New GFX Card, how 2 redetect hardware?

[Garindan]

Hi all,

I recently upgraded from my trusty old Geforce Ti4200 to a nice shiny 6600GT. I will reformat at a later date, but for now i just wondered if anybody knows how i can get half life/cs to redetect my hardware? The 'recommended' settings are still those of the old card.

I did find one post on the steam forums of the same thing but the person who replied only had a vague idea about deleting certain files, i'd rather know for sure instead of messing up my installation.

Thanks in advance ppl :cheers:

 

[OmegaX]

I would have recommended Disabling your old video card before you installed the new one. But i think you can disable it now then install the drivers for the new card. To disable the old card in Windows XP. right-click My Computer, select Manage, and then select Device Manager under System Tools. Find your video card under Display Adapters, then right click and pick Disable.

 

[Tupper]

I'd recommend completely uninstalling anything and everything having to do with a video card on your computer. Shut off, take out your old card, and put your new one in (or just reset if you already have your new one in). Reinstall drivers\control panels\etc, and you're good to go.

 

[Element Alpha]

I would have recommended Disabling your old video card before you installed the new one. But i think you can disable it now then install the drivers for the new card. To disable the old card in Windows XP. right-click My Computer, select Manage, and then select Device Manager under System Tools. Find your video card under Display Adapters, then right click and pick Disable.

^^THAT'S NOT THE WAY TO DO THIS!

You should go to add/remove software in your control panel and remove the old drivers there, and you should do this BEFORE you install drivers for your new card. If you see no mension of your old card listed in add/remove programs, then you're ready to install the new drivers.
I hope this helps. If your drivers isn't the problem, maybe you could google for a list of halflife2 console commands, maybe one of 'em is interesting. Good luck.

 

[MTL]

heh i had to do this to0~!
i didnt even think about looking on the net for an answer...i just tested moving stuff out of the main folders...

what you need to delete are configuration files in
valve/steam/steamapps/screenname/half-life2 folder called
config_DX and config_GL
if you have a folder called 3DA_BACKUP, delete the contents inside that

TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, since ive only had to do this once....just move those files to somewhere you will remember.....and start the game...your "recommened system settings" should change, if not..then im probablly forgetting a file

if the settings have changed....delete those old config files

 

[IIgenTA]

http://steampowered.custhelp.com/cg...y5zZWFyY2hfbmwmcF9wYWdlPTI*&p_li=&p_topview=1

On that page you'll find links to have Steam reset your video settings. I'm having a video card probably as of right now. I hope that helps. Always search the support section at www.steampowered.com first.

 

[Garindan]

Thanks for the replies people. I think the first three posts have got a bit confused. I had removed the old card correctly, uninstalled and cleaned up, installed new card, there are no problems there.

The only problem was that half life needed to 'redetect' the hardware and change the 'recommended' settings, because it was still recommending the settings from the old card.

So i will try what MTL said, but people seem to have different ideas about what files to delete to achieve this, it would be good if somewhere could find exactly what needs to be done, as i'm sure others have wanted to do this too.

Actually i've just noticed that the link IIgenTA provided has the solution under Force Video Mode Reset, but it's listed in the faq under black screen, hangs... could do with also being a seperate faq :dozey:

Ok cheers again ppl. :afro:

 

[IIgenTA]

Glad to be of some service. Happy gaming.

 

[Dumb Dude]

heh i had to do this to0~!
i didnt even think about looking on the net for an answer...i just tested moving stuff out of the main folders...

what you need to delete are configuration files in
valve/steam/steamapps/screenname/half-life2 folder called
config_DX and config_GL
if you have a folder called 3DA_BACKUP, delete the contents inside that

TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, since ive only had to do this once....just move those files to somewhere you will remember.....and start the game...your "recommened system settings" should change, if not..then im probablly forgetting a file

if the settings have changed....delete those old config files

Those files are only there if you used the 3D Analyze program. Otherwise they're not there normally. Anyways, I uprgaded to a 6600gt and it redetected everything fine. Only a couple of things improved, but only because of the rest of my specs. I personally would not worry about what the game tells you to run it on, just select your own settings. I run CS:S WAYY over what it recomends me to run it on, and the only level I dip below the 30fps mark, is Chateau, even then, its a very playable lag.

 

[The Dark Elf]

Hi all,

I recently upgraded from my trusty old Geforce Ti4200 to a nice shiny 6600GT. I will reformat at a later date, but for now i just wondered if anybody knows how i can get half life/cs to redetect my hardware? The 'recommended' settings are still those of the old card.

I did find one post on the steam forums of the same thing but the person who replied only had a vague idea about deleting certain files, i'd rather know for sure instead of messing up my installation.

Thanks in advance ppl :cheers:

Tried deleting the clientregistry.blob file? That seems to cure all kinds of things, hmm, anyone actually know what data it contains?

 

[Element Alpha]

I think it contains the actual status of your gcf files. When you delete the file steam scans your gcf files to see if you have all your purchased games already or if you still need to download something. This is my interpretation and I could be completely wrong.

 

[firemachine69]

Format / re-install Windows.


Install mobo drivers, vid card driver, and all other appropriate ones.


That's the only true solution.

 

[MTL]

Those files are only there if you used the 3D Analyze program. Otherwise they're not there normally.

crap.....
err....then id probably move/delete those the .dll files in that same folder
hl2 should recreate them when u start it up again