HL2 and CS:S black screen at startup

[Saint Nick]

The game runs fine in a window, but kind of laggy...whats up with my full screen mode? Where should I start to diagnose the problem?

 

[Qbah]

What OS do you have? Which graphics card? Running the newest drivers? Everything up-to-date?

 

[Saint Nick]

Oops...should have put that in the OP.

OS is Windows 7
GFX: ATi Radeon X600
Latest updates from Steam, Windows, and ATi

 

[Qbah]

Oops...should have put that in the OP.

OS is Windows 7
GFX: ATi Radeon X600
Latest updates from Steam, Windows, and ATi

The X600 is a legacy card. Are you using the drivers that came with your Windows 7 installation? If so, download and install these:

32bit OS: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownlo...px?type=2.4.1&product=2.4.1.3.19&lang=English
64bit OS: http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownlo...px?type=2.4.1&product=2.4.1.3.19&lang=English

Did you also install DirectX9 from MS? You can get it here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...38-db71-4c1b-bc6a-9b6652cd92a3&DisplayLang=en

EDIT: Note that the newest drivers don't support the X600. You can only use the legacy set that comes out once every 3-4 months.

 

[2dt Drifter]

Do you have dual monitors? Disable one and try it out. I had the same issues but I learned it was my second monitor.