the game unlocked, you tried downloading the rest of HL:S first, but then canceled when you realized it might take awhile and you really wanted to play HL2. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> That seems to be the common theme among everyone that had this problem, am I right?
  • FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment San Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
    Thanks Apos. I'm trying that now and will let you know.
  • AposApos Join Date: 2003-06-14 Member: 17369Members, Constellation
    edited November 2004
    I should note that your error looks slightly different: my memory couldn't be "read" instead of yours not being able to be "written." But this seems to be the key issue that most who can't play are facing (specially if you did that HL:S switcheroo). The only troublespot might be if there is a different gcf that is borked for you. Though Erik J has posted about just the source models gcf, so let's hope that's it.

    The only other major complaint I've seen is if you have only 512Megs of system memory, the game sounds can get choppy if you set the details (texture size and or sound quality) too high. This is a VERY memory and CPU intensive game. Your GPU makes it look pretty, but it can't also handle the tons of ambient sounds and dialouge and material effects and textures and... so on.

    Now, get this: when I had this error, I didn't know who to contact. I figure I was s&*t out of luck. So I posted a whiny thread in Shacknews about how I wasn't going to get to play with the rest of the kiddies. Know what happened? In just a few minutes I had no less than THREE Valve staffers contact me looking to help resolve my issue. Erik Johnson himself troubleshot the problem with me, looked at my memory dumps and so forth. Plus, there is an awesome new support forum at steampowered now where you can open a ticket on a particular issue and get quick response to help you out. Very slick. I'm playing now and the game is swveet. I love how the main menu works for the singleplayer game. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    But think about that: the night of the release, they stayed up all night and were actually scanning through random fan messageboard posts to look for people to help! There were like six different Valve guys combing the Shacknews site providing on the spot tech support and advice. They obviously love their baby and wanted to make sure everyone else got some love too. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment San Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
    Nope, didn't work for me. Deleted everything and am re-downloading.
  • AposApos Join Date: 2003-06-14 Member: 17369Members, Constellation
    You sure it actually got everything? Source models gcf is a 449Meg file: you must have had a megafast connection to get it that fast.

    Have you tried reenabling the download of HL:S as well as HL2? I think that was part of the issue: something that HL2 needs to run that for some reason gets overwritten by a partial download of HL:S that must finish before the HL2 bit is restored.
  • AposApos Join Date: 2003-06-14 Member: 17369Members, Constellation
    edited November 2004
    For everyone's use, here is the new support thing on steam powered: I got help within 10 minutes of filing a ticket (though I had to turn it down since the man Erik Johnson was already helping me directly, lol)
    <a href='http://steampowered.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/steampowered.cfg/php/enduser/acct_login.php?p_sid=3IxK8Gqh&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPSZwX3NvcnRfYnk9JnBfZ3JpZHNvcnQ9JnBfcm93X2NudD0yNTAmcF9wYWdlPTE*&p_li=&p_next_page=entry.php' target='_blank'>http://steampowered.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/s..._page=entry.php</a>

    Here's Erik's post about this problem on shacknews:
    <a href='http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=9010282' target='_blank'>http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=9010282</a>

    And here's where I got piled on by Valve employees looking to help me after whining like a little baby. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> Please fellas, don't fight over me! Me tech support, long time!
    <a href='http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=9009440' target='_blank'>http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=9009440</a>
  • antifreezeantifreeze The guy with the goods&#33; Join Date: 2003-05-12 Member: 16232Members, Constellation
    I feel the pain of lockups, 5 so far.
  • MerciorMercior Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4019Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    edited November 2004
    I also have this exact error, Flayra.. posted a message in this forum earlier, but it got bumped off page 1 <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    ATM I've set my desktop to 800x600 and I've moved the window so it fills the screen :/

    I'm on an AMD 2000+ with geforce 4ti4400 - latest dx, nvidia drivers & windows.. I think this can be ruled out as a hardware problem as my system is just about the opposite of yours <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • AposApos Join Date: 2003-06-14 Member: 17369Members, Constellation
    edited November 2004
    antifreeze: you apparently are actually getting to run the game before it crashes. The loading bug, the major one I am referencing, kicks in before you even get to a level.
  • FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment San Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
    Yep Apos, I have a very fast connection.

    Mercior, I'll let you know as soon as I know. I've written VALVe and am trying a bunch of things so I imagine it'll be cleared up within a day or two max.
  • AposApos Join Date: 2003-06-14 Member: 17369Members, Constellation
    Really too bad that this is taking you away from the release day goodness. I hope it really is just a pre-loading error like it was with me. My hopes were dashed and then raised tremendously all in the course of a few hours.
  • MavericMaveric Join Date: 2002-08-07 Member: 1101Members
    Radeon 9800 w/ latest drivers and catalyst should fix that problem riiiight up... course, it'll cost you. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • MerciorMercior Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4019Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Thanks Flayra!

    When I boot up hl for the first time, it fullscreens the valve logo, but then the video mode change fails(?) and it pops up a message saying it will try a safer resolution.. then that fails, and I get another message saying it is resulting to "safe" mode, then hl opens in a window.

    If I go to the game options and try to change to fullscreen mode, that is when I get the same crash you are getting.
  • QuaunautQuaunaut The longest seven days in history... Join Date: 2003-03-21 Member: 14759Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    The one person who shouldn't be bugged gets bugged...

    Oh well. I'm sure you'll enjoy it once its going Flayra, <3
  • XythXyth Avatar Join Date: 2003-11-04 Member: 22312Members
    edited November 2004
    I'm able to play the game, but I keep getting "material not found" errors in the console. I wouldn't have thought to check there, but some fences and certain textures never render. Like in the train station all the fences that direct you aren't visible :/. Im trying to fix this by redownloading source materials.gcf
  • StarchyStarchy Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15727Members, Constellation
  • TheWizardTheWizard Join Date: 2002-12-11 Member: 10553Members, Constellation
    edited November 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Flayra+Nov 16 2004, 12:59 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Flayra @ Nov 16 2004, 12:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> When I run HL2, it plays the VALVe logo properly, then a few seconds after the video mode switch, when it looks like it's trying to bring up the main menu, the game crashes with a (see attached screenshot).  This happens every time.

    I'm running a Radeon Mobility 9000 with 64 meg RAM.  I'm using unsigned drivers, but I've also tried the latest signed drivers from ATI (4 months old) and both exhibit the same problem.  I'm able to run lots of other games without any glitches, crashes or problem, including CS: Source, HL1 engine games, UT2004, Call of Duty, War III, Doom III, etc.  I've made sure I have no spyware, viruses, hardware conflicts, etc., but still no go. 

    It seems like I'm the only person having this error!  Anyone else having it or fixed it? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I encountered an error that was similar yet it was fixed when I upgraded my unsigned drivers to the newest release. In addition, I do not believe the ability to play CS:Source is a valid measure of compatability because I too was able to run it without difficulties.

    Because your error seems to occur when the menu attempts to load I think that should limit your possible problem areas to your video and audio subsystems. Lets work through the video first.


    Video troubleshooting:<ul><li>Try different Drivers: already attempted</li><li>Minimize the video configuration: probably via config files</li><li>Force the system to load in OpenGL or DirectX. (maybe one system is causing the problems)</li><li>Check that directX is updated</li></ul>How far does it make it before the crash? You said it shows the valve logo and then the video mode switch. Does it make it to the 'blurry city' loading image?

    Audio is a different beast alltogether. I would probably suggest a few different audio settings or disabling audio hardware to see if that isolates the problem.

    Those are about the only options I can suggest at the moment. With more information I might be able to help a bit more. Hopefully we can catch it before it gets to the PCI/AGP card pulling stage.

    edit: on the brighter side. It seems that Valve was smart and saw the intelligence in hiring a large enough support staff for release. They seem to be answering questions with an amazingly fast response for a software company.
  • DiscoZombieDiscoZombie Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 18951Members
    I was able to play this morning/last night... now I can't log onto steam <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/sad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment San Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
    OK, everything is now working for me. I deleted all the local HL2 content and redownloaded the whole thing. Took about 6 hours.

    In my experience, if you right-click an installed game in the "My Games" list, choose "Properties", then "Delete local game content", it doesn't actually delete all the game content. I'm not sure if it was necessary or not, but I deleted:

    half-life 2 content.gcf
    platform.gcf
    source engine.gcf
    source materials.gcf
    source models.gcf
    source sounds.gdf
    (e-mail address)/half-life 2 folder

    Hope this works for you guys.

    I know what I'm doing tonight!
  • ComproxComprox *chortle* Canada Join Date: 2002-01-23 Member: 7Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Silver, Subnautica Developer, Subnautica Playtester, Pistachionauts
    Coding NS:S?

    *ducks and runs* <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    Glad you got it working!
  • MerciorMercior Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4019Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Mine is also working <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    After reading some of the replies on shacknews, I tried locking the 1024x768 refresh rate to 85hz in the nvidia drivers, and now it works great! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->:D:D I'm off to <!--emo&::asrifle::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif' /><!--endemo-->
  • elitebearelitebear Join Date: 2002-05-29 Member: 696Members
    with that aside, id just like to say, i love you flayra
  • TeiohTeioh Canadia Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9453Members, Constellation
    my lovely game decides that the computer needs to restart when it loads up the menu.

    Reinstalling isn't an option for me now because I can't even log into steam :/
  • ByekaByeka Name changed from Freak83 Toronto Join Date: 2003-03-13 Member: 14484Members, Constellation
    Got this problem when I installed it on Disk 4.

    I then went back to EB games and got a new copy and same problem on the same CD. I then went back yet AGAIN and still got the same problem. Any solutions? Any way to still do the pre-download?
  • CabooseCaboose title = name(self, handle) Join Date: 2003-02-15 Member: 13597Members, Constellation
    You should be able to download by clicking on "register a Product I already own" in the Browse Games window.
  • ByekaByeka Name changed from Freak83 Toronto Join Date: 2003-03-13 Member: 14484Members, Constellation
    I put it in and...

    Installation of Half-Life 2 Retail Standard is required before continuing. Please insert your Half-Life 2 Retail Standard CD/DVD into the drive and select 'install' from the autorun menu.



    Which is exactly what I can't do.
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