problem at the loading screen

[mrmeeks]

k i just got this game yesterday, went through that whole process of registering, downloading steam, blah blah blah, but when i actually tried playing the game:
- first it would go into the loading screen and then send me back to the desktop
- then after i turned off the 3d menu it would crash when the actual game was being loaded

this is pissing me off and i know other people are having this problem, i just want to know if i should give up and return the game (retail). i'm trying to play on my new laptop, which does have a integrated card, but the cashier at eb said i should be able to play on lower resolutions

if anyone can help it would be appreciated

 

[^Ben]

Have you got the latest drivers?

Directx?

What sort of intergrated card do you have?

 

[mrmeeks]

thanks for replying,
I have an intel extreme graphics 2m and directx 9c on my computer, and i downloaded the latest drivers for that from the intel site, i was able to run unreal 2004 on my computer without problems and half life 2 seems to have lower spec requirements so i don't know what the problem is
btw i don't know that much about computers

 

[^Ben]

Honestly I would just return the game to retail and wait untill the problem with intels cards are sorted.

Or put the game on a shelf and wait untill the bugs with intel are sorted.

 

[countuebles]

Ok once more, fireflaie's patented solution that fixes similar problems for many people

Part 1 :
--------------
Go in the directory :
E:\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\STEAM_ACCOUNT_NAME\half-life 2
there is a directory named "bin" that contains many .dll etc

Part 2 :
--------------
Enter the "bin" directory and copy all the files (ctrl+A, ctrl+C)

go back at E:\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\STEAM_ACCOUNT_NAME\half-life 2
then paste the files here (Ctrl+V)

Part 3 :
--------------
Select all the files and directorys (EXCEPT THE "BIN" DIRECTORY) in

E:\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\STEAM_ACCOUNT_NAME\half-life 2

Copy it !!!

Part 4 :
--------------
No Go back in the "bin" directory then Paste the files and dir you've just copy
if windows tell you that there is files that have the same name so just overwrite it, as you want that's not seams to be a problem if you don't

Part 5 :
--------------
Quit Steam
=> Reload Steam, right click : Games, right click on Half-Life 2 and Launch the game
Enjoy if that works , sorry if that don't

 

[mrmeeks]

tried it didn't work, i mean the loading screen going into the actual game after starting a new game, i'm thinking my graphics card can't run this game which is a bitch, i think i'm gonna give up and return it

 

[countuebles]

Hm, that would suck big time...

Did you try to start the game with the -autoconfig setting? Tried the other stuff in the FAQs at Valves site?
You might also want to check if the problem is related to your CD or DVD drive if you got the retail version. Seems a lot of eople have problems with that, even if they initially blame it on a graphics problem.
Finally its entirely possible, that some of your game files are corrupt :-( This mother of a game has some really big issues in some cases, in others it runs 100% smooth. If it wouldn't be so damn cool you could really get mad big time at Valve...

Here are some rather hardcore solutions for the really desperate (seem to have worked for some people, but I can't give any guaratees, as this all is second- or third hand knowledge):

Double check that NONE of your PC part are over clocked in any way.
If that does not work some people got it to work by under clocking their system ram. (This includeds CAS timeings guys)
If yo have an Nvidia card you can try under clocking the core a few Mhz.
Try another CDrom/DVD drive that spins at slower speeds and/or upgrade to a better CDrom drive.
If you have any CD coping programs installed like Achahol or Nero un-install them. (Note: I have NEro and Deep Burner installed and the game runs without problems after I fixed what prevented me from starting it in the first place)
Turn off your Virus and/or spyware programs. (As steam acts alot like spyware) Also double check - if you have the XP SP2 update - that your firewall is not blocking HL2 from communicating with Steam.
And last and the most fun. Re-installing your OS from scratch; and make sure you start off with only the newest drivers. Do not install old ones then upgrade them.

Hope you get it fixed pal.