64-bit mode with Source SDK

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January 2024

Deprecated:The info below is no longer updated and only applies to 64-bit build of Half-Life 2 and the Source SDK (Source 2004/Source 2006 branch). This page will remain for archival purposes only.
This info does not applies to the Team Fortress 2 branch.

The current Source SDK release has issues starting up on systems running the Source engine in 64-bit mode with the 64-bit version of Windows XP.

To correct the problem:

1. In the Steam Games window, right-click on Half-Life 2 (or any installed Valve game you want to run) and select the Properties option.
2. Then select Set launch options... and add the line -32bit to the edit box.
3. Close the dialog and launch the game you just edited (ie. Half-Life 2). When it has successfully started up, close the game.

You should now be able to run the SDK on your 64-bit OS. Note, however, that if you run any of your Valve games without the -32bit option, your SDK will go back to being incompatible and you'll need to repeat this process.

This means that if you run a game through Hammer, you'll also need to launch that game with the -32bit command line parameter as well. The same is true running a game from a batch file, command line, etc.

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January 2024