Vtex troubleshooting

The following is a list of errors and problems that can occur while using Vtex.

When listing a new error here, please follow the established format.

Local Steam Service is not running

Vtex will give the following error:

SteamStartup() failed: SteamStartup(0xf,0x0012F0E4) failed with error 108: The local Steam Service is not running

Steam must run while Vtex is run. Start Steam to fix this.

Problem figuring out outputdir

Vtex will give the following error:

Problem figuring out outputdir for <path>

As a first step, check that the texture to convert is really in the \sourcesdk_content\gamedir\materialsrc folder, where gamedir is the game folder (cstrike/dod/hl2/hl2mp).

If the texture is in the correct folder, the error might instead be caused by a complication with the environment variables. Primarily, this should be able to be eliminated by using VConfig and ensuring the selected mod has been run at least once. However, there are cases where this doesn't solve the problem.

One solution is to remove the instance of the VProject Environment variable. In Windows XP this can be accomplished by the following:

1. Right-click on My computer and click on Properties.
2. Select the Advanced tab.
3. Click on Environment Variables near the bottom of the window.
4. In the System variables section scroll down and highlight the line VProject.
5. Click the Delete button.
6. Click OK twice to exit.

However, this solution will create the Unable to find gameinfo.txt error instead.

Todo: Delete this non-functioning solution alternative?

"Unable to find gameinfo.txt"

Vtex will give the following error and instructions:

Unable to find gameinfo.txt. Solutions:

1. Read http://www.valve-erc.com/srcsdk/faq.html#NoGameDir
2. Run vconfig to specify which game you're working on.
3. Add -game <path> on the command line where <path> is the directory that gameinfo.txt is in.

This error will occur after VProject has been removed using the steps above.

Open Source SDK and change the Current Game.

Note:The link at step 1 won't provide a solution. (The page is really old.)

Setup file gameinfo.txt doesn't exist

The Nov 7th, 2007 SDK release includes Orange Box with TF2 and trying to use vtex in this new SDK update to create a vtf file for Team Fortress 2 results in the following error message:

"Setup file 'gameinfo.txt' doesn't exist in subdirectory 'C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\player name\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vconfig'. check your -game parameter or VCONFIG setting.".

Assuming that this is the same error as "Unable to find gameinfo.txt" above, then trying to run vconfig.exe results in this error:

"This application has failed to start because Steam.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem."

Solution:

1. Create a shortcut to vtex.exe which is located in "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\player_name\sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin\vtex.exe" and select Properties.
2. At the end of the Target text add -game "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\player_name\team fortress 2\tf" -nop4

Valve intends to fix the problem with requirement of a -nop4 argument to be added to the target.

TGA is bogus

Vtex will give the following error:

TGA <path> is bogus!

The texture image you are trying to convert is not recognized as a valid targa (.tga) file. Make sure that it is, and that it is either 24 bit/pixel or 32 bit/pixel. (16 bit/pixel is not recognized.)

"Warning: falling back to auto detection of vconfig" (Windows Vista)

Vtex will give the following error:

Todo: Please provide an exact quote of the error.

Make a shortcut for vtex.exe and add -game [path to game directory]

Example: -game c:/steam/steamapps/sourcemods/Awakening

If there are spaces in any of the folders in youre path use "

Example: -game "c:/program files/steam/steamapps/sourcemods/insurgency"

See also

• Vtex