Did you have a look at this thread? How to install and run vanilla Half-Life 2 without Steam

Actually i have iso of HL2 Collector edition, build 2153. This version doesnt requires connection to online servers. So after installing Steam client, it starts to install hl2. Tested on Windows XP many times. Works like charm.

Repo Man11 wrote on 2024-11-30, 00:45:

Did you have a look at this thread? How to install and run vanilla Half-Life 2 without Steam

Yup. Someone actually mentions my issue there, and another individual says that it may be to do with the game trying to load the file from a .gcf file and just to extract them all, which I already did.

The culprit .DLL is missing from both within the .gcf's and when they're all extracted too. That's why I'm worried my build is missing files that were meant to be retrieved from the Internet back in the day.

Also make sure you are using the correct switches as well as a the correct steam emu for the older ver of HL2 and OS. I use revemu for the older builds. <5153

Re: Half Life 2 Collectors edition help

conkernaut112 wrote on 2024-11-30, 00:39:

It's worth noting that my disc is not the GOTY edition that the tutorial I was following was aimed at, but an earlier edition (all the CAB files on my disc are dated Oct 8th 2004, not sure what build that would make it)

I've tried this on both Windows XP and Windows 10. Same result - missing filesystem_stdio.dll - in both cases.

Did you decrypt the files? Earlier this year I posted this here: Re: How to install and run vanilla Half-Life 2 without Steam

So I followed the instructions in the first post using my 2004 eur retail disc, but it turns out the gcf files are encrypted on this version. I had to use GCFExplorer instead to unpack the gcf files, each one requires entering the correct "Half-Life 2 GCF encryption key" before unpacking. Then as I'm on Win 98 I did need KernelEx to get revemu to work.

After posting this, out of interest I went out and bought a GOTY edition disc for a few pounds, and the files on that disc are indeed not encrypted, making it one less step to get going. I didn't want to download a GOTY or Collectors edition iso, as they had all seem to have been tampered with. The GOTY disc is dated 2005.

Attached is a photo of the disc boxes. Left is my Eur retail disc, original release. Files need to be unpacked and decrypted.
Right is the Eur retail GOTY edition disc. Files are unencrypted. Only unpacking is needed.

So my disk looks exactly like the one on the left (non-GOTY) but GCFscape can see all the files and extract them, doesn't ask me for an encryption key at any point.

PS: sorry for the delay and thanks for the responses all, been busy with Life™

Install like normal, then0 use the crack from the pirate version. That's what I do. Site rules don't allow to share it so you'll have to find it on your own.

OK, so long story short.............

I wasn't decrypting my GCFs, and I came to believe that I didn't need to, because GCFscape never asked for my decryption key which another poster led me to believe it would. As GCFscape never asked for any kind of key to extract my GCFs, I just assumed it was unnecessary. Until I opened some files that should have been plain-text readable and just found pure gibberish. One decryption session with hlunp.exe later and wouldn't you know, all my missing files/corrupt files issues I've had over the last few weeks mysteriously vanished. Apologies for wasting y'alls time, but thank you everyone for being so generous with it. 😁