SRCDS Engine Error: "Unable to load surface prop file"

[Coolguru7934]

The other day, while i was setting up a source dedicated server(you know, after first updating srcds using hldsupdatetool), It came up as an engine error. This was my first time using the console version of srcds instead of using the "Dedicated Server" Steam GUI version, but after waiting about 8 hours(yes, 8 hours), it downloaded all he required software for it to run, and I even followed the instructions on srcds.com. Sadly, when it launched, an Engine Error came up, and it crashed. The Engine Error said, and I quote: "Unable to load surface prop file 'scripts/surfaceproperties.txt' (referenced by manifest file 'scripts/surfaceproperties_manifest.txt'). What does this mean and how do I fix it? I know I have downloaded all the files and they are in the correct folders, so please help, guys.

System Specs:
Server OS/OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30GHz 2.30 GHz
RAM: 6.00 GB
System type: 64-bit Operating System
Start Up Command/"Target": "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe"


::Usual Issues::; "Steam, Counter-Strike Source, SRCDS/Dedicated Server"

[scso1502]

Re-run the hldsupdatetool after adding the parameter "-verify_all" to the hldsupdatetool's command line and see if it corrects the issue. There were some engine updates released by Valve today that may resolve this as well.

Let us know and if you reply again and need more help, please post the specs for your system including the O/S and command line of your server.

Keep us posted...

[Coolguru7934]

(07-11-2012, 06:33 PM)scso1502 Wrote:  Re-run the hldsupdatetool after adding the parameter "-verify_all" to the hldsupdatetool's command line and see if it corrects the issue. There were some engine updates released by Valve today that may resolve this as well.

Let us know and if you reply again and need more help, please post the specs for your system including the O/S and command line of your server.

Keep us posted...

Ok, so I did this in hldsupdatetool command line: "hldsupdatetool -command update -game "Counter-Strike Source" -dir C:\srcds -reply_all" and it's dowloading everything all over again, since i added the "-verify_all" thing at the end of the command prompt line. I already downloaded them the first time and it didnt work, thats obviously why i posted this thread lol with the error. so anyways, theyre being downloaded once more and i have to wait like 30 mins as opposed to the first time i downloaded the files which took 8 hours. Do i have to delete all the files hldsupdatetool already previously downloaded, such as the srcds.exe and wait for the hldsupdatetool to put a new srcds.exe in my srcds folder, or should i wait for it to update and still keep my srcds.exe?

System Specs:
Server OS/OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30GHz 2.30 GHz
RAM: 6.00 GB
System type: 64-bit Operating System
Start Up Command/"Target": "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steam.exe"


::Usual Issues::; "Steam, Counter-Strike Source, SRCDS/Dedicated Server"

[scso1502]

You said in your last reply that you used the following hldsupdatetool command line:

Quote:"hldsupdatetool -command update -game "Counter-Strike Source" -dir C:\srcds -reply_all"

Did you mean -verify all at the end?

As to your other questions...

You don't need to delete any of the previous files and using - verify_all will not cause the tool to download every file all over again. The hldsupdatetool checks every file you have in your SRCDS folder against the ones on the Steam content servers. If some files are missing or incomplete, it will only download or update those files that need it. You use the same tool to update your server when Valve releases an update for the game you're running. It updates just the files it needs to. The tool displays the name of each file as it checks it but this doesn't mean the files being downloaded again, though it appears that way.

There must something wrong with your connection if you are taking 8 hours to download the files. Most high-speed Internet connections will download them all in an hour or less, hence the reason I suggested you re-run the the tool. Some of the files may not have come down properly to your system or were corrupted due to your connection having issues. Either way, it's a good starting point.

The last question I have for you is please post the server's startup command line for us to see. We'll need to look at this to verify it was done correctly.

Let us know how it goes and we'll take it from there.

[Coolguru7934]

(07-13-2012, 06:27 PM)scso1502 Wrote:  You said in your last reply that you used the following hldsupdatetool command line:

Quote:"hldsupdatetool -command update -game "Counter-Strike Source" -dir C:\srcds -reply_all"

Did you mean -verify all at the end?

As to your other questions...

You don't need to delete any of the previous files and using - verify_all will not cause the tool to download every file all over again. The hldsupdatetool checks every file you have in your SRCDS folder against the ones on the Steam content servers. If some files are missing or incomplete, it will only download or update those files that need it. You use the same tool to update your server when Valve releases an update for the game you're running. It updates just the files it needs to. The tool displays the name of each file as it checks it but this doesn't mean the files being downloaded again, though it appears that way.

There must something wrong with your connection if you are taking 8 hours to download the files. Most high-speed Internet connections will download them all in an hour or less, hence the reason I suggested you re-run the the tool. Some of the files may not have come down properly to your system or were corrupted due to your connection having issues. Either way, it's a good starting point.

The last question I have for you is please post the server's startup command line for us to see. We'll need to look at this to verify it was done correctly.

Let us know how it goes and we'll take it from there.

Yes, I put -verify_all at the end of the command prompt line for hldsupdatetool, but I dont think it did anything. I still get the same error. Do I have to word wrap both the surface_properties or something like that? By the way, I cannot find surface_properties.txt in any of my folders. I only have surfaceproperties_manifest.txt for my folder. I don't know what happened or where that folder is. And another thing, I'm using the console version of srcds, not the "Dedicated Server" Steam GUI version where you can change everything much easier.
I have to tell you something important, and I know this is a long reply but it is important. I want to tell you that does the Steam GUI version of "Source Multiplayer Dedicated Server"(you know, the updated one) have anything to do with the console version of srcds?
I also have another problem: I am hosting a Source Multiplayer Dedicated Server sometimes and everything I turn on counterstrike source and click on find server, my server is in the lan section, and I dont know how to switch it over to internet section of the master list, and i think i have all the ports forwarded. Usually, on lan, the latency is great, but sometimes on internet, the latency is horrible for me and its never like it because i have fast internet.

I also don't think my problem is the computer, because it has NVIDIA and it is a core i5 with premium. Everything runs smoothly.

[scso1502]

It's rare for me to say this, but honestly, at his point I don't know where to go with this other than to have you read the installation guide step by step and start over. You must have missed something along the way. There could be any number of things wrong here and there is more you need to learn about running the dedicated version of the server. By starting anew with a fresh download of the game files in a new folder, you will save hours of time trying to find a problem with what you have now and will eliminate any chance of a corrupt or missing mile causing you issues. You will also learn more along the way. We can't do any troubleshooting on Server list issues until we get a working server load, and we've already attempted to fix the one you have with no results. The server list issues are a whole different story, so lets focus on getting a running server, then move onto the next problem.

Just my two cents.