TF2/source games broken...help?

[dredfox]

I wish I could tell you more about that crash dump. The only info that stands out to me is the error code "0xC0000005". This error code is for a memory access violation. HL2.exe tried to read or write to a memory address that it did not have permission to access.

I ran into these all the time on Vista x86. My solution then was to disable DEP, which prevents certain segments of memory from holding executable code, or to disable UAC, which prevents access to certain segments of memory based on user permissions.

You've done both of these, but I'm just about out of other suggestions. I could walk you through finding out what is located at the troublesome memory address. Sometimes knowing if it is program code or a driver can shed additional light on the issue, but at this point finding solutions is more about luck than about tried and true methods. Feel free to chat with me via Steam or PM if you want; I'm happy to help, but I don't want to take up your time with red herrings.

[bluntspoon]

You know what. Hell with it. I'm out of options. Screw Valve, screw windows 7 and screw tf2.

[dredfox]

One thing I didn't see mentioned before (apologies if I am incorrect,) is running steam and tf2 in compatibility mode for Windows XP.

[metacide]

and screw tf2.

I can only guess at how frustrating this is for you, and not finding a satisfactory answer is probably even more frustrating. If none of these suggestions have worked you always have the option of reinstalling windows (of your preferred flavor) or even some sort of hackintosh OS and try your luck again.

One thing tho, if your OS is 32bit, having the 4 gigs of RAM is almost wasted since the OS is limited to a total of 4 GB of RAM, this includes your Video card. To fully utilize all 4 gigs you need a 64 bit OS.

Dred, is it possible his hardware is trying to access a memory block someplace in the memory that Windows is refusing to recognize and thus causing the crash? At this point I'm grasping at straws to find a solution.

[bluntspoon]

The thing is this. Until the 5/20 update everything was fine. After that I'm hosed. Only on source game games. Something happened. I can't fix it. I've done everything I can find up to and including a clean Windows install.

[dredfox]

Dred, is it possible his hardware is trying to access a memory block someplace in the memory that Windows is refusing to recognize and thus causing the crash? At this point I'm grasping at straws to find a solution.

I was thinking that the hl2.exe might have been trying to write to an address mapped to the video card's RAM. As I understand it (poorly I admit), the game should be working with the driver or 3D library rather than directly with the card. I'll have to look into the 5/20 update. Days like this I wish I knew Robin Walker personally.

Bluntspoon, that crash dump you posted was from over a month before you started having these errors. It may not be a memory access violation error you are having now. Please feel free to post another crash dump if you can get one. PC errors are my hobby and I don't mind helping trying to help.

EDIT: I'll update this post with brainstorming until someone replies or I run out of ideas.

I believe this update prevented servers and clients from unlocking hats or accessories without Steam's permission. Do you have a custom skin, UI, or other goodies that don't get removed when you uninstall and reinstall TF2/Steam?

credit: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... p=15050327

[Boss Llama]

The 5/20 update was the community items/hats, and mod's to Gorge and Pipeline. Here's the brief:

Updates to Team Fortress 2 have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:

Team Fortress 2

Added new community weapons and hats

Updated CP_Gorge

Added nobuilds to the awnings outside BLU's forward spawn to preventing players building up there.

More clip work and model collision work based on community feedback.

Fixed BLU forward spawn door appearing through roof.

Updated PLR_Pipeline

Added new stairwell in Stage 1 and window access to both teams’ platforms by main choke point to help alleviate stalemates.

Reverted the starting position for the cart in Stage 3 if a team had won the first 2 stages to where you no longer get a big cart-start-position advantage.

Fixed rare cases where stage would break when cart had no nearby capper(s).

Fixed carts not always moving to their starting locations correctly.

Fixed respawn times in Stage 3 not being set to the proper values.

Fixed the map not finishing correctly in Stage 3 if the two teams capture the final point at the same time.

Removed sv_showhitboxes to avoid players confusing it with the method by which we do hit detection (see http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki ... Networking for info)

I could imagine the custom stuff messing with skins or something possibly...

[sgt stutter]

http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=99059

Found this thread on your error msg. They have some suggestions on how to fix.

[bluntspoon]

I appreciate the help here guys. I really do. But I've bitten the bullet and ordered a new video card. We'll see if that works. I really believe the card isn't borked, I ran furmark at 16XAA for a damn hour last night...BUT.....If a new card magically fixes it so be it. I've spent the better part of 30 hours on this and it's just not worth any more time on my end. Hopefully the move from nvidia to ati will solve the problem.

[Dirty Dan]

I'll be interested to see if changing gpu brands helps you, I've been having TF2 specific issues too, albeit not as severe as yours. I normally don't like saying good luck, but with computers it really is a roll of the dice sometimes...so good luck!

[metacide]

I normally don't like saying good luck, but with computers it really is a roll of the dice sometimes...so good luck!

It all depends on the workers on the assembly line and just how up to code they are.
Good luck!

[dredfox]

It all depends on the workers on the assembly line and just how up to code they are.
Good luck!

I'm still bitter about that bad capacitor fiasco a while back. I lost some good hardware to counterfeit capacitors. On the other hand I did get a lot of business repairing and replacing dead PCs.

[bluntspoon]

It would appear the move to an ati video card has solved the problem. I don't even care why. Thanks again for anyone who spent some time helping me.

[Boss Llama]

Welcome back! Very bizare that it would make a difference, but as you said, who cares at this point Glad it's working.

[dredfox]

Welcome back!