HalfLife 1 games refuse to start, error message pops up

[Schadenfroh]

Tried on two different installs on the same PC (XP Pro 32 & XP Pro 64), both yield the same error message:

Pic of error message

System running latest windows updates, latest WHQL drivers for all components, etc.

I have reinstalled steam. This only occurs with HL1 based games, no other steam games do this.

System:

Athlon64 4000+
2gb Corsair XMS PC3200
Gigabyte K8NS Ultra 939 (nforce3 Ultra)
SB Audigy 2 ZS
1st gen raptor
AMD X1950 Pro 512mb AGP

UPDATE

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
For anyone that might be having the same problem, I have discovered the origin of the issue. (did not bother to contact support again)

The problem seems to lie with the Data Execution Prevention. I have DEP enabled for all applications and services (the 2nd option). To fix this problem, simply add "HL.EXE" and "Half-Life Launcher" to the exceptions and check them.

CS and HL1 based games now work like a charm

 

[JAG87]

http://support.steampowered.co...td_adp.php?p_faqid=278

thats the best I can do. good luck.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yeah I was getting that with Lost Coast; see my thread here: http://forums.anandtech.com/me...=2056276&enterthread=y

The only way to solve it for me was by reinstalling. Did you recently add more RAM?

Good luck!

KT

 

[amish]

if you don't get it worked out let me know. i'll send you my CD & key. i haven't played that game in a few years and you will get more out of it than i will.

 

[TallBill]

I'd try a reinstall, hope you have broadband!

We've been playing 8-10 player half life 1 mods here on our laptops. Great LAN game, since it runs fine on any modern laptop. Gotta play version 1.5 though, since 1.6 requires steam.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I have reinstalled several times, still get the error.

Other strange things have started to happen on my system (memory errors when compiling stuff in Visual Studio) and corrupted files when I sometimes install something big. I have not added any new ram in over a year and a half, but I took out all buy one of my memory sticks and ran memtestx86 on the thing and errors in the ram are streaming like a pin ball machine, I think my Corsair XMS PC3200 might have gone bad. More to come as I test each stick individually, how many errors is "normal" for memtestx86 per 512mb stick?


Update: 2nd stick has no errors, first stick had over 500 after about 15 minutes of running memtest, I think I have found the problem.

 

[JAG87]

hehehe, good for you man! replace that sucker.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Well, I left memtestx86 run till a pass was complete, 6100+ total errors in that stick (now removed and zero errors in remaining sticks), removed the nvidia IDE drivers as well, reinstalling steam now, wish me luck!

 

[Schadenfroh]

Error still occurs even after removing the stick and reinstalling steam / hl1, here is my steam forum thread:
http://forums.steampowered.com...?p=6405280#post6405280

 

[Schadenfroh]

For anyone that might be having the same problem, I have discovered the origin of the issue. (did not bother to contact support again)

The problem seems to lie with the Data Execution Prevention. I have DEP enabled for all applications and services (the 2nd option). To fix this problem, simply add "HL.EXE" and "Half-Life Launcher" to the exceptions and check them.

CS and HL1 based games now work like a charm

 

[scrawnypaleguy]

I've been getting the same error on and off for a year now! Where is this DEP list, and how do I add those exceptions to it? I wanna play CS:S again!

 

[Schadenfroh]

Start > Settings > Control Panel > Classic View > System > Advanced > Performance Settings > Data Execution Prevention > Add (your .exe files).