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  • #1

    Retro-Game Headache

    Okay, so I got The Orange Box the other day and that inspired me to dig out my old copies of Half-Life, HL:BlueShift, and HL:OppFor and play through to refresh my memory of the original story. The problem arrived after everything was installed. Half-Life refuses to launch, saying I have -1049980.00K of ram, and it requires 64MB. None of the others launch either, but they don't flash up any error messages.

    I tried updating to the last available patch (v1.1.1.0 for H-L) but that hasn't solved anything, and STEAM is refusing to recognize my CD Keys when I try to go through it.

    I'm starting to bang my head against the wall here, so could someone please help before I need to replace the sheetrock?
    ...WHY DO YOU TEMPT WHAT LITTLE FAITH IN HUMANITY I HAVE!?! -- Kalga
    And I want a pony for Christmas but neither of us is getting what we want OK! What you are asking is impossible. -- Wicked Lexi
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  • #2
    I don't know about Steam, but assuming you're running a Windows XP machine, give Dosbox a try. Halflife is suppose to run, if a bit slow this way.

    http://www.dosbox.com/comp_list.php?...=3523&letter=H

    You'll need to check the site out for specifics on setting it up. I've used it but it was a long time ago...


    Eric the Grey
    In memory of Dena - Don't Drink and Drive

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    • #3
      I'm pretty sure the original Half-Life is Windows based, not DOS based. I don't see how Dosbox would help.

      My suggestion was going to be to activate the games thru Steam, but if it's not recognizing the CD Keys, then I guess you're stuck. Maybe contact them to see if they can help?

      My old copy registered just fine, and it also gave me Opposing Force and Blue Shift, which I didn't even have before.
      Last edited by MadMike; 12-29-2007, 05:03 PM.
      Sometimes life is altered.
      Break from the ropes your hands are tied.
      Uneasy with confrontation.
      Won't turn out right. Can't turn out right

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      • #4
        Quoth MadMike View Post
        I'm pretty sure the original Half-Life is Windows based, not DOS based. I don't see how Dosbox would help.

        My suggestion was going to be to activate the games thru Steam, but if it's not recognizing the CD Keys, then I guess you're stuck. Maybe contact them to see if they can help?

        My old copy registered just fine, and it also gave me Opposing Force and Blue Shift, which I didn't even have before.


        I hate you right now. I hate you so hard...
        Oh, and there's a way to fix the CD-key thing, but the problem is that it costs more for the 'key unregistration' fee than it would to buy the freaking games off Steam. I might as well just break down and REBUY them next payday.

        I actually considered trying to do the same thing that was done to me, with finding a keygen and keeping going until one works (NOT an endorsement of piracy. I bought these games back when they were new and system-hogs), but that's just continuing the vicious circle.
        Last edited by JustADude; 12-30-2007, 05:56 AM.
        ...WHY DO YOU TEMPT WHAT LITTLE FAITH IN HUMANITY I HAVE!?! -- Kalga
        And I want a pony for Christmas but neither of us is getting what we want OK! What you are asking is impossible. -- Wicked Lexi

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        • #5
          Actually, there should be a far less painful solution. To my recollection, XP did not exist at the time of the old HL games. XP does allow shortcuts to have some fun compatibility settings. One of the tabs on "properties" for the darling little program. Try telling your system to pretend that it is windows 98 that way.

          From your error message, I'd say that the issue is a check the program runs before actually starting, to see if there is enough memory for the program to run without crashing the system. Remarkably common device among older programs. The more extreme cases have programs that simply cannot count high enough to handle the real amount of available memory. Sometimes you need a patch, sometimes it's easiest to use a program that "shrinks" your existing memory for a while... computers are FUN, really.
          There is no .sig that still seems clever 50 posts later.

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          • #6
            I can't fix the problem, but I can tell what's going on. Whoever wrote the memory check used a signed variable for the counter. Which uses two's compliment to represent negative values ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two's_complement ). So your 1GB of ram loops the value round into the negative value giving the silly result.
            ludo ergo sum

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            • #7
              Quoth rvdammit View Post
              I can't fix the problem, but I can tell what's going on. Whoever wrote the memory check used a signed variable for the counter. Which uses two's compliment to represent negative values ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two's_complement ). So your 1GB of ram loops the value round into the negative value giving the silly result.
              You know, there's a possible idea. What about trying to run them with just one 512Mb stick? Might be more trouble than its worth though.
              The Rich keep getting richer because they keep doing what it was that made them rich. Ditto the Poor.
              "Hy kan tell dey is schmot qvestions, dey is makink my head hurt."
              Hoc spatio locantur.

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              • #8
                Or upgrade this is a pretty good excuse to get up to 2gb

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                • #9
                  I know what you mean about Half-Life. Personally, I'd never beaten it, so I went back and installed it the other day. Works fine...in fact, it's working perfectly at full res, detail, etc. I'm running a Windows XP with half a gig of ram, so really, it should work. I don't have a clue as to why it wouldn't be. I would like to throw in here, however, that I'm having issues running other various DOS based games (11th Hour, Duke Nukem 3D, Chess Maniac 5 Billion and 1, etc.) especially because of sound driver incompatibility.

                  I'll be using the previous info well, though. By no means am I attempting to threadjack, but yes, if anyone has any further help for DOS-based games, I'm all ears...err...well...you're not "talking," so I guess I'm all eyes.
                  You can find me on Backloggery, Facebook, Twitch, Twitter, YouTube

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                  • #10
                    Quoth Fyzzle View Post
                    Or upgrade this is a pretty good excuse to get up to 2gb
                    Actually, I have 3-GB already. It's counting up to just under 2, then crapping itself and going into negatives apparently. Also, compatibility mode doesn't seem to be working.

                    And, GunSage, check out the previously mentioned DOSBox link.
                    Last edited by JustADude; 01-01-2008, 07:57 AM.
                    ...WHY DO YOU TEMPT WHAT LITTLE FAITH IN HUMANITY I HAVE!?! -- Kalga
                    And I want a pony for Christmas but neither of us is getting what we want OK! What you are asking is impossible. -- Wicked Lexi

                    Comment

                    • #11
                      Quoth gunsage View Post
                      I would like to throw in here, however, that I'm having issues running other various DOS based games (11th Hour, Duke Nukem 3D, Chess Maniac 5 Billion and 1, etc.) especially because of sound driver incompatibility.
                      I'm able to play Duke, Blood, and Shadow Warrior with help from this site: http://buildxp.deathmask.net/

                      There's another game called Redneck Rampage that uses the same engine, but had to be handled a bit differently: http://tsbolton.com/bertramslair/windersxp.htm

                      These may not work with some of the newer NVidia cards, but there's a workaround here: http://vogons.zetafleet.com/viewtopic.php?=&p=96702

                      There's also a free high-def version of Duke here: http://hrp.duke4.net/ They don't supply the .grp files, so you still have to have your own copy to play it.

                      It looks pretty good, but I haven't been able to figure out how to get it to work with my add-ons (Carribean, DC, etc.)
                      Sometimes life is altered.
                      Break from the ropes your hands are tied.
                      Uneasy with confrontation.
                      Won't turn out right. Can't turn out right

                      Comment

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