Windows 7 and HL2DM are a sucky combination!

So I've had Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit RC since the day it came out, but never really messed with it until recently. I've done the Window's updates that have been released and reinstalled my drivers, mainly for my audio and video. I got the GPU driver directly from NVidia's website and it's suppose to be the one for Windows 7. My experience so far with Window's 7 has been pleasant, meaning it's ran pretty smooth with my day-to-day PC activities (checking email, Facebook, paying bills, etc.) but I ran into some issues when trying to play HL2DM. Specifically, I'm getting the same issues Slevin has recently. I played just over an hour ago on HL2DM and HL2 CTF from my Vista OS and, as always, had no issues. But, I go to play HL2DM just a minute ago, from 7, and bring on the drama. First and foremost, the screen size seems too small for the actual resolution I'm running, meaning I've got black bars above and below the actual game. Similar to watching a wide screen movie on a regular 4:3 TV. All the in game video settings are set to 1280x1024 (what I've always used and the same res my desktop is on) and at a 4:3 ratio. It makes everything on the screen seem smaller which is quite annoying. Secondly, I'm lagging. I use the 'net_graph 3' command from console (this allows you to see what your server/PC connectivity is doing) and realize that while my connection is fine (good ping, no packet losses, etc.) I'm getting a crappy FPS. While running from Vista I get an average 300 FPS with little activity and around 175-200 during high action during game. When playing from 7 I get an average 125 during no activity and 50-80 during action. I have no idea where the hang up is coming from, but I do know the only different variable is Windows 7. Pisses me off. Anyone having similar or the same issue?

Ryan

Yes I've had those exact same issues, but only for the past week or so...must have been a windows update that i installed.
I guess there's one of two solutions:
1) Rollback any Windows Updates (Don't know which, so may have to rollback all updates)
2) Wait for newer updates that may fix the issue (could be a month or two)

Note: Never install anything from Windows Update that's for your graphics/sound card, or other drivers other than Windows Products--> This gave me a blue screen.

So I added the '-dx9' and '-32bit' launch options to the game and it's running a lot smoother but still not as good as it runs on Vista.

[(TKC)-o]T3[o]

Yeah.. I learned with Vista, wait until an OS has been out a while before getting it. Gives them time to work out the kinks.

i heard there was a problem with one of the main October windows updates for 7. a few of my friends that have 7 got this update and are experiencing the same issues you guys are, and with any game, not just hl2dm. something in that update causes you to get blue screen of death then all of your games start running with crappy fps.

Blue Screens occur mostly from driver updates and not actual Windows Update files. My Blue Screen came because I Used Windows Update to install a graphics driver that apparently was released September 30, 2009 but ATI usually releases new driver updates in the middle of every month.
I'm gonna try installing the lastest Dx9 update to see if that helps, cause i had problems running dx9 games back when vista came out with dx10 (You would have thought dx10 would have all dx9 files too, but no).

thanks for the report DonJuan. for a while there i was bummed when i didnt take up the offer for free upgrade to Win 7 when i bought my new HP. but now it sounds like ill be stiking with Vista for as long as i can.

[(TKC)-o]T3[o]

Well lets be fair.. most reports are quite positive.

I mean don't get me wrong, I like Windows 7 really, just don't like the issue with HL2DM. Outside of that, I like the way they cleaned up the desktop, mainly with opening multiple programs. The only other thing I don't really like is that I've got my computer hooked up to my TV as a second monitor that I keep disabled until I want to watch a movie. In Vista I can re-enable the TV as a monitor with about 4 clicks, but with 7 it feels like I'm going around my elbow to do the same thing.

Its hard to preface a point with you like windows 7 when you titled it "Windows 7 Sucks"

Its hard to preface a point with you like windows 7 when you titled it "Windows 7 Sucks"

Better???

Much, TUNKS DON (<my soul is smiling)

OK! I'm officially getting Windows 7! i just got an external hard drive and backed up everything, i'm just NOT paying for it

About that, I need your address again, managed to delete it. The problem though is that Windows is no longer providing keys for it.

I'm giving this another go. Just got done completely re-installing and will see if that makes a diff.