Nothing happens after starting

Shakermaker

Shakermaker

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Nothing happens after starting HL2 (or CS:S for that matter). Whether I start through Steam or by double clicking on the desktop icon, a screen says 'preparing to play HL2 / CS:S', then my DVD-player starts running, and then ..... NOTHING. The status is ready to play. Anyone know what to do? I haven't backed up the game files yet, but its fully installed, Steam account created, validated, etc.
 
I get the exact same problem .. however you get further then me ... ABSOLUTLY NOTHING happens for me ... i dont even see the "'preparing to play HL2 / CS:S'" whatever it is ... :( ... this games going back to shop with a bad review soon ... and it aint getting any recommandations from me!
 
Thank god I am not the only one. I hope they patch this really, really quick, or else ....
 
if you read through other forums ... you will realise the problem is mroe widespread ... ggrrr... thiking its faulty dvd now ... *shrugs* ...
 
same problem here too.. I get the prepering window then nothing :( The strange thing is that yesterday after 6 hours of testing It started, but only once :(
 
xgermz said:
thiking its faulty dvd now ... *shrugs* ...
Click to expand...

You think? In my case the install, unlocking and validating went smooth. It's just nothing happens after staring up the game.
 
what do you have ... the dvd version ... the cd version ... the steam downloaded version ... *shrugs* ... the cd version ... some people have faulty cd's ... so as an owner of the dvd version ... maybe its faulty ... because nothing loads up ... maybe somthing fails to install ... *shrugs* ... this is really getting on my nerves now ..
 
xgermz said:
what do you have ... the dvd version ... the cd version ... the steam downloaded version ... *shrugs* ... the cd version ... some people have faulty cd's ... so as an owner of the dvd version ... maybe its faulty ... because nothing loads up ... maybe somthing fails to install ... *shrugs* ... this is really getting on my nerves now ..
Click to expand...

I have the DVD-version. Again, the install, unlocking, validating CD-key, and even updating of it went smooth, but when I start up N O T H I N G happens. Well, I get the preparing to play screen, but then it just disappears and the DVD stops spinning, and that's it. grrrrrrrrrr
 
oh... i dont get as far as the unlocking and validating cd-key ... :( ...
 
Finally some progress. I got CS:S to start. Only once tho, coz when I tried again (and again and again and again) nothing happened. Could this be a Starforce-related problem? I had the same problem (only not this grave) when playing Soldiers:HoWWII. That game is also protected by Starforce.
 
thank god, i thought i was the only one experiencing this.

same problem here too.. I get the prepering window then nothing The strange thing is that yesterday after 6 hours of testing It started, but only once
Click to expand...

this happend to me too. but i don't really know what i did before it actually started. i just hope someone will find a fix for this.
 
check make sure you have finished downloading everything on steam...

it said it was ready to play but in the monitor window it said i only had 98% and i was unable to play...

TheRook
 
i didnt download it on steam ... i bought the dvd retail version ... and it does not work!
 
xgermz said:
i didnt download it on steam ... i bought the dvd retail version ... and it does not work!
Click to expand...

When you installed it i assume u installt HL2 and CS:S just because you bought the dvd doesnt mean that it still hasnt got any updates to download...

TheRook
 
TheRook said:
check make sure you have finished downloading everything on steam...

it said it was ready to play but in the monitor window it said i only had 98% and i was unable to play...

TheRook
Click to expand...

Status: ready to play grmbl!
Ammount needed: 100%

So that's OK. Like I said, I think this is Starforce related.
 
what has their been updates released? im not aware of any half life patches??
 
hi everyone

well, i registered to this forum in search of some help, but reading the posts so far i think its a general problem which needs to be fixed by valve..........but still i got a problem thats not mentioned here so far, so plz read it!

i also got problems with starting the game. i registered at steam (and the account definitely works), i start the game, the Valve-startscreen appears but after that, when it should switch to a blurred screen which says "loading data" (saw that at my friends house), i got the belove "back to windows"!!!!!...........

i got all the new drivers, my system is fast like hell and i NEVER had a problem like that. i installed it several times now and tried everything that i can think of.

so maybe anyone of you guys know something? though reading the other posts...........i still hope.

thx in advance!

jacob
 
I also have a problem with starting Half-Life 2

Hi guys!!!

When I try to start the game it says "Preparing to play Half-Life 2", but then the window disappears and after some time this Message comes up: "Unable to authenticate original disc within time limit!!"

I don't know what to do!!

Half-Life 2 is ready to play offline!!! 100 % in the steam window!!!

But if I try it a several times, it starts!!

But that sucks if you have to try it a several times!!!

Any solutions??

Thank you in advance!!!

Samba
 
Well, I guess this problem is Starforce-related. Maybe its useful to post your DVD-driver. Mine is a Philips DVDR1620K.
 
mparting said:
mine is a Benq DW1620, but are HL2 really using starforce?
Click to expand...

Not sure, but I thought they were. Whichever program it is, it's faulty.
 
Yo, I have the Same trouble.
I bought the DVD Collectors edition.

Installs
Updates
Unlocks
Updates

Wont run.

I was wondering what you guys had tried?
I have tried Uninstalling HL2 And installing just that
I have tried wiping steam off the computer and starting again.

My computer is....
AMD Athlon Xp 2600+
1.00 GB RAM

Running windows xp with service pack 2
The DVD rom i have is a Benq DVD DL DW1600 Dvd/dvd RW drive.

At the moment i am at my last legs, Trying to download half-life 2 from valve.

I have also tried afew hacks n cracks i picked up from around the place after i could not find the answer i seeked from steam. i hope theres an answer to this as i dont like the idea of downloading Half-life 2, CS: Source and HL: Source when i already have them.
 
I have

a QSI DVDRW SDW-042 Drive.

Is that the reason?? Maybe it's to slow???
 
I have a Maxdata Pro 8100x Notebook,
1.6 GHz Centrino Processor,
ATI Mobility Radeon 9600
1.0 GB RAM
QSI DVDRW SDW-042 VDX70 Drive,
Windows XP Professional SP 2
DirectX 9.0b

What shall I do??
 
well looks like i solved my problem. i just flashed my philips rw-drive with the newest firmware (2.4) and now hl2 works like a charm. awesome.
 
deathcab said:
well looks like i solved my problem. i just flashed my philips rw-drive with the newest firmware (2.4) and now hl2 works like a charm. awesome.
Click to expand...

How do you do that?
 
Having the same problem. After the 'preparing Halflife 2' screen the game checks the DVD and after that nothing happens...I don't even hear my harddisc cracking and loading.

Without DVD the game says 'insert disc', and with DVD nothing happens.

I have the MSI DR16-b DVD +-R / +- RW Writer.
 
So what everyone is saying is that you need a special DVD reader.
 
First you have to update Steam before you can play. Then you have to download enough of the game online so that the play game screens says you can play in offline mode. Pull up the 'Play Game' screen (little green box in lower right corner) and right click on your game name, select properties, then see how much of the game you have downloaded. It's 40 mb total.
 
deathcab said:
well looks like i solved my problem. i just flashed my philips rw-drive with the newest firmware (2.4) and now hl2 works like a charm. awesome.
Click to expand...

I just flashed my drive with the official Philips program. It runs now! Thanks!
 
Shakermaker said:
I just flashed my drive with the official Philips program. It runs now! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Which official program (in my case MSI program) do I have to search for?

Driver update? Firmware update? And what kind of update? A special star-force dedicated update? Something else?
 
Nope, bad luck over here....flashing the MSI firmware doesn't work :(
 
KreKkeR said:
Which official program (in my case MSI program) do I have to search for?

Driver update? Firmware update? And what kind of update? A special star-force dedicated update? Something else?
Click to expand...

Did you check the site of the company that made your player?
 
Same stuff with me kinda I get the error unable to authenticate original disc within time limit.
 
checked the site with no updates available (MSI combo driver). Why is that philps is working but not MSI >.<
 
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