Hey guys, a last resort as always posting an error here....

Im stumped. I hardly have time to do any modding at all these days and I fired up ye' olde Hammer editor and low and behold, I cant do a full compile anymore.

Vrad instantly crashes during the compile process, no matter what parameters I set, including fast compile, expert compiles, hdr, etc. etc.

I threw on verbose (added -v to the command line) and I finally got the error to tell me:

"Failed to load the launcher DLL: the specified module could not be found"

No matter what I do I cannot get even a quick vrad compile into the bsp. I end up with a fullbright map which does me jack squat.

So, if anyone can lead me in the right direction, Itd be most appreciated.

A couple of things:
1.) Ive deleted & re-installed the SDK, including all the folders remaining afterwards to leave no traces behind. No luck.

2.) Some places around the internet specified that copying steam.dll into this or that folder might work. Apparently this happens to people when they try to launch 3rd party mods. I confirmed this by trying to install the new Eternal Silence beta and low and behold, I got the same error.

3.) All the other compile tools work fine. If I double click the actual .exe files, I get cmnd. prompt. Vrad simply crashes and asks to send an error report if I do the same.

4.) Reinstalled HL2, checked .gcf file integrity, checked for fragmentation, checked registry for errors, spyware, etc etc. Vrad crashes on HL2 & DOD:S maps. Any map. Every map. Even stock SDK maps such as sdk_water. This is how I know its not me.

5.) Never had any compile probs what so ever before Hammer got an update adding the new model browser and what not. Am I using the beta sdk, and can I elect not to use it? (i.e. use a past version?)

This is a tiny little hobby for me these days unfortuneately, but I like crap to work when I do come around to it. If anyone has had this problem and solved it, muchos gracias. Any tips ideas, just throw them out, im completely lost.

Maybe someone can post me vrad.exe and vrad.dll in the hopes that maybe those might work.

Try deleting the clientRegistry.blob file in the steam folder to force a steam update/check. You never know...

Originally posted by Watchtower

"Failed to load the launcher DLL: the specified module could not be found"

I've had that error before (not woth vrad mind you..) with running trying to run Source games on an illegal windows version I had. It appears DX 9 wasn't installing properly (Windows legibility verification I assume). I had to fork out and as soon as I installed the new windows and DX 9 the error vanished.

But that said if Source games run fine on your computer then it must be something else (Made sure you've ran HL2 and DOD:S after a new install before running Hammer?)

Hmm, come to think of it I probably did launch the sdk before playing the damn games. I heard this could cause problems but vrad crashing EVERY time it runs is absurdity considering the amount of crap (polite term at this point) Ive tried. It happens on 3rd party mods too, wth. Anyone got the buzz on an sdk update....I heard its "soon". (yes, thats e-casm)

Im absolutely not formatting over this ridiculous conundrum. so dont even mention it....Im running legit Windows xp pro, vid drivers are out of date, but we all looovvee nvidias new crap control panel for the AOL generation....Ill run a dxdiag or perhaps reinstall it.

Yeah so seriously, if someone has a ridiculously hair brained idea theyd love to cough out, by all means, pitch it. At this point im considering breaking out the automatic paintball gun on my pc for gigglezzzzz.

And yes, I reinstalled everything, deleted client.bat.wtf.iswrongwiththispossdkvalvecallsarev olutioninmoddingtechnologyandabandonsforsomethreeh ourportalgimmickcalledportaland resurectingadeadhorsewithteamfortress2whentheyshou ldperhapsaddsomestinkingcontentfordodsometime"soon"....

p.s.
Ill paypal the einstien who figures this one out 5 monopoly bucks or trade for size 12 rollerblades.

Not sure why your video drivers are out of date, or if they would make a difference or not, but in nvidias new drivers you can turn off the new control panel to use the old one.

It sounds like you have tired everything. So I will throw out an idea I had to use before an update in the mid summer. What you do is:
1. start DOD:S
2. alt+tab out
3. copy all files form your ~username\day of defeat source\bin folder
4. Paste those files in your ~username\sourcesdk\bin folder
5. Shutdown DOD:S
6. Start hammer without starting sourcesdk and try to compile the map.


It might work, It will more than likely fail miserablly. To get everything back to normal refresh the sdk content.

nope, tried this already. Thanks though. Im actually thinking this might be a core windows componet curruption or intereference with some advanced instruction sets that the vrad program gives the cpu.

I have given it some thought since our PMs WT, and truthfully, I think it's windows related. As in "your current OS is somewhat screwed" not "this happens with Windows a lot".

I know you said you wouldn't do it, but a format every 6 months is the first bullet point of any "How to have a clean and working windows 101"

watchtower... perhaps you would like to go on aim you crazy <3<3<3<3<3<3<3. i forgot what your name is. lol. hope you figure this out.