Steam Problem

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

I know that this is not the Steam Support page, but considering this is a lot easier than Steam's 10 step support request submission process, and so many people here swear by this fickle monstrosity, I'd ask it here.

I recently bought the Orange Box, and tried to play Half-Life 2. I had no problems installing it on 3 different computers... one with a Pentium 4, one with a Core Duo, both XP, and lastly one 64-bit Vista machine.

Oddly enough, the only computer to get it past the menu screen is the Pentium 4 machine, unfortunately as soon as I get to the first in-game loading screen, it immediately crashes. Any suggestions as to the problem would be mighty helpful.

Also, after reading all the potential problems of hardware that interacts poorly with Steam, I have to ask... WHY does everyone love it so much? The whole idea just seems broken when you see how many things can go wrong.

 

[Turkishchocolate]

I can't help you with the hardware issue, but from what I've gathered, people love Steam because it's convenient. Also, Gabe Newell. So yeah.

 

[hellthins]

Why do people love Steam? Digital distribution can ensure the same cheaper prices for everyone and directly pays the developers instead of going through physical game stores which like marking up the prices ridiculously on used games. It's a great thing for independent developers as well that would never get the chance to make money in a physical store, such as the wonderful Garry's Mod.

As for it crashing, you need to be more specific. Try and get an error report, and post system specs.

 

[xitel]

Why do people love Steam? Digital distribution can ensure the same cheaper prices for everyone and directly pays the developers instead of going through physical game stores which like marking up the prices ridiculously on used games. It's a great thing for independent developers as well that would never get the chance to make money in a physical store, such as the wonderful Garry's Mod.

This. Plus, it theoretically lowers prices because you don't have to pay for materials and labor.

 

[curlycrouton]

I think I know what your problem is, could you just explain what precisely the error message you get is?

 

[RetiarySword]

I know that this is not the Steam Support page, but considering this is a lot easier than Steam's 10 step support request submission process, and so many people here swear by this fickle monstrosity, I'd ask it here.

I recently bought the Orange Box, and tried to play Half-Life 2. I had no problems installing it on 3 different computers... one with a Pentium 4, one with a Core Duo, both XP, and lastly one 64-bit Vista machine.

Oddly enough, the only computer to get it past the menu screen is the Pentium 4 machine, unfortunately as soon as I get to the first in-game loading screen, it immediately crashes. Any suggestions as to the problem would be mighty helpful.

Also, after reading all the potential problems of hardware that interacts poorly with Steam, I have to ask... WHY does everyone love it so much? The whole idea just seems broken when you see how many things can go wrong.

I had that problem and I fixed it. Basicaly the 64-bit version of hl2 is buggy and won't work. Go to the steam games menu, right click the half life 2 game, go to propities, then launch options, then type:
-32bit
Then press enter. The game will now work in good 'ol 32bit mode.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

I think I know what your problem is, could you just explain what precisely the error message you get is?

It's your standard "HL2.exe has encountered a problem..." yadda, yadda, yadda.

As for system specs, I'll just edit this post with them after I try and get an error report, too.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

We've heard it all before. It even applies to Vista.

"Vista sucks because it doesn't work on my computer"

"I love Vista because it works on my computer."

replace vista with [steam] or virtually any other computer program.

 

[curlycrouton]

I think I know what your problem is, could you just explain what precisely the error message you get is?

It's your standard "HL2.exe has encountered a problem..." yadda, yadda, yadda.

As for system specs, I'll just edit this post with them after I try and get an error report, too.

Oh, so it can't be a Source Error..
hmm....

 

[RetiarySword]

Realy I don't get the whole reason why people don't like steam OR vista. I'm running vista 64bit ultimate, and I find it amazing. Everyone hates vista because at the start of its life it was buggy as hell, and got bad publicity. Do I have to remind you how appauling xp was when it first came out? Also steam is probly one of the best game distribution services out there because you buy one game like half life, then you get to install as many supported mods as you want as its an open ended engine. Also I have never had any problems with copy protection and the service has always been top notch to me. Show me something better? EA download manager maybe? No.


EDIT: Also I posted the solution in my last post in this thread.

 

[Caliostro]

I found your problem: You're using Vista. The 64bit version even...

 

[RetiarySword]

I found your problem: You're using Vista. The 64bit version even...

*sigh*, whats wrogn with vista 64bit? I suggest you read the post above you.

 

[Caliostro]

I found your problem: You're using Vista. The 64bit version even...

*sigh*, whats wrogn with vista 64bit? I suggest you read the post above you.

64bits versions are generally buggier than 32bits and/or less compatible and it's Vista... Although a lot of Vista has been fixed, it still needs tweaking.

 

[RetiarySword]

I found your problem: You're using Vista. The 64bit version even...

*sigh*, whats wrogn with vista 64bit? I suggest you read the post above you.

64bits versions are generally buggier than 32bits and/or less compatible and it's Vista... Although a lot of Vista has been fixed, it still needs tweaking.

I have never had a compatibility problem with my pc, or when I used to work with vista pc's, also how do you mean tweaking?

 

[Caliostro]

I have never had a compatibility problem with my pc, or when I used to work with vista pc's, also how do you mean tweaking?

Vista still needs twice the memory XP does and people still report it performs worse.

But hey, if you're happy with it.

 

[Bluntknife]

I found your problem: You're using Vista. The 64bit version even...

*sigh*, whats wrogn with vista 64bit? I suggest you read the post above you.

64bits versions are generally buggier than 32bits and/or less compatible and it's Vista... Although a lot of Vista has been fixed, it still needs tweaking.

Did you read the original post?
He said he tryed it on 2 other pc's both running XP.
Does that mean I should start bashing Xp and how it get progresivly slower?

 

[Caliostro]

Did you read the original post?
He said he tryed it on 2 other pc's both running XP.
Does that mean I should start bashing Xp and how it get progresivly slower?

You'd be right. lol. Just because XP is the best option out there it doesn't make it awesome, and certainly doesn't make it flawless.

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

Huge thanks to everyone for all the suggestions, especially RetiarySword, as I finally got it working on the VISTA machine (just to, you know, fuel the debate, heh heh)