hl2.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.

"hl2.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience."

Grrrrrrr, this is really annoying me.

I've had this error since yesterday and today followed the "cleaning windows xp" thread instructions to clear out all the crap on my PC (I had a google redirect virus too which has now thankfully gone).

The error occurs every time I try to open Counter Strike: Source. I see a box saying "Preparing Counterstrike Source.." followed by the error above.

I've tried removing all virus/spyware/malware/etc, defragging my HDD, reinstalling the game and reinstalling steam but still no luck.

Now I turn to you and my fate is in your hands you kind, generous, clever people (flattery helps, right?).


I'm really stuck here so any advice is appreciated - thanks in advance.

 

I should mention that I've googled around for a fix and tried pretty much whatever I could find including setting different launch options.

 

This sounds really off the wall, but have you switched monitors since the last time the game loaded properly? I recently had a similar problem with a game (everquest) where it would fail with an .exe error (everquest.exe) immediately after the file scan/update process and before the load process began. I had changed monitors (moved from a larger to a smaller screen) just before this began to occur, and had to reduce the screen resolution prior to loading the game. After scaling down the screen resolution to fit the smaller monitor the game loaded fine. Maybe a long shot but hope this helps!

 

If you didn't switch monitors, have you changed anything else? Anything at all?

If you went through the cleaning procedure from the Malware Forum, did you change or add any additional protection software afterwards? My antivirus has a bad habit of interfering with game installs, to the point where I now simply turn off the AV before installing games to avoid any problems.

 

I haven't switched monitors or anything else.

The problem was already apparent before I cleaned malware etc off my PC. I run Kapersky AV but the game still won't start either with protection paused or with the program closed.

 

Hmm... so it happened before the malware cleaning, but the cleaning procedure didn't remove the problem. Have you tried to reinstall the game with Kaspersky off, just in case?

I got bored so I did some googling... and from what I can tell, a few users with a similar problem to yours managed to solve it by moving all files from the folder Steam/username/half life l2/bin to folder Steam/username/half life 2. Obviously, back up whatever needs to be backed up before moving vital game files around, or have the original exe available for reinstall, just in case something gets mucked up.

Let me know if that works or not.

 

Update: Just as randomly as the game stopped working - it has started working again.

If anyone else is having this problem I'm sorry but I have no explanation.

 

I'd love to know how you got it fixed, but let's keep our priorities straight here: The most important thing is that the game works! :highfive

 

Please try and explain how this problem was fixed. I am having the EXACT SAME PROBLEM right down to the redirect virus. i have cleaned my computer thoroughly, updated directx, windows, steam, video card and nothing has worked. I got rid of the virus too.

 

Ouch...! That sucks! :cry

Okay, let's go over what we did earlier. What, if any, changes have you made to your system? Both hardware and software, of course.

Did you try the fix that has worked for some, with moving files from the folder Steam/username/half life l2/bin to the folder Steam/username/half life 2 and did that change anything at all?

I refuse to let a lousy piece of software defeat me! :boxing

 

yes i copied my files to that folder as well. Since the issue I have added CCleaner, but no other problems. Prior to the issue I hadnt added any programs or downloaded any updates.

 

If it won't lose you too much data... does the problem go away if you restore to a restore point from before you added CCleaner?

 

OK guys i figured this one out, it only took me 3 days! Go to this website and just follow the step by step instructions on removing the redirect virus.

http://forums.techguy.org/malware-r.../842548-google-redirects-not-quite-fixed.html

Do what it says in post #4 (combofix and the microsoft website) and that should take care of the problem. Thanks for the help anyway Mimsy, I appreciate it a lot.

Mimsy, I was unable to try to system restore my pc, because for some reason I didnt have any restore points.

 

Thanks for the link! Now we know what to tell others with the same problem

If you turned off System Restore some time during the virus cleaning that erases all restore points. It's common to do that, since if a restore point was created after you got infected, then you'll restore the virus as well if you ever restore that particular point. Make sure it got turned back on properly (System Properties -> System Restore tab -> uncheck the box), and you're good.