Black objects when flash light is off? Any help would be appreciated!

[AgentFisher]

Hello all,

First I'd like to apologize if this is not a good place to post help threads. I'm a bit new to this website. Also, this was the only website I could find that allows posts on Half-Life 2 Episode 2!?! I have this really weird problem; when I look around, objects (train cars, boxes, buckets, cones, sometimes people!...) are a solid black color, with now textures to be recognized. When I turn my flashlight on however; the objects texture and color both appear in the circle of light. I have used the console code "mat_fullbright 1" to erase all shadows, but the objects are still a solid black. The scenery is not black, and things such as buildings are normal. In some cases some NPC's are black except for their eyes?!? Dr. Kliener's lab coat should be white, but is black, even on the T.V scenes with him. In all these cases, the proper colors and textures come back to the objects once the flashlight is turned on. I have played the entire game just fine, its just irritating is all. I am playing this game on a PC, with 2 GB RAM, 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X600. I have no problems with Half-Life 2, or Half-Life 2 Episode 1. I do have some pictures if you would like!

Thank you so much!

 

[1845]

Firstly, do you have Steam installed?

Secondly are all of your drivers up to date, especially those for your Graphics Card?

If all the above are yes's then you need to verify the integrity of the game's cache via Steam, if some files are missing or corrupt Steam will grab them and install them for you.

Failing that you may have to wait for a new graphics driver for your card!

 

[attorney general]

People underestimate the graphics card driver thing.. I did at first, Episode 2 wouldn't even start until I did. Lol.. it actually crashed my puter till the point of restarting.

 

[AgentFisher]

Hey,

You guys are amazing! It was the graphics card, I updated and its all good! Many thanks everyone!

:cheers:

 

[Omnomnick]

1845 is right, its option 2, i used to get a black object in the back of the gravel pit resupply when i couldnt be arsed to update my driver (was always being sad, not installin) but now i updated it and went on this morning...it was gone , never got it in ep2 or portal though

EDIT: sry, i couldnt be bothered to read all the posts and didnt read the last one, but its now a hint for others

 

[Azner]

Heh
http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=134349
Istead of updating because i cant... (Not the time to get the new driver)
I just -dxlevel 81

 

[1845]

Well Half Life 2: Ep 1 runs fine via my PC without these dark textures, but HL2 on the other hand, especially decals around the Highway 17 whilst the flashlight is switched on look fine and dandy. Turn the flashlight off, and bang theres black holes everywhere!!!

I know that its my graphics driver that needs to be upgraded by two revisions and is probably the primary cause of this! My machines Graphics card is more of a pain that it shoul be!!!!

 

[Azner]

Just right click on Halflife 2 on steam, go to launch options and insert this.

-dxlevel 81

 

[1845]

All of the Half Life's on my PC run under "dx" 8.1 as I only have a 5900xt, so I'm only just missing the mark for full "dx" 9 support.

I'm getting the Orange Box for PS3 (Don't shoot me ), as I don't intend on upgrading my PC any further. I'll wait for a few years and buy a new swanky machine for a fraction of what I have spent on my current one!!!!

Hence why I'm not in these forums often, as I'm trying not to spoil EP 2 before I get a chance to play it!!!