Half-Life 2: Episode 2 Freezing Issues

[thegame1921]

I picked up the Orange Box over Thanksgiving when Best Buy was selling it for $25 and recently started playing Episode 2. However, I just got to the 5th chapter "Our Mutual Fiend" and about two minutes in, my game freezes.

I can still move around and all but the two of the NPCs freeze. Unfortunately one (or both) of them needs to activate a lift for me to continue but it freezes as he enters.

I was wondering if anybody else has had this problem or a similar one. If so is there anything to do about it. I started it back up from the AutoSave at the beginning of the chapter and it still does it so I'm not quite sure what to do now.

[StealthNinjaScyther]

Is your video driver up to date? That's always a good place to start.

[ITDEFX]

People have had problems with Source powered games ever since they introduced HDR to it. Heck it took me a month to beat Episode 1, which should have taken me a week if it wasn't for the constant lock ups, studders, CoD's and reboots. For the orange box I took no risk and put it on XP Pro. Some studdering but no lock ups and reboots. Beat that game in a week.

Try installing it on another os if you have it.

[humidore]

"Glad" to hear other's experience consistent issues on Ep2. I am at a point in the mines where the game crashes at the same spot everytime (3 times now, not much motivation to keep trying)...