Crashing to desktop in lobbies

[Vimescarrot]

Note: This is not my computer. This is a friends' problem, but he's too scared of the forums to come down here and ask about it.

Load game -> Load menu -> Search for games -> Join lobby -> Crash to desktop (hl2.exe crashed).

Verifying game files and reinstalling have no effect.

Anyone got any idea why this might be happening/what we can do about it?

The game ran fine for over a year before this.

If you need them, here are the specs:

Operating System
MS Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit SP2
CPU
AMD Phenom X4 955046 °C
Agena 65nm Technology
RAM
5.0GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 400MHz (6-6-6-18)
Motherboard
PEGATRON CORPORATION VIOLA (CPU 1)
Graphics
NEC LCD1530V @ 1024x768
256MB GeForce 8200 (HP)89 °C
256MB GeForce 9300 GE (Unknown)63 °C
Hard Drives
733GB Seagate ST375063 0AS SCSI Disk Device (SCSI)

[Luke P]

Does the lobby display on screen before it crashes? Or does it crash as soon as it tries to join a game/lobby? Can you join games in progress? Any changes to system/files since it used to work?

If you can't join games in progress, then it looks like it's crashing as soon as it tries to connect to something, or tries to initialize the game render.

[Vimescarrot]

The lobby doesn't display. Can't join games in progress. No known changes to system/files.

[Acuzio]

If you've had no KNOWN changes might want to roll back to when it worked if you can, never know if it might fix it and if not, hey no changes made, no loss. Had a friend who's PC decided it wanted to live in the past and not use the internet. No changes had been made, couldn't figure out what happened, simple rollback and bam. :confused:

[Vimescarrot]

I'll suggest to him when he comes online, thank you.

[relaxinparadise]

i read a thread on the l4d2 forum and am having the same problem on both games, just cannot join a game in progress or lobby

[Threesixtyci]

Try connecting the computer directly to the modem if using a router. If it works, then something is configured wrong on the router.