Re-installing Half Life 2... and lost CD2

[eggsPR]

For some reason Half Life 2 was running abnormally choppy, so I unstalled it for a re-install.

Unfortuantely I just realized that my Cd 2 is missing! Am I screwed or are there any ways around this?

Thanks
eggs

 

[Beerdude26]

Well, you can still download the entire game through Steam...

And for that choppiness, have you tried defragmenting your hard drive a few times?

 

[eggsPR]

Yes I have. After reading a lot of posts here, I am hoping it is my connection to Steam. Before when I played HL@, I was directly connected to my cable modem... now I am using a wireless connection from my comp to my wireless router. During the re-installation, it asked me what my internet connection speed was... Hopefully that's it.

But I will go into Steam and try and download the game, thanks alot!!

Another problem I am probably going to run into is finding my CD key, b/c it's not on my CD 1.

 

[Yogibbear]

Yes I have. After reading a lot of posts here, I am hoping it is my connection to Steam. Before when I played HL@, I was directly connected to my cable modem... now I am using a wireless connection from my comp to my wireless router. During the re-installation, it asked me what my internet connection speed was... Hopefully that's it.

But I will go into Steam and try and download the game, thanks alot!!

Another problem I am probably going to run into is finding my CD key, b/c it's not on my CD 1.

Nah... all you need is your Steam ID and password...

Download steam... and it'll download your games...

 

[kirovman]

You only need your CD-key the first time you install the game.

 

[eggsPR]

Well, throughout the night I downloaded HL2 again. Meanwhile I also adjusted all the correct ports to be forwarded on my Router. Furthermore I defragged the HD again.

Still choppiness. This choppiness isn't just in the game. Even in the intro where the helicopter flies over the creek it pauses for a millisecond every second. Here are some of my specs...

Windows XP
2.26 Ghz P4
1GB SDRAM
Nvidia GeForce 6800 GT
80 GB Harddrive.. 43% used, 57% free

Maybe I'll try and plug my comp directly into the router instead of using the wireless card. Has anyone heard of choppiness due to their connection to Steam?

Thanks

 

[xombine]

Those specs are quite alright to run this game. What do you have the video options set on. Because if you've got some settings too high such as AA and AF you'll get choppiness in game.

 

[eggsPR]

My video configuration was set by Valve detecting my card, so I kept them all where the *** are.

1024 x 768 Resolution
4:3 Ratio
Model Detail- high
Texture detail- high
Shader detail- high
Water detail- high
Shawdow detail- high
Antialiasing- 2x
Filtering Mode- 4x
Wait for Vertical sync- disabled
High dynamic range- full

I even tried to reduce all these settings and restart the game... still same choppiness

 

[$kelet0r]

you might not have the optimal drivers
visit nvidia.com to get the newest video drivers

 

[xombine]

http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/GRAPHICS-BOARD/NVIDIA/NVIDIA-Forceware-8195.shtml

Get the latest Forceware drivers, that might help.

 

[eggsPR]

Thanks for the link. Downloaded and installed all the latest drivers. Restarted. Still the same 'pulsing' choppiness.

Is there anyway I can print out a log that would tell me more information about maybe where the problem lies? Or maybe I can run sort of diagnostics check? I googled my problem... but its hard to find a post where 2 people describe these symptoms the same.

the pause is almost non-noticable, but it happens every second. If I run down a hall, it just doesn't feel right... like I'm playing a game of "Red light Green light" only speeded up...
But again, even the title screen shows choppiness by looking at the water ripples in the creek...

The game is playable with this nusiance... but with my rig, I don't think I should settle for mediocre gameplay.

Thanks
eggs

 

[xombine]

Hmm...maybe you could try uninstalling it and installing it again. Sure, it's a pain to do but I would try it.

 

[$kelet0r]

try validating your game files

most choppiness in HL2 is the infamous stutter bug - its related to the amount of memory given to sounds
make sure your sound card driver is up to date as well (won't hurt!) or if you think your ram might be iffy run memtest86


btw you have i take it tried running on lower settings than all high
your processor isn't too hot you know...

 

[eggsPR]

I think it is this stutter bug you mentioned. I found pages and pages on this, not to mention a TON of old forum posts relating to stutters in HL2. I have a Creative Audigy 2 ZS sound card with 7.1 speakers (with most recent drivers)... I'm almost certain this is the problem. Although I tried completely uninstalling my sound card and running HL2, I still received the choppiness.

I'm doing the prime95 test now, and memtest86 tomorrow.

Half Life 2 ran flawlessly for me before, it will again. There are still hundreds of pages of discussion regarding this 'stutter bug'. It seems that this one problem has about 100 different solutions; trial and error them all, and maybe it will get fixed.

Thanks,

 

[CyberPitz]

Geez. my computer barely runs those settings