Crash with IDirect3DDevice9::Present() message?

[PhilipS]

I recently installed HL2 and have been able to play it with reasonable stability -- just the occasional audio stutter and framerate slowdowns. But as soon as I started on the route kanal (sp?) level the game crashes 100% of the time with a driver error message referencing IDirect3DDevice9:resent(). Has anyone else encountered this?

Here are the system specs: (Vaio a270 laptop)
- Pentium M 1.6MHz
- 1.25G RAM
- ATI Mobility 9700 64Meg

I tried updating the stock drivers to Omega but it didn't solve the problem. The crash still occurs at the exact same place with the exact same message. Any suggestions? I really don't want to start down the rat hole of isolating out every configuration and game setting variable if someone else has already ID'd the problem...

Thanks.

 

[oni_666]

I'd try..un-install your video card drivers, then re-install.
Re-install DX9.0c.
Before you encounter that spot where the error occurs, lower all of your HL2 graphic settings.
Then try to get through that bit and put the settings back up.

There is probably a way to open the console and skip that bit and go onto the next map.

Ask around.

 

[billy269]

yep i have that error message

 

[PhilipS]

Well dropping all of the settings that put load on the graphics card allowed me to get past the error. Once past it, I've returned all of the settings to their original state and it's running fine.

HL2 is a well designed game but man is it buggy.