hl2 error

using notebook in my sig, i get an error when i close Team Fortress 2.
it shuts off due to the error, and says hl2 has encountered an error and needs to close.
this doesnt happen while playing hl2 or css.
also, when i start the game, if i try to esc key passed the valve and source logos, it freezes the system.
is this a common error with vista?
is there a fix?
i have the most current drivers for everything.
and help is greatly appreciated.

 

what?! when did the 9xxx series get released?! man where have i been!

but, when i was on vista i got that error alot when shutting down CSS. I suspected it was just a common problem with vista. I also had some weird problems with other games. The only advice i can offer is just to try to avoid pressing esc and get used to seeing that hl2 error.

 

shennanigans! lol.
i will not rest untill i find a solution!

 

I have found with steam that the tried and true method of fixing it is reinstalling. There has been no problem, other than a wireless speed issue, that I have not installed with a fresh reinstall. It could be your source engine, you could try just reinstalling that quick.

 

I FIGURED IT OUT. NOT RE-INSTALLING .
go to :
c:/ program files/steam/steamapps/username/tf2(or any source game folder)/hl2.exe

right click exe , go to properties, and check run as administrator in third tab.
i knew that worked for other games but didnt think to click it for hl2 when tf2 was the problem.

 

When running older games in Vista(ie. not launched before Vista ) you should run in Administrator mode always. Otherwise save files and configs won`t be placed in My Documents for some games, or crashes will occur for others.

Same thing with Quake4, I had to run in admin mode to get it working.