Half-Life 2 has stopped working.

OutlawBebop · 01-22-2008, 03:29 PM

I have read the steps before posting.

Hello. I've recently gotten a new laptop (specs listed below), and while installing everything from the old computer onto the new, I've run into a few problems. I've tried several steps, starting from a formatted hard drive four times, and every time I come across what I think is the source of the problem, it turns out to be something else. Anyway, I've installed F.E.A.R and Half-Life 2, among less graphic-intensive things, and after the first few times I play it, Half-Life 2 stops working. Updated DirectX to the latest version, got the latest driver updates and Windows Updates, and still it crashes It's not a set time when it rashes, either. Sometimes it's before the main menu loads (where the background is blurred and "loading..." is in the corner), and sometimes it's during the loading of a level (anywhere from five rectangles on the loading bar to all but one). The only thing that every time has in common I that I can never actually get to play the game. I've tried forcing other DirectX versions, but nothing's fixed the problem so far. Either the HL2 engine crashes and I get thrown back to explorer, or I get BSOD'd with a STOP 0x000000EA THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER error, which I receive upon restarting after the screen blanks out.

F.E.A.R. is a lesser problem. That one simply gives me problems while using DX9 shaders. When I reach checkpoints and load times, it will frequently just dump all level textures, showing me the models left on screen and a black background, which lags horribly. When I switch back to DX8, it runs fine. I would like to be able to run DX9 if it were possible, but right now that fix is fine with me.

Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
Model: Compaq 8710p
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7100 @ 1.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive: 160 GB 5400 rpm SATA
Video Card: 256MB (512MB w/TurboCache) NVIDIA Quadro NVS 320M
Sound Card: SoundMAX HD Audio
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2

Thanks in advance!
~Outlaw

KIDhl2 · 01-23-2008, 10:55 AM

This sounds like a hardware/driver issue to me.This may be worth a try.

Did you do a fresh install of steam,or just move the files over???I would try this:first move the steamapps folder to a different folder on your hdd.Uninstall/delete steam file.Reinstall steam from here: http://www.steampowered.com/v/index....etsteamnow.Log in and replace the steamapps folder with your backup.The steeamapps folder contains all of your games so you dont have to download them again.

Have you contacted HP yet???They may be of some help.

ebackhus · 01-23-2008, 11:39 AM

The Quadro card in there is for design work, not gaming.

OutlawBebop · 01-23-2008, 12:02 PM

KIDhl2: Hrmmm... alright, I gave that a try. And it still crashes. I did contact HP last night, used their online diagnostic tools, and set up someone to come to my house after wading through pointless tests given to me by their "Live Support" robot. From the diagnostics, though, I did come across one error (flagged critical). A read/write memory error on my video adapter. That would sure explain a lot, ne? Thank God for free 3-year on-site service warranties.

So anyway, I'm awaiting a call from HP and one of their personnel who hopefully knows what he's doing and has a stash of extra parts/laptops in his truck.

Thanks a lot for the idea, though. It was definitely one I hadn't had.

ebackhus: Please, please, please correct me if I'm wrong, but while not intended as a gaming card, aren't these games still just applications with high 3D demands? And in light of the newfound read/write memory error, might it actually be a hardware problem?

ebackhus · 01-23-2008, 02:42 PM

True, the games are just 3D programs but the way they are run and coded is VERY different. The equivelant of what you have would be something like a GeForce 7300. The Quadro series chips were designed for quick 2D and 3D work but not for gaming. It can be done but doesn't always work.

KIDhl2 · 01-23-2008, 08:07 PM

Yeah ebhackus....these cards support Dir X 10....I checked that out before replying :)Should run those games anyway.Its equivelent to a 8700M.

ebackhus · 01-24-2008, 02:06 PM

That's a pretty good equivilancy rating. Have you checked the FAQs over at www.steampowered.com to see if anyone else has had this issue? A fix or workaround may have been posted already.

KIDhl2 · 01-24-2008, 08:18 PM

what do you do to your cats ebhackus.If there not shooting rays of light from their eyes,trhey are walking upright with a crutch....and a dog in a headlock...lol

OutlawBebop · 01-31-2008, 10:24 AM

Well, while I still have the problem, thanks a bunch to both of you who responded. I had an HP agent come over and replace my mainboard and video card, but I've still got the same exact thing going on. I guess at least now I know that it isn't a hardware issue.

ebackhus: I just finished checking steampowered.com, and while I didn't find anything specific to my problem/system/video card, I did submit the problem to them. Thanks a lot for the suggestion, I didn't even think of that.

01-22-2008, 03:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
OutlawBebop Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP SP2 My System	Half-Life 2 has stopped working. I have read the steps before posting. Hello. I've recently gotten a new laptop (specs listed below), and while installing everything from the old computer onto the new, I've run into a few problems. I've tried several steps, starting from a formatted hard drive four times, and every time I come across what I think is the source of the problem, it turns out to be something else. Anyway, I've installed F.E.A.R and Half-Life 2, among less graphic-intensive things, and after the first few times I play it, Half-Life 2 stops working. Updated DirectX to the latest version, got the latest driver updates and Windows Updates, and still it crashes It's not a set time when it rashes, either. Sometimes it's before the main menu loads (where the background is blurred and "loading..." is in the corner), and sometimes it's during the loading of a level (anywhere from five rectangles on the loading bar to all but one). The only thing that every time has in common I that I can never actually get to play the game. I've tried forcing other DirectX versions, but nothing's fixed the problem so far. Either the HL2 engine crashes and I get thrown back to explorer, or I get BSOD'd with a STOP 0x000000EA THREAD_STUCK_IN_DEVICE_DRIVER error, which I receive upon restarting after the screen blanks out. F.E.A.R. is a lesser problem. That one simply gives me problems while using DX9 shaders. When I reach checkpoints and load times, it will frequently just dump all level textures, showing me the models left on screen and a black background, which lags horribly. When I switch back to DX8, it runs fine. I would like to be able to run DX9 if it were possible, but right now that fix is fine with me. Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard Model: Compaq 8710p Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7100 @ 1.80GHz (2 CPUs) Memory: 1 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM Hard Drive: 160 GB 5400 rpm SATA Video Card: 256MB (512MB w/TurboCache) NVIDIA Quadro NVS 320M Sound Card: SoundMAX HD Audio Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 Thanks in advance! ~Outlaw Last edited by OutlawBebop; 01-22-2008 at 03:55 PM.

01-23-2008, 10:55 AM	#2 (permalink)
KIDhl2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 62 OS: vista	Re: Half-Life 2 has stopped working. This sounds like a hardware/driver issue to me.This may be worth a try. Did you do a fresh install of steam,or just move the files over???I would try this:first move the steamapps folder to a different folder on your hdd.Uninstall/delete steam file.Reinstall steam from here: http://www.steampowered.com/v/index....etsteamnow.Log in and replace the steamapps folder with your backup.The steeamapps folder contains all of your games so you dont have to download them again. Have you contacted HP yet???They may be of some help.

01-23-2008, 11:39 AM	#3 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Half-Life 2 has stopped working. The Quadro card in there is for design work, not gaming. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

01-23-2008, 12:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
OutlawBebop Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP SP2 My System	Re: Half-Life 2 has stopped working. KIDhl2: Hrmmm... alright, I gave that a try. And it still crashes. I did contact HP last night, used their online diagnostic tools, and set up someone to come to my house after wading through pointless tests given to me by their "Live Support" robot. From the diagnostics, though, I did come across one error (flagged critical). A read/write memory error on my video adapter. That would sure explain a lot, ne? Thank God for free 3-year on-site service warranties. So anyway, I'm awaiting a call from HP and one of their personnel who hopefully knows what he's doing and has a stash of extra parts/laptops in his truck. Thanks a lot for the idea, though. It was definitely one I hadn't had. ebackhus: Please, please, please correct me if I'm wrong, but while not intended as a gaming card, aren't these games still just applications with high 3D demands? And in light of the newfound read/write memory error, might it actually be a hardware problem? Last edited by OutlawBebop; 01-23-2008 at 12:12 PM.

01-23-2008, 02:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Half-Life 2 has stopped working. True, the games are just 3D programs but the way they are run and coded is VERY different. The equivelant of what you have would be something like a GeForce 7300. The Quadro series chips were designed for quick 2D and 3D work but not for gaming. It can be done but doesn't always work. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

01-23-2008, 08:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
KIDhl2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 62 OS: vista	Re: Half-Life 2 has stopped working. Yeah ebhackus....these cards support Dir X 10....I checked that out before replying :)Should run those games anyway.Its equivelent to a 8700M. Last edited by KIDhl2; 01-23-2008 at 08:21 PM.

01-24-2008, 02:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,335 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: Half-Life 2 has stopped working. That's a pretty good equivilancy rating. Have you checked the FAQs over at www.steampowered.com to see if anyone else has had this issue? A fix or workaround may have been posted already. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.

01-24-2008, 08:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
KIDhl2 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 62 OS: vista	Re: Half-Life 2 has stopped working. what do you do to your cats ebhackus.If there not shooting rays of light from their eyes,trhey are walking upright with a crutch....and a dog in a headlock...lol Last edited by KIDhl2; 01-24-2008 at 08:19 PM.

01-31-2008, 10:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
OutlawBebop Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3 OS: Windows XP SP2 My System	Update... Well, while I still have the problem, thanks a bunch to both of you who responded. I had an HP agent come over and replace my mainboard and video card, but I've still got the same exact thing going on. I guess at least now I know that it isn't a hardware issue. ebackhus: I just finished checking steampowered.com, and while I didn't find anything specific to my problem/system/video card, I did submit the problem to them. Thanks a lot for the suggestion, I didn't even think of that.