SRCDS not launching server.cfg

[Captain Man]

Before I give any information, I'm sure this is something I'm failing to do correctly and not something wrong with the program. The game is Garry's Mod if it matters.

I've tired putting my server.cfg in two places, first in C:\srcds and then in C:\srcds\orangebox\garrysmod\cfg, both will give this message in the console when I launch,

Executing dedicated server config file
ServiceStart: started as local thread
exec: couldn't exec server.cfg

I don't believe the ServiveStart is part of the problem but it was in between the two lines so I included it.

This is a copy of the server.cfg file I use

Code:

"ServerSettings"
{
    "hostname"                "(WM)"
      "rcon_password"             "***"
      "sv_password"             "***"
    "sv_region"             "0" // eastcoast: 0 - westcoast: 1 - south america: 2 - europe: 3 - asia: 4 - australia: 5 - middle east: 6 - africa: 7 - world: 255
    "sv_lan"                "0"

// Sandbox server settings
    "sbox_allownpcs"            "1"
    "sbox_godmode"            "0"
    "sbox_plpldamage"            "1"  // set this to 1 to disable player vs player damage.
    "sbox_playergod"            "0"
    "sbox_noclip"            "1"

// Sandbox limits
    "sbox_maxprops"            "150"
    "sbox_maxragdolls"        "5"
    "sbox_maxnpcs"            "10"
    "sbox_maxballoons"        "10"
    "sbox_maxeffects"            "50"
    "sbox_maxdynamite"        "10"
    "sbox_maxlamps"            "20"
    "sbox_maxthrusters"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwheels"            "20"
    "sbox_maxhoverballs"        "20"
    "sbox_maxvehicles"        "6"
    "sbox_maxbuttons"            "20"
    "sbox_maxsents"            "20"
    "sbox_maxemitters"        "5"
    "sbox_maxspawners"        "1"
    "sbox_maxturrets"            "2"


// Sandbox WIRE limits
// If you are not running wire addon, remove this entire section.
    "sbox_maxwire_wheels"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_waypoints"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_values"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_twoway_radioes"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_turret"            "10"
    "sbox_maxwire_thrusters"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_target_finders"        "10"
    "sbox_maxwire_speedometers"        "14"
    "sbox_maxwire_emitters"            "25"
    "sbox_maxwire_simple_explosive"    "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_sensors"            "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_screens"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_relays"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_rangers"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_radioes"            "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_sockets"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_plugs"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_pixels"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_panels"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_outputs"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_oscilloscopes"        "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_locators"            "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_lights"            "16"
    "sbox_maxwire_inputs"            "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_indicators"        "21"
    "sbox_maxwire_hoverballs"        "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_gyroscopes"        "10"
    "sbox_maxwire_gpss"            "10"
    "sbox_maxwire_gate_trigs"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_gate_times"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_gate_selections"    "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_gate_memorys"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_gate_logics"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_gate_comparisons"    "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_gates"            "50"
    "sbox_maxwire_explosive"        "30"
    "sbox_maxwire_dual_inputs"        "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_detonators"        "20"
    "sbox_maxwire_buttons"            "25"
    "sbox_maxwire_adv_inputs"        "20"

}

And also (because the first didn't work)

Code:

// Server.cfg Executes on maploads
// For Convars like sv_cheats 1 = on 0 = off

hostport 27015 //Port used for the Server

Hostname "(WM)"    // host name
rcon_password "***"    // rcon password

sv_password "***" //Server Password

//DarkRP
net_maxfilesize 50
sbox_noclip 0
sbox_plpldamage 1
sbox_godmode 0
ulx map RP_DownTown_V2 DarkRP
rp_showjob 1
rp_toolgun 1
rp_proppaying 1
rp_letters 1
rp_earthquakes 1
rp_maxcps 5
rp_drugpayamount 30
rp_maxdruglabs 4
rp_maxgangsters 5
rp_maxgundealers 2
rp_allowpdchief 1
rp_dm_autokick 0
sv_defaultgamemode "DarkRP"
sbox_noclip "0"
sbox_godmode "0"
sbox_plpldamage "0"
rp_toolgun "1"


//Voice Chat
sv_voiceenable 1 // Enable Voice
sv_alltalk 1 // Allow all the teams to talk to each other

// Lan
sv_lan 0 // Lol Lan

//Rates (Don't change unless you under stand these)
sv_maxcmdrate 33
sv_maxupdaterate 60
sv_maxrate 0
sv_minrate 2000
sv_minupdaterate 20

//Fall Damage, 1 for realistic, 0 for 10 hp
mp_falldamage 1

//How fast a Spray can be Sprayed, In seconds
decalfrequency 60

// LOGGING
sv_logbans 1
sv_stats 1
log 1 //Turn this off if you don't like the logging in the console (L <date> then some other stuff), logs are in garrysmod/logs

//Leave off unless you want them on. (Most things that crash servers are cheats.)
sv_cheats 0

//Downloading
//sv_downloadurl "http://a4p.host-right.info/orangebox/garrysmod"
sv_allowdownload 1
sv_allowupload 1
net_maxfilesize 100 //Holy shit, a command no one ever uses

"sv_lan"     "0"
"maxplayers"     "12"
"sbox_allownpcs"     "0"
"sbox_maxprops"     "15"
"sbox_maxragdolls"     "0"
"sbox_maxnpcs"     "0"
"sbox_maxballoons"     "0"
"sbox_maxeffects"     "0"
"sbox_maxdynamite"     "0"
"sbox_maxlamps"     "0"
"sbox_maxthrusters"     "0"
"sbox_maxwheels"     "0"
"sbox_godmode"     "0"
"sbox_plpldamage"     "1"
"sbox_playergod"     "0"
"sbox_noclip"     "0"
"sbox_maxhoverballs"     "0"
"sbox_maxvehicles"     "0"
"sbox_maxbuttons"     "5"


sv_region 0
sv_timeout 65

//File for Mapcycle if you need it
mapcyclefile mapcycle.txt

//If you want something to not be executed put it like this
//if you put the slashes infront of something everything to the right of them is not executed

//Make sure the Bans are loaded
exec banned_user.cfg

Other information, I'm using Windows XP 32 bit OS and this is my launch line "C:\srcds\orangebox\srcds.exe -console -game garrysmod -autoupdate -port 27015 -maxplayers 4 +map gm_flatgrass +hostname (WM)"

Thanks in advance for the help!

[loopyman]

Does your server.cfg have all read / write permissions applied to users? Silly I know, but can cause similar problems.

[Captain Man]

I think that's usually a Vista thing but I checked it and the read-only box was unchecked. I am putting the file in the right spot, right?

[loopyman]

Yes, that sounds right. Did you disable all addons and try it?

[LGThanatos]

1. You're 100% sure it's a .cfg file and not named server.cfg(.txt)?
2. Wtf? Why the fuck do you have a ulx command in the server.cfg?
THIS MEANS IT SWITCHES TO THAT MAP EVERY MAP CHANGE.
Omfg.

Remove
ulx map RP_DownTown_V2 DarkRP
and put in the shortcut:

Code:

+map RP_DownTown_V2

The
sv_defaultgamemode "DarkRP"
is fine for switching it to darkrp.

[Captain Man]

1. Oh crap, it is server.cfg.txt -- How do I save it merely as .cfg?
2. And I have no idea what the syntax is for .cfg files, I just downloaded some from the internet. Do you just type in regular command lines you use in the console like sv_password or ulx adduser (not that that would have any purpose in a server.cfg but you get what I'm saying)

[loopyman]

Rename and remove the .txt

[Captain Man]

The .txt isn't in the name, but when I go to "save as" and select the option all text files (*.txt), the server.cfg is listed there. Doesn't that mean it's .txt?

[Beaverbeliever]

Select "All Files" in the dropdown and name it server.cfg

[Captain Man]

Thanks everyone! I figured out the problem,
@Beaver: even though I was doing just that exact thing, it kept saying server.cfg.txt already exits (I did that earlier which is how I knew it was .cfg.txt) so I renamed it and retried and it worked!

@all: What is the syntax for server.cfg's? Just the same as console commands but things you want launched every time you start the server/change gamemode/map?

[Beaverbeliever]

Yep, server.cfg is executed every map change and on server start. Syntax is pretty fluid, I generally break it into parts based on Server commands, round commands, plugin commands, and misc. commands. Make sure if you are executing any other configs from the server.cfg that they are executed at the end of it, so it sets the cvars before it lauches new ones.

[Captain Man]

Awesome! Thanks Beaver!