Failed To Lock vertex Buffer error

[hamsterfufu]

The game used to run perfectly recently though after the patch i think, everytime i start the game during loading (blury screen) i get the following error "Failed to lock Vertex buffer in CMeshDX8::LockVertexBuffer"

I've tried re-installing updating my video / sound card drivers

Anyone else having simular problems or know of any work around

Specs :
Intel 2.4Ghz
1gig ram 333mhz
Radeon 9700 pro < before all this sh*t i was getting 30-40fps at 1200 X 1024 - everything on High 2X AA

 

[tipness]

LockVertexBuffer error

Same problem...

Installed on IBM T40 laptop (Pentium M @1.6GHz, 512MB RAM, 32MB ATI Mobility Radeon 9000), started up in to HL2 Deathmatch once, but now falls over during loading...

Re-installed display drivers and updated to DX9.0c, but no change!

Any solutions to this out there...

tipness