Vista - hl2.exe has stopped working!

matin b · 04-19-2008

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

One-Shot · 04-19-2008

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.

**Dwarf** · 04-20-2008

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

matin b · 04-21-2008

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

jimmysmitty · 06-14-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf

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

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.

**Axon** · 06-15-2008

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

Read this and this.

**dmex** · 06-15-2008

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

Warble · 06-26-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by dmex

Jason one of the main Valve developers has mentioned many times the "hl2.exe has stopped working" error is nothing but a cosmetic bug caused by WHEA (Windows Error Architecture), the glitch is caused when it unloads the internal encrypted file system used within Steam without Vista knowing it got unloaded and Windows detects the wrong exit code for something thats "not there" so it generates the error...

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 and Valve cant do it themselves without a complete rewrite of the entire Steam codebase and encryption systems.

There is no real problem with Steam or Vista and this would have been fixed ages ago but Microsoft blames Valve and Valve blames Microsoft...

I do know another solution for making the error disappear by adding your user account to a special group already built-into Vista but its not advisable.

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.

trampi3 · 07-02-2008

Hi and thanks for the great forums!

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

**dmex** · 07-02-2008

Quote: Originally Posted by trampi3

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

04-19-2008	#1 (permalink)
matin b Vista Home Premium x64 2 posts	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
My System Specs

04-19-2008	#2 (permalink)
One-Shot Vista Ultimate x64 4 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! 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.
My System Specs

04-20-2008	#3 (permalink)
Dwarf Vista Home Premium 32-bit & Vista Ultimate 64-bit both Service Pack 2 W7 Pro RTM 7600 32 & 64 2,172 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! 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
My System Specs

04-21-2008	#4 (permalink)
matin b Vista Home Premium x64 2 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! thanks one-shot that seemed to do the trick the hl2.exe still stops working but at least i can now play the games!
My System Specs

06-14-2008	#5 (permalink)
jimmysmitty Vista Home Premium 32bit 2 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! Quote: Originally Posted by Dwarf 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 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.
My System Specs

06-15-2008	#6 (permalink)
Axon Vista™ Ultimate x64 286 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! Whatever you do, don't run Steam in compatibility mode. Read this and this.
My System Specs

06-15-2008	#7 (permalink)
dmex Windows Vista™ Ultimate 2,631 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! 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 Last edited by dmex; 07-02-2008 at 09:47 AM..
My System Specs

06-26-2008	#8 (permalink)
Warble Vista 32bit 3 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! Quote: Originally Posted by dmex Jason one of the main Valve developers has mentioned many times the "hl2.exe has stopped working" error is nothing but a cosmetic bug caused by WHEA (Windows Error Architecture), the glitch is caused when it unloads the internal encrypted file system used within Steam without Vista knowing it got unloaded and Windows detects the wrong exit code for something thats "not there" so it generates the error... 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 and Valve cant do it themselves without a complete rewrite of the entire Steam codebase and encryption systems. There is no real problem with Steam or Vista and this would have been fixed ages ago but Microsoft blames Valve and Valve blames Microsoft... I do know another solution for making the error disappear by adding your user account to a special group already built-into Vista but its not advisable. 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.
My System Specs

07-02-2008	#9 (permalink)
trampi3 Ultimate x64 2 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! Hi and thanks for the great forums! I too would like some insight to what Steven has posted.
My System Specs

07-02-2008	#10 (permalink)
dmex Windows Vista™ Ultimate 2,631 posts	Re: hl2.exe has stopped working! Quote: Originally Posted by trampi3 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
My System Specs

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