Make sure your video driver(Nvidia | ATi) and DirectX are up-to-date. If you having problem, try installing Steam (May work for some issues). Please also check the requirement for the game.


System Requirements

Minimum

Supported OS: Microsoft Windows XP / Vista / Vista64
Processor: Pentium 4 3.0GHz
Memory: 1 GB
Graphics: 128 MB, Shader model 2.0, ATI 9600, NVIDIA 6600 or better
Hard Drive: At least 7.5 GB of free space
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
                                 
Recommended

Supported OS: Microsoft Windows XP / Vista / Vista64
Processor: Intel core 2 duo 2.4GHz
Memory: 1 GB
Graphics: Shader model 3.0, NVIDIA 7600, ATI X1600 or better                                 

Left 4 Dead General

[Q1] Why and how to update Left 4 Dead the game?

Update fix bugs, glitches and performance improvement. More info here. To update the game,

Steam user: Login to STeam, allow Left 4 Dead to download its update.

Non-Steam user: Update files can be found in this thread.

[Q2] How to skip the intro videos?

Add -novid into the Game Parameters in Garena settings for Left 4 Dead. Or just press Esc on your keyboard.

[Q3] Can't bring up the console even options show Enabled?

Type -console in Game Parameters. Once you meet your console, type in bind ~ toggleconsole. Or add it into config.cfg. Remove unbind toggleconsole from config.cfg and autoexec.cfg if found.

[Q4]
sv_allow_lobby_connect_only 0 purpose.
This will allow players to use connect[space][ip] to your server without going through lobby.

[Q5]
sv_lan 1 purpose.
sv_lan 0 is online server, sv_lan 1 is LAN server. Garena is a virtual LAN client so we use sv_lan 1.

[Q6] Choose a character when joining/creating game without using lobby.
Type team_desired "Survivor [surviorname]" allow you to choose your character. Join game example, connect 192.168.29.xx; team_desired "Survior Zoey/Bill/Francis/Louis". Host game example, map l4d_mapname; team_desired "Survivor Bill/Zoey/Francis/Louis".

[Q7] Disable or re-prompt Steam Cloud.
1. Run Registry Editor via Run (WinFlag + R then type regedit).
2. Go to HKey_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Steam\Apps\1.
-Choose A or B.
3A. Double click on Cloud and change the data to 0(zero).
3B. Delete the Key named 1. Then later you will be prompt again for Steam Cloud.
4. Close Registry Editor then you are done.

[Q8] Fonts corrupted after uninstalling L4D or rename/move L4D directory? (Skidrow release)

That's for using pirated games. Luckily, your fonts is not gone but font registry messed up. Download and apply this to fix. If it's still messed up, you might wanna consider reinstall and go to $Left4Dead\platform\vgui and copy the font to C:\Windows\Fonts.

Left 4 Dead In-game

[Q1] Black Screen or Missing Texture.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2537-DLCV-6627 and update video driver.

[Q2] Facing hanging/slow Performance for AMD Procssors with Via Chipsets?

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4268-QWPH-1104

[Q3] Your string table differs from the server's / Server uses different class table.
Thismeans that server/client .dll is wrong or different. This might alsohappen if you uses some custom map. Also a different version of gamemay also causes this problem. The best way to fix this is to reinstalland re-update the game.

[Q4] Game lagging with Multi-Core. (Do not attempt unless the game really does lag.)
1. Start the game
2. Ctrl + Alt + Del to the task manager
3. Under the Processes tab, find and right click the left4dead.exe then select Set Affinity....
4. Unchecked all cores remain 1 core checked only then play the game.
5. If problems still persist, try setting the affinity to the another core.

[Q5] Having lag or connection issues/Can't connect.

Add left4dead.exe into firewall exception. If you are behind a router, try port fowarding. Type sv_search_max_ping 200(default is 250) to filter any server that ping higher than 200 inlobby. Do not join high ping server. And make sure Garena bound thevirtual LAN IP to your game.

[Q6] Rejecting connection. (Visible in console, red line)

Your client is probably using an outdated or bad engine.dll. You should encourage him/her to update his/her game.


[Q7] Invalid PROTOCOL_VERSION, expecting 38(Your protocol version), got 37(Server's protocol version).
Thismessage indicate both side's protocol version is different. If yourshigher than server's (expecting 38, got 37), the server's update itsgame. If server's is higher than yours (expecting 37, got 38), youshould update your game. Last choice is join other server.

Left 4 Dead Crash

[Q1] How to fix shaderapidx9.dll error?
Download and use this to fix.

[Q2]
Steam is not running. You must start steam in order to play this game.

Steam user: Login to Steam then only start your game.

Non-Steam user: Install Standalone Patch.

[Q3] Crashing with looping sound or low OS memory.

Update your game. Read this POST for all possible solutions or Official Steam support.

[Q4] Crashing without any message.

Open the console and enter mat_queue_mode 0 or switch the ENABLE MULTICORE RENDERING option. Otherwise, reduce some settings.

[Q5] Engine Error: Cannot allocate any server IP port.
Commonly known to caused by BitDefender interfering with Garena. Either uninstall BitDefender or follow the steps below:

1) Disable "Real-time protection". It has to be done with closed Garena!
2) Wait few seconds (about 10?) for real time protection to disable
3) Launch Garena and start desired game.

4) At this time you can enable real time protection again!

[ Last edited by  exglade at 2009-4-1 09:53 PM ]

Patch Issues

[Q1] Change the in-game name.
Go to where you installed the patch and find rev.ini. Open it and change PlayerName= to PlayerName=desiredname. Or type name [desired_name] in console or setinfo name [desired_name] for temporary. For more information, visit this thread.

[Q2]
engine.dll purpose.
Engine.dll is mainly used for hosting/joining a server. A properly cracked engine.dll will able to accept both non-steam/steam players. RevEmu users don't need cracked engine to host.

[Q3] Troubleshooting Non-Steam problem using version and net_status in console.

Protocol version 38
Exe version 1.0.0.9 (left4dead) <-- Left 4 Dead version.
Exe build: 10:33:14 Jan 23 2009 (3730) (1) <-- (1) based on your left4dead.exe and rest based on engine.dll.

If you patched and (215) did not change to (1), try checking your game executable.

Net Status for host 192.168.29.46 <-- Your hosting IP. If it's not 192.168.29.xx, you are not on Garena and can't conenct to garena players.

[Q4] Encounter error message You must log in steam when joining.

Make sure you installed the patch correctly. Type version and look for (215) or (1) if you found (215) then your left4dead.exe is not cracked. Please note, SkidRow's engine.dll may causes this error.

[Q5] Encounter Launcher Error when starting Left 4 Dead?

left4dead.exe cannot find launcher.dll in the bin folder. Start left4dead.exe in a correct location. Otherwise, reinstall the game.


[Q6] Install button cannot be clicked.
Browse to a correct directory. If still having problem, reinstall the game. Installer will not be able to install if it cannot find launcher.dll at the correct directory. This is made to prevent users from installing to incorrect directory which might worsen the condition.


[Q7] Assert: OUT OF MEMORY.
This may probably caused by left4dead.exe. 4 possible solution.
1. Disable Steam Cloud.
2. Change the last Logging = False to Logging = True in rev.ini.
3. Install Steam

[ Last edited by  exglade at 2009-4-1 09:55 PM ]

Do you have a reservation, sir?

[ Last edited by  exglade at 2009-3-18 04:01 PM ]

If you having OS Paged Pool Memory error when playing games, you can try the following techniques.

Get more RAM (Make sure you pass the minimum requirement of Memory 1GB)
Update your game may fix occasional.
Close some background processes using Task Manager.
Increase the game heapsize.
1. Add any one of these into your Game Parameters.
512MB System Memory: -heapsize 262144
1GB System Memory: -heapsize 524288
2GB System Memory: -heapsize 1048576
3GB System Memory: -heapsize 1572864
4GB System Memory crash steam: use 3GB setting.

Reduce some quality settings in Left 4 Dead such as sound, paged pool memory available.

Registry Tweak
1. Open Registry Editor by clicking Start > Run (Keyboard Flag + R) > Type in regedit in the box and press OK.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management
3. Double click on PagedPoolSize and change the Value Data to one of these below. Hint: Recommend choose half of your RAM or below. However, more than 1GB is not recommended.

Megabytes	Hexadecimal	Decimal
192MB	0c000000	201326592
256MB	10000000	268435456
384MB	18000000	402653184
512MB	20000000	536870912
1024MB	40000000	1073741824
1536MB	60000000	1610612736
2048MB	80000000	2147483648

Use a good Memory Clean Up Tool
I recommend using MKN Memory Monitor and CleanMem. MKN Memory Monitor and CleanMem are most likely using the same good technique. Some Memory clean up tools might impact your computer's performance for a while due to bad cleaning method, such as TuneUp Memory Optimizer. PC WinTech explained why and how... So I make it shorter.

There's 2 methods Memory clean up tools clean the memory.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms682606(VS.85).aspx
EmptyWorkingSet Function
Removes as many pages as possible from the working set of the specified process.
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms686234(VS.85).aspx
SetProcessWorkingSetSize Function
Sets the minimum and maximum working set sizes for the specified process.

CleanMem and MKN Memory Monitor are using the EmptyWorkingSet which is good. As the remove unnecessary memory that a program no longer using anymore. SetProcessWorkingSetSize force transfer memory from RAM to Page File. This may increase the CPU load when they forcing transfer memory from RAM to pagefile.sys in your Harddrive.


Increase Paging File
If you persist to have this problem, increase your paging file size.
1. Right click My Computer and select Properties.
2. A window will pop up. Click the Advanced tab and then click Settings button under the Performance section.
3. Another window will pop up. Click the Advanced tab and click Change button under Virtual Memory section.
4. Simply, select any drive (It's best you choose other drive than Windows drive), click the Custom Size radio button.
5. Initial size, put in the minimum allowed value which can be found on the section.
6. Maximum size, put any number below your hard drive remaining free space. If you don't know what to put, you can try following drives' setting that already have paging file.
7. Click the Set button! Or else you have to set things again.
8. Click OK when done, then OK, and OK again.
9. Restart computer to take effects.

[ Last edited by  exglade at 2009-2-15 05:32 PM ]

Error Reporting Format:

Please use the following sample to report your problems. Following format can ease the investigation to your problem.

[ Last edited by  exglade at 2009-3-18 04:30 PM ]

ok, tnx 4 sharing

Nice, this helped alot thanks

Great guide,

Thanks keep on good work!

woow nice guide,
I only have one qeustion, I bought the game itself and installed it. But the probleem is i cant find the *.exe i even looked in the steam folder and searched for it on my harddisk, but no succes. Do you know a solution to my problem? Pls help

Kind regards,

hindoom

You meant the legit version? Try login into Steam and download since those files are may be only pre-loaded and incomplete.

Hi exglade,

regarding the 'The little box besides the player name is white only.' issue, what actually solves this problem? I believe I'm facing this problem as all the games i see are white and can't usually join them sayin' that it's a single player game can't connect with remote IP, and further waiting, I won't see any games anymore.

I've upgraded my version from 1.0.0.7 to 1.0.0.9 and then use the Standalone version 1.10M5.

In console, my version shows:
Protocol version 38
Exe version 1.0.0.9 (left4dead)
Exe build: 10:33:14 Jan 23 2009 (3730) (1)

Thanks for the great job.

The white box only can be solve by using legit game or wait Rev.Crew to do something about it.

hmm ok,

I actually thought that standalone patch for non steam will preventthis, like maybe atleast allow me to see games that are non steam typeand the same version as me.

I guess me and my friends using the previously working 1.0.0.7 (L4DS 1.02) for now to be able to play together.

I'll wait for the new patch to fix it hopefully.

Thanks man.

Hey exglade after i patched the correct directory, it prompts me for steam and shuts down my l4d after i skip past the video. Do you know any solution to this problem?

Add the system requirement in as there are quite a number of people thinks their pc can support it but cant.. Possibly a guide how to compare their dxdiag with the min requirement.

Usually that happen when the patch did not installed correctly or you using a third-party launcher. Please also make sure you pass the requirement for the patch. Visual C++ 2008 Service Pack 1 x86 (x64) and .Net Framework 3.5 Service Pack 1 are required for this patch's operation. You should only launch the game via cracked left4dead.exe.


Thanks for the suggestion. I will get on it soon.

hey exglade. is patch 1.11a down? as in the link.

ГА?

The patch is not down but please download 1.12 which released a few seconds ago. There's a terrible Steam_ID problem with 1.11(with RevEmu 9.61).

Hi, exglade. i got a out of memory error after update to 1.12 patch. can u help me in this ? alrdy posted a printscreen of it.