If a custom modification changes your drive directory, or if the game defaults to a folder that does not physically exist after Steam's modern updates, the engine will instantly crash to the desktop with a fatal error dialog box. How to Safely "Download" or Restore startup-loading.vtf
: If you find a custom .vtf file on sites like GameBanana , simply place it in that console folder.
). Installing both on the same drive often resolves the issue. The "Spray" Workaround : Users on Steam Community forums have noted that you can take any other file (such as a custom spray), rename it to startup_loading.vtf , and place it in the materials/console/ folder of your game directory to bypass the crash. Are you experiencing a specific error message or crash when trying to launch a particular game? startup_loading.vtf - stanriders/hl2-asw-port - GitHub
The file materials/console/startup_loading.vtf is a small, specific texture that serves as the background image for the game's console area during the initial loading sequence. It's akin to the "loading screen" wallpaper that appears while the game is booting up. startup-loading.vtf download
: For certain mods, you may also need to install Source SDK Base 2013 (Singleplayer) from the "Tools" section of your Steam library. 🎨 How to Download/Install Custom Loading Screens
This gives you a 100% custom, unshared file that is guaranteed to work.
: This article is for educational purposes. Ensure you comply with the terms of service of the game and its modding platforms. If a custom modification changes your drive directory,
startup-loading.vtf is a texture file used by the Source Engine (found in games like Half-Life 2 Counter-Strike: Source Team Fortress 2
It displays the loading animation or text during the initial launch, before the full main menu background ( background01.vtf ) loads.
To most, it was just a missing texture. To Elias, a veteran modder, it was a hole in the world. He dove into the file directories, his mouse clicking like a metronome in the quiet room. He checked the ep2 folder, then sourcemods , then searched the depths of old forums where the links had long since turned into 404s. Installing both on the same drive often resolves the issue
You can find the file hosted on repositories like GitHub (hl2-asw-port) .
Are you getting a (like a pink/black checkerboard)?
hl2-asw-port/game/materials/console/startup_loading. vtf at master · stanriders/hl2-asw-port · GitHub. Customize your Loading Screens and Menu Background!