"preparing to launch" but then nothing

**Consultant** · 07-02-08, 09:53 PM

anybody know what might be causing this?

It's a fresh install of Steam and TF2 was newly downloaded...

**Arreo** · 07-02-08, 09:55 PM

Try restarting Steam, sometimes it screws up when it DLs an update and hangs at 99%

**Consultant** · 07-02-08, 09:57 PM

Im validating local content now, if that doesnt work, I'll restart.

Let this be a lesson to all of you....GET A HIGH QUALITY SURGE PROTECTOR AND SHUT DOWN YOUR PC IN A STORM!!!

**Consultant** · 07-02-08, 10:04 PM

Friggin, Nope!

No joy.

Local content confirmed, steam restarted, PC rebooted, nada.

**JeLi** · 07-02-08, 10:25 PM

How long does it get stuck at "preparing to launch"? Sometimes it just takes a really long time for me. Then again, my computer isn't meant for gaming.

Oh yeah. If you reinstalled OS, you could try checking firewall settings for your PC, router, and modem.

**Consultant** · 07-03-08, 07:18 AM

I shut down the firewall for testing purposes, skipped my router in the chain, (Direct from modem to PC) and no other antivirus software is installed...still nothing.

Then, last night, while rebooting again, the PC locked up and will not boot now.

I'm thinking its a harddrive problem.

**noexitpath** · 07-03-08, 08:30 AM

Where are you at in TX? If you are near Austin, I can help you get back up and running.

**Consultant** · 07-03-08, 08:45 AM

Im right near there - in Tallahassee, Florida.

I figure, if you get on the road now, you can be here by tomorrow morning.

**Gonzo0100** · 07-03-08, 10:44 AM

HRMMMMMMM...... kinda sounds like bad ram. Game wont load up into the ram? I guess it could be a HD issue, but is everything else working/loading up? Did you re-format the computer? If not... it usually solves my issues.

**enf** · 07-03-08, 10:59 AM

Just wanted to go off on a mini tangent:

I just went searching for solutions you can try and got nothing. It pisses me off every time I try and search for this and a bunch of forums pop up with the problem that I was exactly looking for with 10-15 replies of "yeah I have the same problem too. Email me at useless@threadhijack.com if you have any solutions, because Im a piece of crap that is giving nothing to this thread right now."

*sigh*

OK, brought back on course. I'll keep looking for ya.

Im sure this is the obvious but have you tried juggling the RAM in different slots? Also, I was having some random BSOD issues when I reinstalled Vista (couldnt recreate what would cause it, it would just happen randomly) and decided I would try another SATA connector on my mobo. Havent had any problems since. This does sound like more of a RAM issue though but it would never hurt to check that out.