HL now refuses to save my video settings

[davidh]

How do I force HL and any of its mods to use OpenGL @ 1280*1024 in 32bit colors?

The -gl command line commands are ignored.

My desktop is set to 1280*1024 in 32bit and each mod appears to start in this resolution then be forced back to Software @ 1280*1024 in 16bit.

I then change the resolution, it restarts and it works fine. Games under Steam won't start up in this mode like they used to.


AMD 1800+
256MB
GeForce2MX-400
CL SB Live! Value
Steam-FullCache-Latest Version@21Oct2003



Q. Why wont it save these settings?


Q. If it can't be fixed easily, I want to know where in the registry or which file i need to hex-edit so that I can force it to start games with these settings?


Q. Is there an equivalent to /gfx/ folder like ol'HL had?


Q. Why is r_mmx 0 now and why won't it change to 1?


Q. Do I need to kill any of the old HL registry settings to get new fangled Steam to use new ones? (Had HL since 1st release plus OppForce, BlueShift, FA, CS, ActionHL, DoD et al)


Q. Why do I still have ati_ cvars even when I have a GeForce2MX-400?


Any ideas? ;(

 

[davidh]

Seem to have got closer to a solution but still no joy.


I want to FORCE Steam to default to OpenGL @ 1280*1024 in 32bit color


I now know that in the Registry

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Half-Life\Settings

had the following keys

3DWarning 1
CPUMHZ 0
EngineD3D 0
EngineD3DDevice 0
EngineGLDriver Default
EngineDLL sw.dll
EngineModeBPP 16
EngineModeW 1280
EngineModeH 960
EngineMode 13

which I altered to

3DWarning 1
CPUMHZ 0
EngineD3D 0
EngineD3DDevice 0
EngineGLDriver Default
EngineDLL hw.dll
EngineModeBPP 32
EngineModeW 1280
EngineModeH 1024
EngineMode 13

BUT it still gives me SOFTWARE @ 1280*1024 in 16bit color.

I know that there is a 'custom.hpk' file per game mod and as per a Steam forum message, I've deleted them but what do I do next?

WHAT AM I MISSING?

 

[davidh]

Ok... so nobody knows the answer, right?

I have given up on expecting external help now...
I guess Steam Users can expect this kinda thing.
Software maintenance does seem to be a kinda self-help group these days anyhow... oh for the days when 'software support' meant something?

Anyways, here's an update.

Some of those settings were from 'old' HL.
They can be ignored. I am guessing they can be 'safely' deleted from your registry. Go on. Delete your registry. See if I care!

Deleting the entire HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Half-Life\Settings key and running Steam results in just these settings being resored.
I guess these are all that Steam uses...
If I am wrong, do not hesitate to correct me!

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Half-Life\Settings]
"io"="some_nine_digit_number"
"EngineDLL"="hw.dll"
"ScreenWindowed"=dword:00000000
"ScreenWidth"=dword:00000500
"ScreenHeight"=dword:00000400
"ScreenBPP"=dword:00000020
"User Token 2"=""
"User Token 3"=""
"EngineD3D"=dword:00000000

which boils down to

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Half-Life\Settings
io=some_nine_digit_number
EngineDLL=hw.dll
ScreenWindowed=0
ScreenWidth=1280
ScreenHeight=1024
ScreenBPP=32
User Token 2=""
User Token 3=""
EngineD3D=0

for all of you who don't think in hex.

I still don't get HL or any HL mod defaulting to OPENGL mode at 1280*1024 in 32bit color, like I want, but then again I didn't expect it to work.

At least now, the ol' style settings have been removed.

Does *anyone* with a clean install of Steam with OPENGL as default gfx mode see anything different in their registry? Anyone out there?