The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze

Sfk1944 · 12-08-2008, 12:54 PM

I just installed "The Orange Box" and when I try to play any of the games - that is clicking on new game I get a black screen and computer requires reboot.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Tiber Septim · 12-08-2008, 03:00 PM

When you say 'click on new game', are you actually in the game, or do you mean clicking on the .exe on the desktop?

Have you tried anything to fix it, such as running through the First steps thread (Just so we don't waste time telling you to do it again)?

Sfk1944 · 12-08-2008, 03:42 PM

Yes, I checked out the First Steps Thread -
I am actually in the game - it goes through the loading process and the menu with new game, load game, options, etc. comes up. Even if I don't click on new game it goes to a black screen, not the desktop, and I have to reboot.

**RockmasteR** · 12-08-2008, 03:49 PM

does this happen only with the Orange Box games? and do u have the latest ATI drivers?

Sfk1944 · 12-08-2008, 04:53 PM

I checked the ati version - seems to be a recent one -
Nontheless I will reinstall them I guess - it does seem like a video problem - have ran into it before with a game - golf game - eventually a version of it worked.
Some other games have worked all right.

Sfk1944 · 12-08-2008, 05:13 PM

I reinstalled the video drivers - no change. I saw an earlier discussion of running half life in a window - don't know how to go about doing that however. Can you help with that?

**RockmasteR** · 12-10-2008, 05:42 AM

about the windowed thing, go to the game's video option and choose Windowed

Sfk1944 · 12-10-2008, 10:38 AM

Thanks, I was able to find a command line list which enabled running it in window mode, previously the option menu would not open. The game currently runs briefly and then crashes, going to a black screen even from a windowed environment and requires a reboot of the computer.
Steam support provides very comprehensive help pages with suggested remedies for the seemingly endless number of things that can go wrong and result in the game crashing.
I have updated drivers, run different versions of direct x, disabled background processes, and some other things I have forgotten. So far with no luck.
The page mentions possible interrupt conflicts. The fact that Windows Instant Messenger is mentioned as one of very many possibly conflicting programs makes you wonder.
Anyway, that's the situation currently.

**af3** · 12-10-2008, 10:54 AM

Did you disable the Steam Community Overlay?

Quote:

Originally Posted by https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8882-BMXL-0801

You may completely disable Game Overlay by going to Steam’s File >: Settings menu and selecting the In-Game tab. Then uncheck the Enable Steam Community In-Game checkbox.

It prevents crashing in some mods for me.

Sfk1944 · 12-10-2008, 12:08 PM

The game is currently running with a command line of nosound and window, or at least portal is running - also I am running it in off line mode. So progress has been made.

12-08-2008, 12:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sfk1944 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: win xp service pack 3 My System	The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze I just installed "The Orange Box" and when I try to play any of the games - that is clicking on new game I get a black screen and computer requires reboot. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

12-08-2008, 03:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tiber Septim Asst Manager, Games Team Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Queensland, Australia Posts: 2,875 OS: Fedora 11 / Windows 7 My System Blog Entries: 5	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze When you say 'click on new game', are you actually in the game, or do you mean clicking on the .exe on the desktop? Have you tried anything to fix it, such as running through the First steps thread (Just so we don't waste time telling you to do it again)? __________________ First Steps - System Specs - SIW Help TSF beat Cancer and other serious Illness.

12-08-2008, 03:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sfk1944 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: win xp service pack 3 My System	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze Yes, I checked out the First Steps Thread - I am actually in the game - it goes through the loading process and the menu with new game, load game, options, etc. comes up. Even if I don't click on new game it goes to a black screen, not the desktop, and I have to reboot.

12-08-2008, 03:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
RockmasteR Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lebanon Posts: 3,203 OS: Vista Ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze does this happen only with the Orange Box games? and do u have the latest ATI drivers?

12-08-2008, 04:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sfk1944 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: win xp service pack 3 My System	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze I checked the ati version - seems to be a recent one - Nontheless I will reinstall them I guess - it does seem like a video problem - have ran into it before with a game - golf game - eventually a version of it worked. Some other games have worked all right.

12-08-2008, 05:13 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sfk1944 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: win xp service pack 3 My System	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze I reinstalled the video drivers - no change. I saw an earlier discussion of running half life in a window - don't know how to go about doing that however. Can you help with that?

12-10-2008, 05:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
RockmasteR Moderator, Games Team Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lebanon Posts: 3,203 OS: Vista Ultimate 32bit My System Blog Entries: 1	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze about the windowed thing, go to the game's video option and choose Windowed __________________ CPUz GPUz Nvidia Drivers ATI Drivers System Information for Windows (SIW) Revo Uninstaller RivaTuner ATITOOL Directx 9.0C !!Please don't PM me for Tech Support!!

12-10-2008, 10:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
Sfk1944 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: win xp service pack 3 My System	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze Thanks, I was able to find a command line list which enabled running it in window mode, previously the option menu would not open. The game currently runs briefly and then crashes, going to a black screen even from a windowed environment and requires a reboot of the computer. Steam support provides very comprehensive help pages with suggested remedies for the seemingly endless number of things that can go wrong and result in the game crashing. I have updated drivers, run different versions of direct x, disabled background processes, and some other things I have forgotten. So far with no luck. The page mentions possible interrupt conflicts. The fact that Windows Instant Messenger is mentioned as one of very many possibly conflicting programs makes you wonder. Anyway, that's the situation currently.

12-10-2008, 12:08 PM	#10 (permalink)
Sfk1944 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 6 OS: win xp service pack 3 My System	Re: The Orange Box - blank screen when starting game - freeze The game is currently running with a command line of nosound and window, or at least portal is running - also I am running it in off line mode. So progress has been made.