[SimonH]

Anybody tried running HL on Vista ?

Friend is trying to run it now but which ever option she choses from the graphics menu, Software , Open GL or Hardware, she ends up getting a really appaling look to the game, very blocky etc.

I can't test it at my place as I have XP, but wondered if anybody has had the problem and knows how to fix it ?

I will just direct her to this thread if anybody has an easy fix.

Thx

Simon

[Rasczak]

I have Half Life installed within Steam and have no problems running it on Vista Home Premium 32 Bit. I started in software and it ran fine. Changed the settings to OpenGL and again it ran without problem.

Perhaps the problem could be the graphics driver? Perhaps look for the latest drivers for whatever card you have? Secondly is your friend playing from the disc or has she downloaded Steam and is playing though that. The latter option is the better because you'll get the latest version of the game suited to the OS.

To get Steam goto the website at Steam Powered.

[SimonH]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

I have Half Life installed within Steam and have no problems running it on Vista Home Premium 32 Bit. I started in software and it ran fine. Changed the settings to OpenGL and again it ran without problem.

Perhaps the problem could be the graphics driver? Perhaps look for the latest drivers for whatever card you have? Secondly is your friend playing from the disc or has she downloaded Steam and is playing though that. The latter option is the better because you'll get the latest version of the game suited to the OS.

To get Steam goto the website at Steam Powered.

She's just trying to play it from a CD not Steam no, but whenever she choses any of those options it looks appaling. It's so cheap now on Steam, I have advised her to take a look at just downloading HL and HL2 directly from there.

Thanks anyway for the tip for letting me know.

If you have two spare mins, I dont' suppose you could do a screen shot of the very first screen you see on HL when you load a new game could you?

Your in a carriage with some metal sliding doors in front of you, just want to see what it should look like working correctly.

I believe she does have the latest video driver yes, but will double check.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by SimonH

She's just trying to play it from a CD not Steam no, but whenever she choses any of those options it looks appaling. It's so cheap now on Steam, I have advised her to take a look at just downloading HL and HL2 directly from there.

It shouldn't cost anything - there is no need to rebuy it. Download Steam, goto the 'My Games' tab and select 'Activate a product on Steam...' and enter the key. Your copy of HL will then be tied to Steam (as well as enabling you to download all the free addons that accompany that classic game (TFC for example).

[Razor]

I run Half Life 2 on vista with no problems at all.

Do as Rasczak says and connect to steam, this will update your copy of Half Life 2 to the latest version automatically.

What res have you got the game running at? What spec is the pc?

[SimonH]

PC is pretty decent, she's choosing the max res available in the graphics setup, was pretty low tbh, but the max available there.

I'll direct her to this thread for the suggestions.

Cheers again.

[Rasczak]

she's choosing the max res available in the graphics setup

Is she using a widescreen monitor? If so has the 'widescreen' option been set? That could, I suppose, make things look blocky.

[SimonH]

Not in front of that PC, will need to ask her , I was there when we were trying it out can't say I saw a widescreen option, but tbh it was definatley more of a "CGA" type look, reminded me of looking at an old Quake game before GFX cards :P

I've sent her an email with a link to this thread so she can take a look at the advice.

Thx again.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by SimonH

I was there when we were trying it out can't say I saw a widescreen option, but tbh it was definatley more of a "CGA" type look, reminded me of looking at an old Quake game before GFX cards

If you go down the Steam route you might find more resolutions are supported. The Steam interface gives alot more options than you get with the DVD version of the game.

[God's Toy]

Using Vista Ultimate 32 and Half Life on steam here and it's fine, Is the game fully updated? If she loads it up on Steam she can auto update to the newest patch.

[Knyght_byte]

i had HL2 running fine on Vista 64bit using steam.....looked gorgeous


that HDD isnt in the machine atm tho so i cant do a screenie, sorry...

Simon, it might be best for her to take a screen shot or to take a picture of the screen so we can get an idea of the problem.

[God's Toy]

Just thinking, could she be missing the High Definition Pack graphics patch? see here for info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Li...efinition_Pack

And see here for download from Steam: http://steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=news&id=438&


I know my H-L looked much better after getting it.

[SimonH]

Thanks all, in the end she got the download from Steam and all is working perfectly, it looks great. Thx for all your help.

[Indiana Jones]

I have the game running fine and it looks great but if I save the game then exit and then reload the save it wont run, it just comes up saying something about the A.I. being disabled

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Indiana Jones

I have the game running fine and it looks great but if I save the game then exit and then reload the save it wont run, it just comes up saying something about the A.I. being disabled

Strange. I havent had this at all?

Type "half life AI disabled" without quotation marks into google.

[Indiana Jones]

Did exactly that after I posted and have since downloaded a different config file which has fixed the problem.

[Chaos]

I got this game recently as it's one of the classic games I've been meaning to try for ages. £15 for this and episode one from Steam. I haven't felt this way about a game for so long. It's amazing.

[SimonH]

Originally Posted by Boratx

I got this game recently as it's one of the classic games I've been meaning to try for ages. £15 for this and episode one from Steam. I haven't felt this way about a game for so long. It's amazing.

Truly a classic game, for me personally I had vastly more fun with HL1 than HL2, but both should be on everybodies play list. Sheer quality.

[Rasczak]

Originally Posted by SimonH

I had vastly more fun with HL1 than HL2, but both should be on everybodies play list. Sheer quality.

I think Valve made a mistake moving the Half Life series to 'episodic gaming'. Half Life and Half Life 2 were both classics - but Half Life 2:Episode 1, aside from having a long and bloated name, is so short it is forgetable.

[Razor]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

I think Valve made a mistake moving the Half Life series to 'episodic gaming'. Half Life and Half Life 2 were both classics - but Half Life 2:Episode 1, aside from having a long and bloated name, is so short it is forgetable.

They were meant to be releasing a new episode every few months along with Sin. As we can all see this never happened. Shame

[Tejstar]

Originally Posted by Rasczak

I think Valve made a mistake moving the Half Life series to 'episodic gaming'. Half Life and Half Life 2 were both classics - but Half Life 2:Episode 1, aside from having a long and bloated name, is so short it is forgetable.

Which is one of the main reasons I'm waiting for Episode Two, so that I can play both one and two back-to-back.

[undeadboll]

mine runs but text is messed up