Can't play HL2?

[The_Merlin]

Don't flame the noob please :angel: I know you all hate to here about these types of thread, but come on just one more? I love this game to death and just want to play it for longer then 5 minutes :sniper:

Specs are:

3ghz P4 800fsb HT
Chaintech 9CJS Zenith Intel i875P chipset......latest drivers
ATi Radeon 9800 Pro, Catalyst 4.11 drivers, I tried the 4.12 beta, but had the same problem and reverted...
Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS, latest drivers
Western Digital 80gb ATA
Logitech 5.1 Z-5300e Speakers
19" Orion Monitor
420 watt Turbolink PSU
Windows XP Home SP2 completely up to date.

I also daily scan with AVG 6.0, Spybot S&D, Ad Aware SE and have Zone Alarm Firewall......

I also have the retail copy of HL2.....

The problem I have had since the beginning and it seems almost random... I have never played the game for longer then 20 minutes. Sometimes its 20 minutes, then 5, then 12, then 2 minutes :hmph: I have tried from a cold reboot and that hasn't helped. The computer is not in the sun and its not hot in the house, I have even tried without the case door off(which is dumb because the case has 7 fans[2 front, 2 back, top and side] and the side fan blows straight at the GPU).....I highly doubt its overheating, I mean I run 100% online races and have done this after having the computer on for the entire day and it has never crashed

What happens is that the game will just stop in the middle of doing something...... The first time was while in the game menu when I first played the game, second time was in the first level I was in a building and tried throwing a bicycle at a window, 3rd time was at the beginning of Red Letter Day, 4th was when I was in a little tunnel crouched down and had knock open a grate and across the way were Combine shooting at me(it crashed here twice) and now the 6th and 7th times were in Route Kanal, where I am using the turret to shoot Combine and the flying robot things.......

The game just stops, the monitor turns off, the HD activity light lights up solid for about 10 seconds and then turns off..... No way to turn it off I think except for the surge protector switch :hmph:

WTF is goin on? I a pretty sure that I have the latest fixes they released recently with SDK and Deathmatch because doesn't Steam update its self? I have found no download links for it obviously?

Please someone help me, I love this game to death and just want to play it :angel: :stare: :dork:

Thanks

 

[The Monkey]

I had this problem with BF 1942 MP. The computer always turned itself off. I never got it fixed. But I'm sure there's a solution.

 

[ju ju]

hi

Try turning your firewall and anti-virus software off, if this doesnt help try closeing all background programs, my gut feeling is its something to do with memory, you could try this -----> go to System Properties, select the Advanced tab and under Performance click Settings -> Advanced. In the Memory Usage section you’ll be able to change emphasis between Programs and the System Cache. Select the System Cache option this will ensure that a larger proportion of memory is used in the cache.

 

[StainlessJ-FPGA]

Are you OCing?

Kind of an odd thing to happen, don't think it's directly related to any individual piece of hardware... did you build the machine yourself?

 

[The_Merlin]

Are you OCing?

Kind of an odd thing to happen, don't think it's directly related to any individual piece of hardware... did you build the machine yourself?

No OCing, built myself and have had it for a year now.....

I have played many of teh newest games except for DOOM3 on it...like Far Cry, etc. without any problems.....

 

[Ennui]

close all background programs, works for me

 

[The_Merlin]

Try turning your firewall and anti-virus software off, if this doesnt help try closeing all background programs, my gut feeling is its something to do with memory, you could try this -----> go to System Properties, select the Advanced tab and under Performance click Settings -> Advanced. In the Memory Usage section you’ll be able to change emphasis between Programs and the System Cache. Select the System Cache option this will ensure that a larger proportion of memory is used in the cache.

The system cache seems to have worked, I have gone thru that area, a few tunnels and some fighting with the Combine, but it has really slowed down the game though, everytime I am fighting or enter a new room and run alonger the game comes to a near freeze?!?!?!?!

Now what do I do? I forgot to mention I have 2x 512mb of DDR400........

I mean not everyone can possibly have system cache turned on right? I'll play it more later and make sure it doesn't screw up again, but how do I return to the flawless FPS's I had before?

 

[The_Merlin]

Bump.......

Can you answer my question on how to not have to run the game with teh system cache on? PLEASE!

 

[The_Merlin]

OK, flame the n00b I had the resolution at 1600x1200 which was causing the stuttering :thumbs:

Thanks much ju ju :thumbs:

 

[Ennui]

oh god no wonder!

I was just about to suggest start running on minimum settings, then increase them until you've got it looking good but still playable.