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Install: Windows (Rev. 2)

Welcome at the Windows srcds installation tutorial. Here we will explain how to get a Source Dedicated Server running on Windows. We assume you have enough Windows knowledge to download, run files etc.

 Attention:
Its strongly recommended to use the Console version of srcds instead of the Steam GUI version. Here we will use the console version!

1) Getting started with HLDSUpdatetool

First of all download hldsupdatetool from the VALVe webserver. We save it to a temporary location and run it.
Navigate through the wizard like you are used to, which means next most of the time. When it asks you about the destination folder, click browse. Type c:\srcds in the textfield and click on OK. Finish the wizard.

Now click on Start, Run and type cmd . Type in the commands mentioned here and end a line with the enter key.
 Command(s):
C:
cd \srcds
hldsupdatetool

The new version of HLDSUpdateTool will be downloaded now. As soon the cursor just blinks, press CTRL-C.

2) Downloading the files

Now we have an account, we can start downloading the files. This can take a few hours depending on the connection the server uses.
 Command(s):
hldsupdatetool -command update -game "Counter-Strike Source" -dir C:\srcds
Do not forget to replace the login values with your own. If you want to install a Half-Life 2 Deathmatch server, use "hl2mp" for the game switch.
Go get yourself a cup of coffee.

3) Starting srcds

First edit (or create) c:\srcds\cstrike\cfg\server.cfg like you want it to be. Now we are ready to run the srcds.
Click Start, Run, type in the box there:
c:\srcds\srcds.exe -console -game cstrike +map de_dust -maxplayers 16 -autoupdate
and press enter.
Your srcds is now up and running. (-game hl2mp if it's a HL2DM server ofcourse)
If you want to use the GUI mode, with the interface do not add any options to it. (just srcds.exe)

Extra) Restarting srcds at crash

Update: We recommend the enhanced version of this batch script.

Batch files are little script files that tell Windows what to do. If srcds crashes, it will not restart like possible under Linux. (Linux uses a "Script" file too)
What we are going to do is make sure that as soon HLDS suddenly quits it will restart. First we open notepad. What we write in there is the following:
 Command(s):
@echo off
cls
echo Protecting srcds from crashes...
echo If you want to close srcds and this script, close the srcds window and type Y depending on your language followed by Enter.
title srcds.com Watchdog
:srcds
echo (%time%) srcds started.
start /wait srcds.exe -console -game cstrike +map de_dust +maxplayers 16
echo (%time%) WARNING: srcds closed or crashed, restarting.
goto srcds

Replace the marked part with your own commandline and values. Save the file as C:\srcds\srcds.bat in notepad (NOT .txt) and next time click the srcds.bat file. If you need to close srcds, close the hlds window and press Y (depending on language) at the Terminate batch question. Please do note this does not work with crashes/errors that involve a Windows error box.

Revision 2:: HLDSUpdatetool doesn't require login information anymore.
Revision 2.1: Fixed link (Thanks SpliT)
09 Oct 2004 by Webmaster

Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike Source and Day of Defeat Source are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation.
We are NOT affiliated with VALVe in any way. Our goal is to provide the community a decent amount of information regarding srcds. ? SirTiger 2010 | | tf2 server | alien swarm server