HL2 just wont start, stick on preparing screen

[00bushem]

I just got HL2 retail standard (UK) and i have installed it, updated it and it says that game is 100% and ready to play offline.
I go to run the game and the "preparing to play Half - Life 2" pop up appears, my hard drive light starts blinking and it seems that sum thing is gonna load...
Then the "preparing to play Half - Life 2" pop up disappears and all activity stops and HL2 doesn't load.
I tried flashing my NEC DV5700A dvd drive but that dont seem to work.
Are the any other ideas how to get this game to work.... it is racking my brains


AMD Athlon Xp 3000+
Leadtek K7NCR18D pro Mobo
Geforce 4 Ti 4800 se (61.77)
NEC DV5700A (3.07)
40 Gb hard drive
56k modem

 

[BigWorm]

i have the same problem! its so annoying. iv tried everything to fix. virtual mem. settings, vid card, launch options, services...i just dont get it!? any suggestions would help.

 

[Beerdude26]

Have you tried updating your video drivers?

 

[Lane5Slacker]

I have the same exact problem. I've tried everything. Updated Chipset drivers, video drivers, flashed DVD-Rw firmware(Even though HL2 doesn't use a CD anymore, but I heard it worked), installed SP2, and uninstalled every sort of DVD burning software on my computer. It's so frusterating. I built my computer specificaly for HL2 and now this..GAH!!!

Comp.
P4 3.0Ghz Socket 775
Chaintech V915P Mobo
1 Gb RAM
Radeon X800 PCI express x16
Sony DRU-710A DVD-RW
100 GB HDD
Windows XP Pro SP2
umm....am I forgetting anything

 

[Beerdude26]

What video card do you have? Creative (Especially Audigy's) cards sometimes cause problems with HL2.

 

[Lane5Slacker]

I have a Radeon X800 vid. card. But do you mean sound card? I use the onboard audio. Realtek ALC880 chipset. Though I was having trouble installing the drivers for that. I think I'll go back and install them again.... Thanks for the idea. hope it works

 

[Dinkleberry]

XP SP2? Firewall might be ****ing with you so disabling it might help.