[SOLVED] Played left 4 Dead without the DVD.....Frozen Stiff

[derek_jones_36]

I recently lent my L4D to a buddy at work and I was sitting around at home feeling bored and lost because I wasn't able to wipe out Zombie Hordes...:( Well I went to My L4D folder and managed to run the game but only for a few minutes and then it completely froze on me and I had to do a system restart. Is the game stable to play without the DVD? I just figured I always had to use it. I guess I could play without it if perhaps I had chosen to install perhaps with difference preferences. Any thoughts on this matter my Forum Comrades?

Jones

[derek_jones_36]

Just so you are all aware I don't plan on playing L4D without the DVD and it's not something I was really concerned about I just wanted to inquire. I can move this thread to gaming support if it's required.

Jones

[Tiber Septim]

I never use the DVD to play, it doesn't require it at all. One of the upsides of using Steam.

The Freeze could be caused by a number of things. Does it happen every time you try and play?

Not sure if your buddy will have much luck though. The key for the game will be tied to your Steam account, unless you gave him your account details, which is a bad idea.

[derek_jones_36]

Well I haven't played the game before without the DVD. I didn't have the DVD with me and I just wanted to see if it would play and it did for the first few minutes and then it froze as soon as I entered the stairs from the roof andf wiped out a few undead and then I got the freeze up.....no reasons I can think why it might have done that. I was not aware of the Steam issue with letting someone else use the game....oops. I guess He'll let me know on Monday.

Jones

[Mcninjaguy]

could be drivers or something weird thats causing freezes

I never use the DVD to run the game
I never even used the DVD to install the game either ( don't remember)

Steam lets you download the game off their server once you input your CD key into Steam

if you do lend him L4d and he gets to play online he can only play using your steam account.

not sure about offline use though....
anyways playing with people is way better than the AI

[RockmasteR]

yes he can play the game offline with AI without creating a steam account, but it'll be boooooooring the AI is really stupid!!

[derek_jones_36]

Thanks All for the information. I tried L4D today and it did freeze once on me but then it skipped the blip and it kept on going. I wonder if it was tapping into an online server of some sort if that would have resulted in the freeze.

I have reset my GPU to stock settings but I did manually speed up the fan to combat the heat issue and I do have that extra TT fan I got yesterday in the PCI slot above the GPU. I have never played online yet and didn't purchase the game online either. I was not aware that it would play without the DVD but was delighted when I found that it would. The game doesn't seem very GPU intensive either and I can't see it taxing my 4850 too much.

Are all games like that (ones thast are connected to an online server)? I have Crysis Warhead and Deadspace in my system right now. Will those play the same way?

Jones

[Mcninjaguy]

most games are not built into steam
so Crysis Warhead and Dead Space won't work like that. You'll need the DVD to play but you can play it through steam for the community thing

[derek_jones_36]

So how does steam and other services prevent the games that are downloaded once they are bought from being copied? I would imagine that encryption is built in to prevent that but it seems like it can be bypassed.

Jones

[Mcninjaguy]

well to copy and play them offline is still hard with built in steam games like LEft 4 Dead because even playing offline rquires a internet connection

once that cd - key is input into steam its locked to your account

[derek_jones_36]

I like that idea. Prevents alot of illegal activity and with an encryption built in there's no chance of sensitive information getting out. I get logged in automatically when I play L4D but I did have difficulty remembering my PW. I asked for it to be e-mailed but I have not redeived it as of yet.

Jones

[derek_jones_36]

Just came from a very sprited game of L4D with absolutely no freeze ups. I would say that this has quickly become a non-issue. I can't see it happening again. I think we'll consider this SOLVED if that's acceptable.

Jones

[Mcninjaguy]

yep sounds like problem solved.

don't hesitate to ask TSF more questions or problems though :)

[derek_jones_36]

Oh I always got something worth asking. Right now though my system is running very smoothly. I was playing L4D for at least a couple of hours tonight. My GPU only reached about 55 degrees and only 42 for the CPU and 47 for Motherboard temps. I have that new fan in the PCI slot just above the sound and video cards from TT which seems to be working very well. I didn't have the GPU Overclocked and it was very stable at the previous mentioned 55 degrees. I plan on replacing the other two stock fans with some TT fans and I'm going to be adding another fan actually this fan will be going below my GPU to blow the hot air right into the rear exhaust. This one from TD seems to have received good reviews and two TT 80 mm fans for the top rear and top.

Jones

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...0565&CatId=494

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...4635&CatId=801