Can't Run Ns After Quiting

Nophel · June 2003

<div class="IPBDescription">Another Strange Problem Involving MS WXP</div> Ok, I have a new problem.

I have an IBM Notebook:
1.5 Ghz Pentium M Procesor (Centrino)
Centrino Chipset
32 MB ATI Radeon Mobility
256 RAM
Windows XP Pro
ADSL Conection

So I boot up and I run NS flawlessly. However, I quit the game (be it exit in console or through the menu). I try to open NS again (I've tried HL too, with the same results), and I get two flashes of black on my screen and nothing. So I run again and again but still nothing. I wait and nothing.

I have already updated Windows XP and all my drivers. I tried switching between compatibility modes with no success.

Please help. I hate having to reboot every itme I wan't some <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tiny.gif'> .

Thansal · June 2003

ok, before starting bring up the task manager (cntrl alt del)
kill all extreanious proceses
make sure you clean out the aplication tray (get it all out)

now start HL
kill it
use the task mngr to see if it or anything else that shouldn't berunning is
run HL, see what happens <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

if it flashes check the taskmngr <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Thansal @ Jun 15 2003, 08:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> ok, before starting bring up the task manager (cntrl alt del)
kill all extreanious proceses
make sure you clean out the aplication tray (get it all out)

now start HL
kill it
use the task mngr to see if it or anything else that shouldn't berunning is
run HL, see what happens <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

if it flashes check the taskmngr <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Done. Still doesn't work. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'>

Thanks for the quick response though.

ANeM · June 2003

So you have a Radeon eh, Catylyst drivers, right?
You probably upgraded the drivers too far, the new ones aren't stable with HL.. or almost anything, for that matter. I suggest Catylyst drivers 3.1, they are the most stable working version so far.

They can be found <a href='http://mirror.ati.com/support/drivers/winxparchive.html' target='_blank'>Here</a>

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (ANeM @ Jun 15 2003, 09:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> So you have a Radeon eh, Catylyst drivers, right?
You probably upgraded the drivers too far, the new ones aren't stable with HL.. or almost anything, for that matter. I suggest Catylyst drivers 3.1, they are the most stable working version so far.

They can be found <a href='http://mirror.ati.com/support/drivers/winxparchive.html' target='_blank'>Here</a>  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Just tried that an no succes (btw link was broken to I downloaded Cat. 3.1 from another site).

Anyhow, I don't think it's a hardware problem because it runs perfectly the first time.

CommunistWithAGun · June 2003

Centrino is relativly new, but not all of its technology is. We must remember half-life is a very old game, weather we like to admit it or not. Anyway, That MAY do it. I even have issues here and again. I blame that on my crap duron. I dont trust intel crap anyway <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'>

Thansal · June 2003

if you don't 'trust' intel... WHY DID YOU BUY IT?
yeash <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'>

hmm, honestly something this odd is getting to ask for a reinstall (both HL and NS)

but a few more Qs:
1) does this hapen with any other mod/hl? (ie can you play DoD then close and pull up something else?)
if it is only NS then try reinstalling just NS

ok, I am to tired (seeing how I was going to ask if you have tried death monkies, and thats my equivelent of umm, so I tihnk I will stop now)

GL mate, I am stuped (pronounced stum eh d)

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>if you don't 'trust' intel... WHY DID YOU BUY IT?</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>

Because I could get a notebook half the size of the average market ones with a processor that could last for 6 hours on one charge.

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>1) does this hapen with any other mod/hl? (ie can you play DoD then close and pull up something else?)</td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>

No, it's the HL engine (all mods fail too). I tried reinstalling already, no success.

I'll blame this on the lame excuse for an OS that Win XP is.

CommunistWithAGun · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Nophel @ Jun 16 2003, 10:52 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Because I could get a notebook half the size of the average market ones with a processor that could last for 6 hours on one charge.
 </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Thats because you sacrifice power. It lasts so long because its weaker, weather you like it or not. Id rather have an AMD of equal Ghz for a mobile without the power save. Anyways, reformat, that fixes anything.

Jabba_The_Hunt · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CommunistWithAGun @ Jun 17 2003, 06:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Thats because you sacrifice power. It lasts so long because its weaker, weather you like it or not. Id rather have an AMD of equal Ghz for a mobile without the power save. Anyways, reformat, that fixes anything.  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Wise words.

(though I would have a Athlon thats 30% slower than a Intel, as thats the performance gain u get)

CommunistWithAGun · June 2003

Not if you get something in the same price range as intel. Intel is an evil corporation that needs to advertise spam the world with the blue man group in order to sell a damn thing. you buy an AMD in the same price range and youll get a faster piece of equipment. Im not going to turn this into a flame tho, but Im not sure how to fix your machine other than a fresh start, that always helped me. Besides, if I was gonna flame ya I would instead of trying to help Nophel. BTW, why are you even posting unlrelated things in this thread...?

Thansal · June 2003

ok, as a few notes:
1) AMD is no longer 'more bang for your buck' their price ranges are now the same as Intel's (trust me on this one)
2) Though XP has been known to cause problems with games all of those bugs were ironed out

now, ok

You COULD reformat reinstal and it would probably work, though I would refuse to od some thing like that just b/c one of my games dosn't work.

Does this happen with any other games?

I am still convinced that is an external program messing things up (the symptomes just sound like it), you did make sure to EMPTY your aplication tray (kill all msngr services etc etc etc)

hmmmmm

yah, does this hapen with any other games?

oh, and have you tried running through different meathods?
server browsers(<a href='http://www.udpsoft.com/eye2/index.html' target='_blank'>ASE</a>, GS etc) start from diff shortcuts?

CommunistWithAGun · June 2003

Thansal, you do understand something right? ASE PWNS omg i love all seeing eye. great server browser. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'>

Thansal · June 2003

yes, I know and thats why I use ASE

but I wana see how he has been launching the game. And if all he has been ussing is one thing he should definatly try some others to see if anytihng funky/unfunky happens

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CommunistWithAGun @ Jun 17 2003, 12:29 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Thats because you sacrifice power. It lasts so long because its weaker, weather you like it or not. Id rather have an AMD of equal Ghz for a mobile without the power save. Anyways, reformat, that fixes anything.  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
You obviously have not looked into the Centrino chipset / processor. It is the only set in the market that was made from the ground up for mobile computing. Look for bench marks. If you don't trust those, a 1.5 Centrino still get's me more FPS on an identical system with a 2.4 Pentium.

I've tried reformating already, doesn't work.

It only happens for HL & Mods.

lordbluewolf · June 2003

was the last game you played natural selection? if so, was there a cheater or another person who got kicked/banned from the server you were playing on?

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (lordbluewolf @ Jun 20 2003, 12:07 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> was the last game you played natural selection? if so, was there a cheater or another person who got kicked/banned from the server you were playing on?  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Yes the last game I played was NS, but no, no one was kicked / banned. Also this happens with all Mods and HL not just NS.

CommunistWithAGun · June 2003

Guess that eliminates software problems, eh? I looked into some centrino specs the day I saw Intel flam its promotion on TV (Another sign of a weak business) At any rate, Ive been AMD since my old K-6. Tried going intel once way back and was dissapointed. At any rate try your hardware, see whats outdated and what might be too new. If a reformat didnt work then there must be a hardware issue.

Thansal · June 2003

WOULD YOU PEOPLE STOP HIJAKING THREADS!

especialy if you are going to post stupid stuff (advertisment is the sign of weak buisness?? WTH ARE YOU SMOKING?)

if you wana talk about CPUs, go start your own thread over in off topic, not here

Ok, now to drag this thread BACK ON TOPIC:

Again, have you tried an external server browser? (I always sugest <a href='http://www.udpsoft.com/eye2/index.html' target='_blank'>ASE</a>)

Oh, and when do these flashes happen? Right when you pull up HL? or can you do anything first?

Honestly, if ASE dosn't fix it, try ussing <a href='http://www.google.com' target='_blank'>Google</a> to do searches ussing half life and the components of your syastem, see if any one else has this problem

Also just see if you can google up any one else whahas had this prob.

Well GL

JazzX · June 2003

Had this exact problem when I upgraded from 98 to XP. I can't find an actual solution, but the problem is that when you quit Half-Life (or NS, CS, TFC, whatever) the program successfully exits but for whatever reason the hl.exe process does not terminate. So when you try to start hl again a second hl.exe process is started but the second one won't do anything because the first is still running. Not only will this cause second instances of HL not to run but I've had it prevent Flash content from loading etc.

The "Fix" is that after you quit HL hit ctrl-alt-del and select the Processes (Not the Applications) tab and look for hl.exe, select it and then hit the "End Process" button. It'll give you a warning message and tell it to close anyway. If there are three or four hl.exe's running as processes kill them all and then when you try to run Half-Life or its mods they should load up fine.

Hope this helps.

JazzX · June 2003

After re-reviewing the rest of the thread I realized I should add that it makes no difference if you use a third party game browser or the ingame browser. Either way I have to kill the hl.exe process manually, regardless of how I joined the server. However ever since I switched to XP I have had real problems using the in game browser and would highly recommend that anyone using XP employ ASE, .hlla, or Gamespy.

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (JazzX @ Jun 21 2003, 01:21 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Had this exact problem when I upgraded from 98 to XP. I can't find an actual solution, but the problem is that when you quit Half-Life (or NS, CS, TFC, whatever) the program successfully exits but for whatever reason the hl.exe process does not terminate. So when you try to start hl again a second hl.exe process is started but the second one won't do anything because the first is still running. Not only will this cause second instances of HL not to run but I've had it prevent Flash content from loading etc.

The "Fix" is that after you quit HL hit ctrl-alt-del and select the Processes (Not the Applications) tab and look for hl.exe, select it and then hit the "End Process" button. It'll give you a warning message and tell it to close anyway. If there are three or four hl.exe's running as processes kill them all and then when you try to run Half-Life or its mods they should load up fine.

Hope this helps.  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Thank you, that got the problem.

I knew a third part browser wouldn't help because if the engine can't run, why would it make a difference.

Yey now I can go: <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tiny.gif'>

Thansal · June 2003

/me growels

realizing that this was my FIRST sugestion

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>now start HL
kill it
use the task mngr to see if it or anything else that shouldn't berunning is
run HL, see what happens </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>

some thing that shouldn't be running after you kill hl? hl.exe

bah

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Thansal @ Jun 22 2003, 09:50 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> /me growels

realizing that this was my FIRST sugestion

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>now start HL
kill it
use the task mngr to see if it or anything else that shouldn't berunning is
run HL, see what happens </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>

some thing that shouldn't be running after you kill hl? hl.exe

bah  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
I did check the Task Manager, just didn't check the Processes.

Ah, the flaws of the English language. . . <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'>

Thansal · June 2003

hehe, oh well as long as it is working now <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'> (yah, I should have said to look at the processes tab)

Nophel · June 2003

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Thansal @ Jun 22 2003, 04:58 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> hehe, oh well as long as it is working now <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'> (yah, I should have said to look at the processes tab)  </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> 
Or I should have thought about that. Perhaps you over-estimated my knowledge of Win XP.

Thanks though, I've had a great day playing NS thanks to you all. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/pudgy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='pudgy.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/skulk.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='skulk.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/asrifle.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='asrifle.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tiny.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tiny.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/turret.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='turret.gif'> <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/siege.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='siege.gif'>

Thansal · June 2003

glad to help, thats why we hang out here <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

MonsieurEvil · June 2003

Thansal: 1
PC Issue: 0

GG Than.

Thansal · June 2003

hehe, teh overcome!!1! thanks MonsE <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

on a side note, I am now even more convinced then before that this is a 3rd party program messing with you.

I have gotten bugs like this before (one such was with Atomica Slingshot). I would sugest seeing if you can go through the applications you have running in the background (either by the system tray or by the Processes tab again). I am willing to bet that there is some random program you have running that is doing this. But with out access to your comp I can't really do what I need to to fix it (basicaly poke around till I can find something that is doing this). So if you have some free time thats a project for you to trie, basicaly systematicly go through them killing, then testing till you find the right program. gl mate <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'>

Can't Run Ns After Quiting

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