Episode Two particle effects missing

[Planetary]

For some reason, most of my Episode Two particle effect are missing. I can hear things burning and see the smoke, but not the flames. I can hear the Vort's glowing green balls, when they're healing Alyx, but can't see them. The nice 'splatter' blood effects don't appear, acid lions don't have an explosion (but I still hear it), and the superportal at the end if affected too.

The only clue I have is something in the console, which I'm posting below.
It shouldn't have anything to do with DirectX since I can see TF2 effects just fine, pyro flames, blood splatters, Goldrush explosion display no problem. Here's some screenshots below, including the console.

The console message and the lack of Vortiglow:



The lack of flame on a barrel (note the smoke)



Same on a zombie and flame trap:



I wasn't able to get one of the blood effects missing, but that's also true.
The console message just starts flooding (literally) stretching it out even when there's no effects on screen.
Things I've already done:

1. Verify game cache
2. reinstall Episode Two
3. switch resolutions
4. set dirextx level at 8 in the launch options

Any ideas?

 

[G(ordon)-man]

How good is your computer? Does it run rest of the ep2 fast?

 

[Planetary]

No framerate problems at all, except at the really big cinematic events like striders blowing up buildings in the strider defense, or in TF2 when 10 people are in the same area.

Definitely not a system requirements issue. I suspect it's just a matter of missing files, if I can just download them and put them in the right place.

 

[huntingbear]

did you buy the game in store or on steam or is it pirated? what's your specs? I do suspect it's a system problem...your video card may be overheating although I think your game would crash more often if this were the case.

 

[Planetary]

I already stated I've verified the game cache, which can only be done using Steam, so of course it's a legit copy. I have only ever crashed at 1 particular location, a bit of cinematic physics near the start (the mine cart smashing through the barricade bit right after the comm station scene) and I just look away before it hits.

Not an overheating problem either, I have no problems with TF2 running for a while.

Also, all the nice particle effects are fine in Portal. Portal gun sparks just fine, flames at the end screen fine... what gives? What's wrong with Episode Two specifically?

And what does that console message mean? Google just gives me one hit, on Facepunch some guy had a problem with putting the new effects in Gmod, but I don't use Gmod, so big help there!

 

[Planetary]

My specs:

Dell Inspiron 1501 (yeah, it's a laptop)

Amd athlon 64 x 2

1.70 Ghz, 896 MB of RAM

Windows XP, SP 3

But that shouldn't have anything to do with it.

 

[AtomicSpark]

What's your video card (the thing that should have something to do with it)?

 

[Planetary]

Here's the card:



I'm gonna try verifying the cache again.

 

[diluted]

You don't even have the proper drivers installed for your video card, that's your problem. Windows is just using a generic VGA driver.

Get the Catalyst drivers at www.ati.com

 

[Planetary]

Never would have thought of that! When I first ran TF2 I got a message saying I should update them and I did, guess I need to do it again. 1st chance I get I'm gonna try that.

 

[Mc Bane]

If you already updated them, then you must be doing it wrong. Doing the same thing again is not going to help. LEARN how to CORRECTLY update your graphics drivers, and THEN update them.

 

[[RE]Leon]

I love how everybody ignores my thread asking for help but everyone jumps on this one.:flame:

I'm pretty sure that it's something with your graphics card.
Could Particles in Ep2 be different than TF2?

 

[Mc Bane]

I love how everybody ignores my thread asking for help but everyone jumps on this one.:flame:

I'm pretty sure that it's something with your graphics card.
Could Particles in Ep2 be different than TF2?

I love how you jump into this thread without actually reading it. It has already been established that he does not have any correct drivers installed for his graphics card.

 

[Planetary]

I updated them to the latest version (had to go Googling since for some reason my Radeon Xpress 1150 isn't on the ATI site's list, nothing between 1050 and 1350).
It installed fine but Episode Two has not changed.
Here's my driver's new stats.

Compared with the previous version which was 6. something.

This is the Facepunch thread I was talking about, the guy had a similiar problem (exact same graphics card too!)
http://forums.facepunchstudios.com/showthread.php?p=9092399

But the thread real old, so you guys are almost my last hope.

 

[Mc Bane]

Yes well, also your card is an old piece of crap. Especially as it's an integrated card on a laptop. Be thankful it even plays Ep2 at all. Or much else for that matter. No amount of tweaking or advice can overcome the fact that you have an old, outdated laptop that was not particularly good for gaming to begin with. You might as well be asking why your horse-and-cart can't go as fast or do the same things as a car.


I call em like I see em.

 

[Planetary]

Yes, well I don't have problems with TF2, it runs perfectly fine for me. Granted that I don't need HDR or AA other acronyms to have fun (I can turn them on but I always leave my graphics settings on the defaults).
I checked and I'm well above the minimum system requirements.

The only real odd thing is that I don't remember having any Episode Two issues at all when I first bought it. Blood and fire were all fine. What changed?

 

[tschumann]

Have you tried resetting your configuration?

 

[Planetary]

Have you tried resetting your configuration?

What configuration are you talking about?

 

[tschumann]

Your config.cfg file.

 

[Planetary]

I deleted it, but that didn't do anything. It's nothing but my keybinds which are just default, so I didn't expect it to change anything.
I still think it's a matter of missing files, otherwise why would that message "flood" the console when and only when I'm looking at where an effect should be (Vortiglow, blood spray, fire, etc.)?

 

[Leo(T.C.K.)]

I am having same problem, well not exactly the same, but simmilar one and my specs are far better..........I am using laptop though, but its enough powered to run in full details, yet one day the particles like blood and fire stopped appearing(the new ones for ep2)........
(I solved it once by messing up with settings, but now nothing helps it seems)

Good old days, I mean the engines for games were not as faulty as this, my guess is that the file system got ****ed up or something..........
I was trying to find someone with the same problem and I found something here.

EDIT:I solved it now again it seems by changing resolution and back....still if I have to solve it everytime I run it, jeez.......
Btw, better don't do verification, it messes things up even harder.........

 

[Dr.Freeman]

Planetary do you use the original Half life 2 Episode 2 game??