dulu wrote on 2025-08-12, 15:44:

System: BX2000+, PIII-933/133, 512mb ram, GF2GTS 32MB. Cannot launch game beacuse of this error. I tried change GTS to MX440, removing all drivers, installing older drivers and installing unoficcial DX9 pack. I tried to force DX6, DX7 and DX8. Has anyone had a similar problem?

IIRC to work on W98SE you need an old release, as 98 was removed pretty soon from support and/or updates .
It will install or not and have all sorts of issues.
I had W2K so I never minded, with XP I stopped caring.

I write from memory, I'm no expert but still am a great lover and supporter.
I want episode 3.

I think Nexxen is right, I went to play HL 2 last year as I've had a disc with it around forever but never played it, only to also discover some similar problem with it on my win98 system. Ended up just playing it via steam/newer PC as I don't have anything vintage with win xp.

Nexxen wrote on 2025-08-12, 16:26:

IIRC to work on W98SE you need an old release, as 98 was removed pretty soon from support and/or updates .

Don’t think there is a HL2 build older than 2153. It’s not impossible that build 2153 had incomplete video card support that had to be added via a day-one patch of some sort, hence the shader initialization error. I could be wrong, maybe it’s a driver issue or something else. I have definitely never tried it on something as old as a GeForce2 but I know it works fine on cards like the Radeon 9800 series.

Dipshidian wrote on 2025-10-18, 12:20:

Nexxen wrote on 2025-08-12, 16:26:

IIRC to work on W98SE you need an old release, as 98 was removed pretty soon from support and/or updates .

Don’t think there is a HL2 build older than 2153. It’s not impossible that build 2153 had incomplete video card support that had to be added via a day-one patch of some sort, hence the shader initialization error. I could be wrong, maybe it’s a driver issue or something else. I have definitely never tried it on something as old as a GeForce2 but I know it works fine on cards like the Radeon 9800 series.

I can confirm it worked on a 9600. 9800 was the best for a time.
I bought it for Doom3 and HL2 😀 2004 was a good year. I now know I should have bought a 9700 (or a modded a 9500). After 21 years I still complain to myself of my choices 🤣
I still play them from time to time. HL2 E3 should just come out.

Nexxen wrote on 2025-10-18, 12:55:

I can confirm it worked on a 9600. 9800 was the best for a time.
I bought it for Doom3 and HL2 😀 2004 was a good year. I now know I should have bought a 9700 (or a modded a 9500). After 21 years I still complain to myself of my choices 🤣
I still play them from time to time. HL2 E3 should just come out.

Aw hell yeah, I want to see all E3 builds archived at some point! Would love to see how the 2000 build runs on a Pentium III system or how the 2002 build fares on a Pentium 4 Northwood (etc.). Not sure how much Valve would agree with that, though ;^(

2187 is the version I use in 98. with the batch file (hl2.exe -steam) I run it with a GeForce7 & DX9 never tried with anything older.

Dothan Burger wrote on 2025-10-18, 13:38:

2187 is the version I use in 98. with the batch file (hl2.exe -steam) I run it with a GeForce7 & DX9 never tried with anything older.

Yeah, that’s probably the version that’s pretty much the day-one updated version (early November 2004) after the gold master (September 2004) of HL2. Should have less graphical anomalies compared to 2153, although I seem to remember minor imperfections with the HUD that didn’t exist in 2153. Even then, 2187 would be the version I would recommend anyone check out if they need that authentic launch day HL2 experience.