error while installing!!!

[mcman1223]

i need help installing half life 2. i only have the first disc with me, but i figured it would be enough since it has the cd key on it. i used my friend's 4 discs to install it and on the fourth disc i got an error saying it could not finish. i tried to use his 5 discs and only use my cd key, but i got the same error on the fourth disc.
i thought that all you needed was a valid cd key and steam would allow you to download the files, but i tried to download the files for half life 2 and after i enter my cd key it says installation of half life 2 retail standard is required before continuing and to insert the discs and install them manually. there is no option to download it through steam.
this would not be a problem if i had the discs. but i dont. they are far away and i am in college. i need a way to solve this problem. if anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Lemonking]

differnt CD drive Im sure that will solve the problem

 

[diluted]

what is the error that you're getting? be more specific.
do you have any kind of disk copying/virtual drive software on your computer like Daemon Tools or Alcohol 120%? If so, uninstall it, the HL2 disks seem to have an issue with them. yeah, like LK suggested, try another cd-rom drive.
and yeah, about steam not letting you download, that's weird. i have a retail copy too, and at first it wouldnt let me download the game through steam either, but recently i had to re-install my games and steam let me download it.
*shrugs*

 

[mcman1223]

im not entirely sure what the error message was, and i don't have access to the discs right now, but ill try to use them by tomorrow and write everything down. and is there some way to enter your cd key in steam so it already knows that you have a valid one? that would maybe end my problem.

thanks for the answers, but i dont have a second cd drive (im on a laptop) and i cant afford another. and i also dont have any of those programs that were listed so there wouldn't be any problems there.

 

[diluted]

You've entered your cd-key by going to Browse Games > Activate a product I already own? And after that you tried right-clicking Half-Life 2 in Steam and going to 'Install game' (or whatever it is)?