Ok, I was just given Half Life 2 by a departing friend and I have a problem. I loaded all 5 discs without a problem, but I can't play the game. I'm told that I need to update Steam, whatever that is.

I've looked up Steam, and I do not want to play online. I just want to play the game on my PC like I did with Half Life original, and a number of other games I have. What the hell's going on?

The discs are genuine, and the packaging complete...

Can you help, please?

I might add that Steam aren't responding to emails either.

Cheers, John

You have to install Steam, its the only way you can play Valves games, its an anti piracy thing, its not just a multi player setup.

Thanks, guys..

However, I've just discovered that I can't play the game anyway, because the friend who gave me the game had already registered it with Steam. I've opened a Steam account, but they won't let me register it again. The only way I can play it is to track down the friend and get his Steam details. Or does anyone know a way around it?

I'm connected all the time, btw, as I have broadband.

quote FlippyX

There's no way around it. No legal way, anyway.

You'll have to get your friend to uninstall and unregister his copy, or get his Steam account details.

OK, I understand. But if my friend deletes his game from his account then I can register it to myself? Is that what you're saying?

quote FlippyX

I presume so; after all, pre-owned copies of Steam games are often displayed in Game stores.

No harm in trying it, anyway.

Aha... thanks again.

Just send a msg to steam support and have the key reset, that's what I did when i bought HL2 second hand. Otherwise you will have login with your mates details, as he can't personally delete it from his account.

Ah, that sounds like a plan...thank you.[spoiler=][/spoiler]

Christ almighty...

Is this Steam joint always so elusive? I've clicked on the Support button. They ask for my details, which I give them. Then they say there's no-one of that name registered, yet I have an email from them confrming my account.

I can't contact the bastards because they keep asking for my log on details which I give them yet are refused. I can't even send them the email they sent me confirming my account details.

Is this a Third World company?

Just send a msg saying you want the cd key reset, send a photo of the key to proove you have it, thats what I did, but that was nearly 2 years ago now.

I would try that except Steam won't recognise my login details even though I have an email from them confirming them..

Your steam login and your forum login are different, i think...

Bloody complicated... but I have finally managed to send off an enquiry. I have accompanied it with a photograph of the code on the original disc packet.

We'll see...

This message was edited by cooldragon on Jan 15 2009.