hl2.exe has stopped working!

I recently built a new computer and have started having problems with steam games CS:S and TF:2 the start menu loads up and then crashes with never ending loops of TF:2 music which is annoying. CS:S only started doing it after a day or two but TF:2 has always done it on this system. i have tried solve this problem by updating drivers and running the programme in compatiblity mode for Windows XP SP 2 and reinstalling both games, nothing i do seems to work, i think the most frustrating thing is that i don't even know if the problem is with vista or the other most likley candidate my graphics card, as i have been told that similar problems have occured with the GForce 8800 GTX!

My System
Intel Core2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz
Vista Home Premium x64
GForce 9800 GTX
4 GB OCZ Sli RAM

Any Suggestions that i have not tried would be nice cheers

I had some problems with steam games too though they were different than yours. Still though you can try this solution that helped me out.

-Go to computer management (you can just type it in the search bar)
-Then on the left side click services and application
-click services
-on the right side list look for something that is called ForceWare Intelligent Application Manager (IAM) and disable it.

My problem was when I started the game everything was studdering. Like I said different problem than yours but worth a shot. Also make sure Nvidia network manager is uninstalled.

If none of that works I would go search and if nothing is found ask on the steam forums.

Although I don't have any steam games, the problem does seem to lie with them. You need to check their website for any updates which enable their programs to run correctly on Vista, especially if you have SP1 installed. If a company such as Steam want people to continue using their products, they will develop patches and upgrades to solve this problem. Link to the main Steam site given below.
Dwarf

Welcome to Steam

thanks one-shot that seemed to do the trick the hl2.exe still stops working but at least i can now play the games!

I just wanted to say this. It is not an issue with Vista itself as I have Vista Premium 32bit and have never had a problem with any Steam game, especially TF2 which I built my new machine for and went with Vista too. Its a problem with the 64bit only and obviously with a certain service.

Whatever you do, don't run Steam in compatibility mode.

Read this and this.

Its nothing more than a cosmetic bug you can bypass by adding hl2.exe to the "Problem Reports and Solutions" exception list from within your control panel, Valve will eventually remove the glitch when Microsoft gets around to changing its WHEA code

Steven

Thanks for all of this information, Steven. I've searched around in Problem Reports and Solutions and I can not find anywhere to add exceptions. I tried adding it to the only list I could find which was "Block List" which blocks information from being sent from the programs on the list. If you could give me any insight on where to look for the exceptions list or more detailed information on where to enter hl2.exe it would be greatly appreciated.

Hi and thanks for the great forums!

I too would like some insight to what Steven has posted.

Hi Tramp,

This will greatly lower your system security...

Adding Local System and Network Service to the required keys allows steam to exit without the error message


MMC> Local Security Policy> User Rights Assignment

Steven