I see purple checkerboards, weapon or world models are missing, or experience crashes while playing a game - how can I verify that my GCF Cache files are good?

If you have problems with missing models, video artifacts (purple and black checkerboards) or unexpected crashes during single-player games and missions then this is the FAQ you need.

We've implemented a new feature in the Steam platform to help diagnose and resolve corrupted Steam cache files.

If you have been experiencing problems such as crashing during gameplay or startup of Half-Life 2, please restart Steam (to make sure you get the latest updates) and then click on one of the links below.

Steam will then automatically verify the cache files for the game selected.

The verification process will take roughly five minutes to complete, only do one verification at a time.

Once the process is completed, the Check Window will automatically exit.

If the check finds any problems, it will remove the file or files that are bad, then the next time you run the game, Steam will re-download the replacement files.

Verify Half-Life Cache Files:

• Client Dedicated Server HLDS (applaunch 5)
• Counter-Strike 1.6 (applaunch 10)
• Team Fortress Classic (applaunch 20)
• Day of Defeat (applaunch 30)
• Death Match Classic (applaunch 40)
• Opposing Force (applaunch 50)
• Blue Shift (applaunch 130)
• Ricochet (applaunch 60)
• Half-Life (applaunch 70)
• Condition Zero (applaunch 80)
• Codename Gordon (applaunch 92)
• CZ: Deleted Scenes (applaunch 100)

Verify Half-Life 2 (Source) Cache Files:

• Client Source Dedicated Server (applaunch 205)
• Client Source SDK (applaunch 211)
• Half-Life 2 (applaunch 220)
• Counter-Strike: Source (applaunch 240)
• Half-Life: Source (applaunch 280)
• Half-Life 2 Death Match (applaunch 320)
• Day of Defeat: Source (applaunch 300)