Hi,

I finished installing HL2 about 4 hours ago and still haven't managed to get it working correctly. When I click on Half-Life 2 in Steam I get the "Preparing the play Half-Life 2" dialog which disappears after around 20 secs and the cd drive makes a noise like it has begun playing the disk.. and then, nothing. I get no errors, nothing - it just doesn't load. However, it has managed to load once before and I managed to play, but have not been able to do it again for the last few hours. My specs are as follows.

AMD Athlon 64 3400+
512MB RAM
Radeon Mobility 9700 128MB

I have tried updating drivers and such for the radeon without any luck.

Right now, I'm out of ideas.

Any suggestions?

Yeah, i spent 40 quid using my bluetooth mobile to download all the annoying steam stuff, cos i can't connect to the net from uni properly, and i'm having the exact same problem.

it says- loading half life 2, then nothing.
no errors, doesn't even spin the cd.

We seriously need some help here.

AMD athlon xp 2400+
Connect 3D Radeon 9600 Series 128m
1 Gig Of Ram

could be the Radeons... hmmm

Have you searched on Google? I get alot of answers there.

Yeah, tried looking on google for hours, unfortunately it's kinda hard to find any information when there's not even an error message or any kind of identifiable problem. :(

Even worse, all i can find on google is pages and pages of people telling me how good HL2 is, haha.

This MUST be a reasonably common problem, surely?

It doesn't appear to be common at all -- and even if it is using google seems futile right now for an error with no error message.

Jam_sponge, could you give me some more detailed specifications of your machine perhaps we can identify a common piece of hardware which may be causing the problem.

Not entirely sure what else to list.
Obviously it's not a very common problem, i'm just assuming more than 2 people in the world have experienced this, hehe.

well, it's a 2,00mhz processor,
using windows XP, all updates
Nvidia N-force2 onboard sound and the rest
A347SCSI SCSI Controller

anything else you want listed, let me know.
I'm using steam in offline mode btw, so i didn't think net conn. was valid.
although online mode won't work either. :(

Would you know what chipset you are using?

I had/have the same problem( I havent seen if it's entirely fixed) but I found one solution that might work:

1. Update the firmware for your cd-rom's company's site

2. uninstall and reinstall the drivers for your graphics card and then update them

3. go to windowsupdate.microsoft.com and update windows from there

hopefully this will help you out b/c so far the game has started up with no problems BUT before i knew about this solution the game would work once and after I exited it, turned off and booted my computer back up it wouldnt work and right now since it is working i'm too scared to turn my comp off(thats why I don't know if this works fully)

couldn't hurt to try though

If you're wondering my specs are:
AMD 64 3000+
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro
Asus K8V mobo
Lite-On DVD/CDRW combo CDrom
no sound card
160GB Maxtor HD
1 GB of RAM

Nevermind...I turned off my comp, turned it back on, tried to play and got the "Preparing to play Half life 2..." and nothing happened

back to square one :(

Did you guys all install and update half life 2 from your own pc with a direct internet conn?

Cos i did a kinda funny technique of copying steam across and then updating via my mobile phone. i don't THINK the copying steam across caused a problem, but it might have done.

I did delete the registry.blog file thing, just to check if that was the case, and then it sorted itself out again for my pc, but still no avail.
i can't even get it to run first time! haha
I've even tried closing down all other background programs, nothing.

it's all rather random.

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer eveshamvale
System Model AWRDACPI
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~2004 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG, 03/10/2003
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\System32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.1106 (xpsp1.020828-1920)"
Time Zone GMT Standard Time
Total Physical Memory 1,024.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 609.23 MB
Total Virtual Memory 3.40 GB
Available Virtual Memory 2.69 GB
Page File Space 2.40 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

Right, there's all the system info on one page.

Mine doesn't even seem to check the CD drive when it says it's starting HL2,
but i'm assuming it's nothing to do with the CD drive, as otherwise it would just ask for the disc, i guess... :confused:

I installed it with a direct internet connection. Apart from us all having an AMD processor and a Radeon 9X00 card, I can't see any other connection.

I've been uninstalling/reinstalling cdrom drives/updating drivers/reinstalling original drivers for almost everything. Apart from formatting now, I'm really stuck for options.

Has anyone looked in the event viewer under applications to see if there are any errors there?

Regards Howard :grinthumb

Nothing there.

I`ve just found this info don`t know if it will help or not.

November 19, 2004, 11:03 pm · valve
A small number of Half-Life 2 customers have been experiencing problems while playing the game, and we have traced these issues to corrupt Steam cache files. We've released a Steam update to help resolve these issues. If you have been experiencing problems such as crashing during gameplay or startup of Half-Life 2, please restart Steam and then click on one of the links below. Steam will then automatically verify your cache files. The verification process will take roughly five minutes to complete.

http://www.steampowered.com/?area=news

Regards Howard


:grinthumb

No luck with that either. Thanks for suggesting anyways.

It bothers me that I've had it running once before also, else I probably would have been formatting/given up at this point.

Does anyone with this problem have McAfee firewall installed?

nope, i do have some virus scanning software, but i've tried switching it all off, and it's no different.

ok, seems like this problem has been put to the side, so to speak.
is it just that everyone has given up? or have you all fixed it and gone off to play HL2, haha. (i notice the first guy to post hasn't been back, so maybe he's sorted it, hehe)

Just to add to the confusion.

I'm running:
P4 2.8GHz
Intel 875 M/B
1GB Ram
Geforce FX 5600
Benq DVD Re-writer

And have exactly the same problem as you all, HL2 fails to load, comes up with the preparing to load HL2, spins up the DVD, then nothing!!

I've updated to XP SP2 no other critical updates are available, DX 9.0c, the latest Nvidia drivers, I've flashed my DVD burner, and it still doesn't load.

I tried checking the cache files as well that Howard suggested, and still nothing!

I've now uninstalled HL2 and Steam, and will try and reinstall it later.

I´ve got an:
xp64 3200+
1GB Geil Ram
Geforce FX ti-4200
160 GB Hiatchi harddisk

And have exactly the same problem, HL2 fails to load, comes up with the preparing to load HL2, spins up the DVD, then nothing!!

Nothings running in the background and no resources used by windows.

Installed on my laptop at first. No problem there other than it could'nt handle the game. Startet up just fine and were looking forward getting it installed on my new system at home.

Same problem here too...trying to get support from Valve but they haven't responded in 3 days. Have yet to get anything other than steam to work...not too happy about paying $60 for just a steam client.

AMD XP 3000+
1GB PC2700
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB
200GB Maxtor 7200RPM 8MB cache
WinXP Pro

I know I am STILL! having this problem. I can only get hl2 to run on my amd 1400 with geforce 3. ITs running windows 2000 also. IT runs on that machine but crashes regularly.
I cant get it to run on my newer dell machines. they are Dimension 8300's with nvidia 5200 FX cards.

Are all of us who have this problem using the DVD (NOT 5 disk cd set)? That might be something we could look into, whether or not its a dvd specific issue. This thread is the only place on the net I found relating to my problem, excuse me, our problem.

I too am running all the newest updates with direct x9c. I am going to try a much older version of driver for my video card and see what happens. You guys out there keep posting, we have to figure this out!

I installed from the 5 CD set...twice now.

Glad to have finally found a thread where people have the same problem. Have heard nothing back from Valve for 4 days. Can't get it to laod either. Have tried updating XP and drivers. I'm using the DVD version and my spec. is

Ferrari 3000

AMD XP 2500+
Radeon Mobility 9200
Window XP Home
512mb
60 Gigs

Getting very fed up with this now. Has anybody tried bringing it back and getting another copy. Maybe it's our individual DVDs that have a problem.

:hotbounce

I highly doubt its a problem with the dvd/cds. IT doesnt error out while installing. Plus my dvd plays the game on my older 2000 box. Just wont play it on my newer xp machines.

There has to some consistancy with this. There are sow few of us who seem to have the problem. That's why I though it might be the disks. :giddy:

Well Whats in common? Heres what Im running:
windows xp sp2
direct x 9c
intel p4 3.2 w/HT
gig of ram
Nvidia 5200fx newest drivers
dvd drive, phillips dvd+r

dvd copy of half life
19inch crt screen running resolution of 1600 X 1200, dont think anything else is relevant.

(NB I haven't managed to fix it, I've just been busy)

It is unlikely that there is a common piece of hardware which is causing this problem as we all seem to have very different systems.

It seems increasingly likely there is fault with the cd/dvd drive reading the disc.

Anyway, the only relevant google search on this error is the following (for anyone interested);
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=%22Preparing+to+play+Half-Life+2%22&btnG=Search

I didn't manage to dig anything of use out of it a week ago, but perhaps that may have changed.

Official technical support is nonexistant. Trying to return this game will be met by some kid telling you "Well you should have read the minimum system requirements."

I'm also suffering with these exact symptoms. I managed to play HL2 once and have since spent a lot of time listening to a spinning DVD ROM and searching the internet for answers.
One thing I tried that's not mentioned in this string is uninstalling all my DVD software, but to no avail.

Has anyone had any luck?

XP SP2
P4HT 3GHz
512MB RAM
Directx 9.0c
ATI RADEON X800SE
Sound Blaster Live! 24Bit
Phillips DVD+RW DVD8601

Well i'm not sure it's even got anything to do with the disc, mine doesn't even check the dvd or spin it or owt. :(
I can't see it being an issue with my cd drive, as none of my other games seem to have a problem in finding where it is to run games.

although it could be that i have a different problem to you guys, i dunno. i mean, i guess the problem is that steam has no real way of dealing with, or telling you what problems are, chances are, we could all be having completely different probs, and steam isn't doing anything to tell us!
i've looked everywhere, in the windows error reports, the steam report file, hardware problems and conflicts, everything i can think of.
obviously, valve haven't emailed me back in the 24-48 hours they promised, but i think that's mainly due to their system being clogged up by the whiny idiots who emailed them because they couldn't get their copy to work within half an hour of it's release. (man, do those idiots annoy me, i've been going for over a week, now THAT's annoying.)

but it's good to see that more people are coming into this thread, although it gets more and more perplexing as none of us seem to have any one particular hardware trait that could be seen to be the problem... hmmm..

IF anyone is sending any emails to valve or steam, send them the link to this thread. Maybe someone will be nice enough to look into this.

Friends of mine said I should format my machine. I wont do it, everything is perfect on it except HL2, I have a dozen other games all working great. But hl2 wont load! I cant believe its been over a week and we still have no answers!

I've just read this: <http://rr.pc.ign.com/rr/017/017817.html> so am giving up for today.
I have already replaced one DVD Burner during this process and don't want to corrupt the frimware on the replacement just yet.
Stange that this is pretty much the only thread discussing this problem, glad I found you lot though. I'll check in tomorrow.

I had the same problem as you guys and was glad to find this thread. Well, I have finally managed to get my copy of HL2 to work!!! This might not be the solution you wished for but it can perhaps help some of you to at least identify where the problem lies. It seems the problem lies in the DVD burner. My Dell XPS gen3 came with the Philips DVD-RW8601 for which it seems impossible to get any new drivers or firmware or whatever. Amazingly crappy! So I ripped it (the 8601) out and replaced it with an old DVD player I had laying around. Voila! HL2 starts up every time! So if you have an old DVD-ROM somewhere, you really should consider using it instead of your burner until this problem is fixed. If not, you at least know where the problem might come from.

I hope it works out for you guys!

well, i'm not using a DVDRW drive, just a plain old sony CDRW DVD read one, and i tried updating my firmware just to see if it made a difference, but nope.
anyone else having the problem, but with no sign of the CD drive attempting to do anything?

Swedish I think this is a mjor break through! I can only get HL2 to play on my older machine which is using a first generation dvd player from a old gateway, i think the drive is from 96 or 97. My new dells also have phillips dvd recorder drives too and thats what wont play them! Have you tried upgrading the firmware on your phillips drive? I dont really want to mess with it because when it comes to burning dvds its perfect!

I read somewhere that some of the first releases of HL2 was quite buggy, had some nasty errors in detection combined with security. Making it impossible to run on newer DVD players, I thought you could return your copy to the store and obtain a new one (postorder guys are unlucky i guess).

Good Luck!

I was having the same problem, drive would spin up then nothing would happen.
Tried uninstall/reinstall a couple of times to no avail.The game would work on my
laptop but not desktop.
A forum sugested check the event viewer and that did show an atapi error so I put the disk into my dvd burner instead of my dvd-rom and it worked first time.
I guess the game can install from certain cd drives but not run.
The DVD-rom that didnt work was a sony and the burner that did work was a pioneer. :)

VERAULT, funny coincident, I got my DVD player from an old gateway as well! I haven't upgraded my philips RW since I diden't find any updates. On the dell support page I could only get a firmware update for the philips-RW8631, I have a 8601... I tried it anyway but the update program didn't accept my burner. So have you installed your old dvd in your dell yet? Did it work?

I got a laptop http://solution.aopen.com.tw/products/nb/1557-G.htm
with a:
qsi dvd-rw sdw-042(cant find any drivers og any homepage 4 it)

DVD starts to spinn when i try to launch HL2 from steam. I c hl2.exe in task manager. And like u almost everytime nothing hapens and hl2.exe process stops.

But once in a while i get error messages
"Unable to authenticate original disc within time limit","retry","cancel"
and somethimes:
"This game is currently unavalible
Pleas try again at another time","ok"

And if I'm realy lucky the game starts :p

Runs perfect on my laptop at 1400x1050, i also increased som of the advanced options.

In the beginning I actualy gave up trying to start the game, when it suddently startet while I was doing something else.

ok i downloaded this game last night on steam, it went smooth no problems with the preload.

Now the problem with using this game is that steam need to verify it, and also do something to your game content, which takes ages.


If you open up steam and select halflife 2 straight off, then its a 99% chance it will never load. If this is the case then reboot, go back to steam and rigth click on half life 2 (and CS:S).

Select properties.. now it should open a little window, now in this is a line saying

Aquired:(or something), followed by a percentage.
and underneath it says

Offline play: Not Ready (or Ready, if its working)


If your aquirement isnt 100%, then you need to leave steam open while it aquires the liscence, the bad news is it took me all night (at least 8 hours FFS). It will then appear as 100%, and Ready for offline play.

Then it will work no problems.


Dont forget to verify your files in the news update links, and forget reinstalling the game or getting new CD/DVD drives, mine was installed straight to HDD by steam so no disc access was required.

GL guys!

Offline play is ready for me.

***, I have the same cd/dvd as you with exactly the same errors which you are describing. Have you ever touched it's drivers?

Have found another thread discussing how to migrate from Philips DVD+R(W) Dvd8601 to Benq DVD+-R(W) DW1620 by changing the firmware. Maybe that would work? Feels like I've now spent more time trying to fix this than I would have playing the game! I'm not a PC engineer and don't have an old DVD knocking about so maybe it's time to say Game Over.

Swedish, no I havent pulled that old gateway dvd rom out, im just playing hl2 on that machine. And other then the semiregular crash where hl2 just decides to shut down, its playable. As far as my 2 new dell dimensions, with philips dvd+rws, im still having the same issue as everyone else. Wispymatt is bringing up this firmware for our drives, however I dont know if I want to mess with it. What do I gain if I go with that new firmware update? My drive works flawless now, other then not playing hl2.

I have notified Steam/Valve of this thread and returned HL2 to the shop as a faulty product. Thanks for being here anyway, you all provided a bit of hope for a while!
I'll just have to find a similar game that was tested more thoroughly.

m.

That seems like a reasonable thing to do. Now, even if I did manage to get it working, my original enthusiasm to play the game has disappeared. Besides, it seems that there are some other more enjoyable games (going from many reviews I've seen lately on HL2) out there.

cookiemoose.

Well guys I understand the lack of enthusiasm, but dont let it get you down. Fortunately i have more then one pc and I have been able to play the game on one of them (just not the one Id like). I feel really bad for you guys out there who havent been able to play at all since you've gotten the game.

My next step is going to be buying a couple of regular used dvd-rom drives from ebay and seeing if that fixes my issue.

MY friends, after hearind all your woes and seeing your enthusiasm for my now beloved game dwindle, I scoured the net. And upon reading hundreds of different threads I have found OUR ANSWER! My last post stated I was going to buy new dvd rom drives and im sure that would solve my(our) issues. However I realize this isnt always practical. We the valid consumer have been cheated, so its our turn to cheat. The people who dont have this problem are the people who have the steam client only, no cd or dvd. And in that is our solution.

Download this file and read the instructions, (3 steps very easy) I did it on 2 of my machines (my 3rd just fried today) and the game is working great now!
heres the link:

Download this file (http://www.gameburnworld.com/dl/dl.php?file=HalfLife2v1.0NoCDDVDPatchAll.rar)

please let me know how you guys do. Enjoy!

I have the same problem as you!

Steam loads fine and lists games to play.....click on HL2 and it says preparing to play, the disk spins and then.....nothin.

I think this must be something to do with the program....I have posted the problem with Sierra support but no reply yet.

The game did work once and it is incredible! Can't wait to get back on.

Hey all, Im having the exact same problem. I can run HL:Source and CSS, but not HL2. I have the DVD version like most of you. I tried the no cd hijak and still nothing. Please help i want to try the new deathmatch. As of right now im going to use this smilie
puke:
>>>>STEAM