install problem (base shared source materials.gfc, please validate)

[ironman2284]

I have been trying to install HL2 for a day now. It is telling me that I need to validate and ensure that I can access the "base shared source materials.gfc". I went to the validation for HL2 and did it and it validated 2/2 files. However after trying to install it again it did not work.

I tried rebooting my computer and installing again and still the same result.

I also tried downloading it instead of installing it off of the cds by going to steam and then "activate a product I already own" but in order to activate my HL2 it says I have to install it first.

Also, I have tried installing it both with and without counter-strike.

My system meets all recommended requirement. Please help.

ironman2284

 

[diluted]

I've gotten this error before..
Do you have any disc copying/virtual drive software like Daemon Tools or Alcohol 120% installed? If so, uninstall it, it seems to conflict with the HL2 discs for some people.

 

[ironman2284]

no, nothing of that nature is on my pc. I just reformatted about a month ago as well so it should be clean and good to go. Any other suggestions?

 

[diluted]

Only other thing i can think of is faulty RAM. I too formatted a few weeks ago and I was getting this error, turns out one of my RAM sticks was dying. Took out the bad stick of RAM and it installed without a hitch..
Go to http://memtest86.com/ and download the 'Windows and DOS' installer.. you'll need 1 floppy disk for this. After it's done installing to the disk, reboot with the disk in the drive. If it doesn't boot off the disk then you'll have to change the boot order in the BIOS

 

[ironman2284]

what does faulty ram have to do with the validation of a .gfc file?

 

[diluted]

Faulty RAM can cause all sorts of problems. That's the reason I formatted, I was getting errors and programs crashing constantly, but didn't think to check the RAM until after I formatted..
Anyway it couldn't hurt to check your RAM. That's all I can really suggest..

 

[ironman2284]

Thanks for the help/time diluted, I appreciate it.

Any other suggestions from anyone?