Games don’t run after install of game (Windows XP, SP 2)

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Alright this is a bit confusing but I will do my best to explain. I recently got Half Life 2 and installed all five cd’s. Prior to this everything was working fine. So it installs and I’m excited to get going with it. I click the icon and the cd starts running, the loading screen (just a 6″x4″ image in the center of the screen) that says Half Life 2 starts up, the main menu appears for under a second, it minimizes and then exits out. Then the cd stops running. This is a new game and it doesn’t make sense why it would do this. So out of anger I go to play my other game. It does the same thing. So somehow the install from Half Life 2 is affected the other games on my computer.

Does anyone have any idea what behind-the-scenes resource is running that could do this? Or is it another entity?

Thanks

Ben

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Ben,
Does your computer match the hardware specs required? They’re pretty hefty. Also, do you have a GOOD and ACTIVE internet connection? Those are both also required for the game (to download updates/etc…). Have you installed Steam? You’ll need that.

Also, in the Steam window, after you click the game and click play, it will take you to a pre-load window, which will advise you of any non-compliant drivers…I’ll wait for more info from you.

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Huge screenshot reduced in size by HansV – please don’t post images larget than 640×480

My computer specs go above the maximum requirements (new computer)
1.86 ghz duel core processor
1 gb ddr2 ram
Nvidea 7200 256mb video card
Win XP
Direct X 9

Steam was automatically installed and when I click the icon it goes into the steam window. I go to the game screen (refer to attachment) and click the program I want to run (either Half Life or Counter Strike). A screen comes up that says loading the game and then about 20% of the time the actual counter strike menu comes up but only for less than a second. It then minimizes and exits and im left with the Steam screen again. The other 80% of the time I don’t even get that, the loading screen just goes away and nothing comes up after that. The strangest part of this is that my other games arn’t working either now, they’re doing the same thing.

I already restored to an earlier point and re-installed it to see if I did anything differently and it still doesn’t work. I dont even know how to search for this problem on google.

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I doubt it’s a problem with the game itself. Did you install the video card yourself? Have you checked for updated drivers for it?

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The main menu appears for under a second, it minimizes and then exits out. Then the cd stops running.

I saw such behavior when another process (automatic check for online updates) failed to execute but was still running.

Stop all unnecessary programs from autostart (Start | Run, type MSCONFIG, hit Enter, click Startup) and restart your computer. Wait until all programs and services start (drive activity control light on your computer stops blinking). Insert your CD and start installation.

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Did you try installing the latest version of Direct X? (direct X 9c)

i would google “halo 2 installation problems” and you should be able to narrow it down from there.. i would help search but i can’t touch the topic of games @ work

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Half-life 2

Anyhoo, the game comes with the latest “required” version of directx, and wouldn’t let him complete the install w/o….

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At this point im really running out of options. I’ve shut down every startup program and it still didn’t work. Then I shut down every service program and it STILL didn’t work. All my hardware is working fine. The next thing I’m going to do is install it on another computer to see if it’s the game or if it’s the computer that’s causing this problem. I really don’t know what else to do this is getting annoying.

Thanks for all the help.

-Ben

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I just uninstalled it again, just to get my other game to start working again. After the installation the game still doesn’t work and all my restore points just mysteriously vanished so now I can’t even restore back anymore. This is getting worse by the minute.

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Search for updated drivers for your video card. Use add/remove programs to remove all Valve, Half-Life 2, and Steam components. Reinstall after updating drivers (if available).

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A person from the dell forum ended up solving the problem. What had happened was when I installed the game, i was running on battery power and to save power I turned PowerMizer on and also turned on the option that lets it reduce power used by the display (- Extend battery charge by using less power for the display) through Nvidea options. When I got back to my dorm I went to go play it and it didnt work and niether did any of my other games. When i turned the option off to extend battery charge by using less power for the display (even with AC adapter plugged in) the games all worked.

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Thanks for posting the resolution. That may save some other Lounger a lot of time and trouble.

Joe

--Joe

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haha, too many FPS’ you start to confuse them all after a while.

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