TF2 not working properly, hl2.exe problems [Solved]

[Dardhaz]

So, for some time now, I haven't been able to play TF2, much to my confusion. Every time I try to enter a server, the game stops working as soon as the server has finished loading and I get a text box telling me that the hl2.exe has stopped working. Naturally, I went to the forums to see if someone else have had this problem and for the solution to this and I did find some things that I could try, without any change.

Re-installing it did not work, nor did defragment the harddrive. I even tried a simple search for hl2.exe and found several config-files, deleting some of them, in case that was it. I also got a tip from a friend to try to delete the ClietRegestry.blob and Steam.dll files, which also did not work.
I have now run out of ideas and I need some help with this.

If there already is a designated place for this, I could not find it and I appologize in advance if that is the case.

[Dardhaz]

Well, after reading your comment, I updated all that I could, everything except the operating system. Until I can get my hands on Windows 8 (I have 7 now, by the way), it seems I'm fully updated and yeah, sorry to say, it still doesn't work.

[Wishlist Elevator Music!]

Windows 7 should work- I think he meant that you should make sure that you have the latest Windows 7 updates.

What happens when you try playing the game locally? Do you have administrator access? Do you have parental controls turned on?

Windows Firewall, by default, will block hl2.exe unless you designated it not to do so. If this only happens when trying to connect to servers, it may possibly be that Windows Firewall is causing it to crash. Do you recall seeing a pop-up window asking you to allow hl2.exe access from Windows?

From Microsoft's website, how to resolve it if this is the issue:
"To add an inbound rule for a program by using the Windows Firewall Control Panel program

Click Start, click Control Panel, and then under Security, click Allow a program through Windows Firewall.

On the Exceptions tab, check the list to see if an exception for your program already exists and just needs to be enabled. If you find one, select the box next to it, and then click OK.

If a rule does not already exist, click Add program.

In the Add a Program dialog box, either select your program from the list, or click the Browse button to enter the path to the executable file.

If the program should only be accessed from certain network addresses, click Change Scope, and enter the appropriate subnet addresses or individual IP addresses. Click OK to return to the Add a Program dialog box.

Click OK to return to the Windows Firewall Settings dialog box. Your new exception is displayed in the list in alphabetical order with a check mark in the box next to it. Click OK to save your new exception rule.

Test your rule by running the network program that needs to be able to receive unsolicited network traffic."

(From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766312%28v=ws.10%29.aspx which may be able to provide more information.)

If this doesn't work, let me know and I'll see if I can brainstorm with you some more. =)

[Dardhaz]

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

Windows 7 should work- I think he meant that you should make sure that you have the latest Windows 7 updates.

Yeah, I figured Win7 should've been enough, I just wasn't ready to exclude anything yet.

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

What happens when you try playing the game locally?

Haven't tried that.

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

Do you have administrator access?

What, for TF2 itself? I am the only user on this computer. Maybe I misunderstood your question. :/

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

Do you have parental controls turned on?

No. At least, they shouldn't be; no reason for me to turn them on.

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

Windows Firewall, by default, will block hl2.exe unless you designated it not to do so. If this only happens when trying to connect to servers, it may possibly be that Windows Firewall is causing it to crash. Do you recall seeing a pop-up window asking you to allow hl2.exe access from Windows?

No, I just got an error message telling me that hl2.exe had stopped working and that it was trying to find a solution, only giving the feedback that it failed because of an error, unspecific what that error might be.

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

From Microsoft's website, how to resolve it if this is the issue:
"To add an inbound rule for a program by using the Windows Firewall Control Panel program

Click Start, click Control Panel, and then under Security, click Allow a program through Windows Firewall.

On the Exceptions tab, check the list to see if an exception for your program already exists and just needs to be enabled. If you find one, select the box next to it, and then click OK.

If a rule does not already exist, click Add program.

In the Add a Program dialog box, either select your program from the list, or click the Browse button to enter the path to the executable file.

OK, I added hl2.exe to the exceptions. If this turns out to have done it, that's really strange, because I haven't had to do that before.

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

If the program should only be accessed from certain network addresses, click Change Scope, and enter the appropriate subnet addresses or individual IP addresses. Click OK to return to the Add a Program dialog box.

Click OK to return to the Windows Firewall Settings dialog box. Your new exception is displayed in the list in alphabetical order with a check mark in the box next to it. Click OK to save your new exception rule.

Test your rule by running the network program that needs to be able to receive unsolicited network traffic."

(From http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc766312%28v=ws.10%29.aspx which may be able to provide more information.)

If this doesn't work, let me know and I'll see if I can brainstorm with you some more. =)

I checked my anti-virus protection and I check the trafic-rules, but I have no clue if any of the blocked ones falls under the kind that you should send and recieve to play TF2. Like I've said, though; I haven't really changed anything, apart from the things I have done trying to fix this, and I have been able to play just fine up until recently

[Maxwell]

Try using Directx8 to launch.
add this to the launch options -dx_level80
il send you a paste of my launch options i have had this error and these launch options helped my fps was dropping really low to 0 for some reason randomly

[Wishlist Elevator Music!]

Yes- I meant if you had administrator access to your machine. Sorry I wasn't more clear. =)

I know I have Windows 7 to automatically update and after some updates, I've had to grant Windows Firewall access again even though hl2.exe was in my exception list before. I can't recall if I've had to do so recently but I do know that there have been quite a few Windows updates as of late.

If it's still failing, try running it single-player and let me know what happens. =)

[Dardhaz]

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

Yes- I meant if you had administrator access to your machine. Sorry I wasn't more clear. =)

That's alright, I was just making sure I got that right

Originally posted by ♡HelenAngel♡:

I know I have Windows 7 to automatically update and after some updates, I've had to grant Windows Firewall access again even though hl2.exe was in my exception list before. I can't recall if I've had to do so recently but I do know that there have been quite a few Windows updates as of late.

If it's still failing, try running it single-player and let me know what happens. =)

I actually just tried to run a training mission and lo and behold, that works!

[Dardhaz]

So, I managed to locate the Debug file and I think I have found what have started it, though I have no idea; I'm just guessing. After this entry, there's a lot of similar entries, mentioning a bad entry. Anyway, here's what that said:

[0602/214600:ERROR:entry_impl.cc(676)] Failed to delete config/html\f_000074 from the cache.

Would it be safe if I manually deleted said file or any at all in the config/html/ directory?

[Wishlist Elevator Music!]

Well, I just checked my directory and I don't have that file- so I would say it's safe to delete it manually. (My TF2 works just fine on this machine & it's running Windows 7) Also, in theory if you delete any file that is needed for TF2, it will be redownloaded when you verify your game cache files. So definitely worth a try!

[Dardhaz]

No, that did not work. Damnit. Well, can anyone interpret the last message in the Debug file,then and come up with a suggestion:

[0106/222919:WARNING:backend_impl.cc(1930)] Destroying invalid entry.

If I can't fix this today, I'll try to reinstall Steam on the computer, to see if that helps. Unless someone has a better idea.

[Wishlist Elevator Music!]

I'm assuming you tried verifying your game cache files already after you got the error?

[<rypTo]

I had exactly the same problem. Try turning off MOTD in the advanced options. It fixed it for me.

[Dardhaz]

Originally posted by XondriX:

I had exactly the same problem. Try turning off MOTD in the advanced options. It fixed it for me.

Yeah, that seems to have done it. Thank you all for helping me!

[Bynine Studio]

Ach. I have this problem but turning MOTD off didn't fix it at all for me; neither did the fixes provided so far.

[Wishlist Elevator Music!]

Bynine, are you able to run single-player?

[P-13| Josef™]

Same problem here and turning off MOTD doesn't work either.