Portal, TF2 Will not Open in Vista Ultimate 32

[angry hampster]

I get this info when opening either game:
Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: hl2.exe
Application Version: 0.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 470c11ae
Fault Module Name: shaderapidx9.dll
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 474b4dc1
Exception Code: c0000005
Exception Offset: 00029e26
OS Version: 6.0.6000.2.0.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: f708
Additional Information 2: 2d645f9807c58f9e6bcea951e3ac2c9c
Additional Information 3: 3b8b
Additional Information 4: 49e67811b1a0b1339799c24419ed46df


Someone please halp.

 

[Fox5]

Valve has their own support system you can ask.
But try the usual:
Update directx and drivers (maybe uninstalling drivers first)
Maybe uninstall and reinstall game
Also try using Spybot and Adware to clean out spyware. Some spyware does interfere with Steam. Some people would say this is spyware not playing nice.

 

[angry hampster]

Forgot to mention that HL2 and HL2 EP:1 work just fine. Ran Spybot and Adaware and still the same behavior. I will try uninstalling and reinstalling.

 

[Runes911]

Have you installed before or do you have AIM (AOL instant messenger) installed?

 

[angry hampster]

Originally posted by: Runes911
Have you installed before or do you have AIM (AOL instant messenger) installed?

Yeah. How would this mess with DX9 though?

 

[barto246]

would that have something to do with this!!?? i downloaded aim yesterday and since then i cannot get on steam. i didnt think this related but i am definitely going to try taking aim off my cpu

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: barto246
would that have something to do with this!!?? i downloaded aim yesterday and since then i cannot get on steam. i didnt think this related but i am definitely going to try taking aim off my cpu

I've seen AIM do weird things, but I dont use Vista so I dont know.

 

[mordantmonkey]

This worked for me- right click audio tray icon > playback devices > highlight audio device > properties > advanced tab > uncheck "allow applications to take exclusive control of this device"

people crap on vista way more than they should. i had my doubts till i used it; it's not that bad. That being said, coming from a company as big as microsoft, it should still be in fucking beta.

 

[ja1484]

Vista = still a compatibility pain in the ass.

It may be on even footing with XP in terms of speed when gaming, but the driver/compatibility issues are still way farked.

 

[Jules]

Originally posted by: ja1484

Vista = still a compatibility pain in the ass.

It may be on even footing with XP in terms of speed when gaming, but the driver/compatibility issues are still way farked.

Sucks for you.

 

[Mem]

Originally posted by: ja1484

Vista = still a compatibility pain in the ass.

It may be on even footing with XP in terms of speed when gaming, but the driver/compatibility issues are still way farked.

So somebody has a problem with a game and you automatically blame Vista,now if it was XP and I have seen loads of Steam related problems with XP at their official site,obviously you would not blame XP so don't jump the gun and blame Vista ....Try posting something useful for a change rather then taking a blind shot at Vista.

As to TF2 you tried running as admin in compatibility tab?....normally when a game won't run in Vista its fixed by going to compatibility tab of the game in question and making sure "run as admin" or xp compatibility mode or combination of both are selected.
I did have a few problems with Steam games few years ago(ironically in XP) and ended up making sure I removed all Steam files and reinstalled the game.


As to driver/compatibility issues,I'll let you know when I run into them,56 games installed even with Starforce drivers/TAGES copy protection drivers and my Vista still does not bat an eye lid,yes my backup PC is XP so I know what I'm talking about.