Hammer keeps insisting that gameinfo.txt is missing

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Ida

deer
aa
Jan 6, 2008
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I'm trying to launch Hammer from my Team Fortress 2\bin folder, but both hammer.bin and hammer.exe fail to launch because "common\Team Fortress 2\tf\gameinfo.txt is missing". However, the file is there, and it always has been. This is what it looks like. Is there anything that looks wrong there?

I've tried validating TF2 as well as Source SDK numerous times, I've set the right path for the game configuration, and I've tried to launch Hammer via the SDK launcher - but when I do that, nothing happens. Except one time when it managed to launch Hammer but then it crashed and went back to not launching.

I have no clue any more, guys.
 
V

Valkyrie

Try just redownloading and deleting the original gameinfo.txt thats what I had to do
 

Ida

deer
aa
Jan 6, 2008
2,289
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I've tried redownloading it from some other site, and I also tried deleting it and having Steam replace it through validation. Neither of those things worked.
 

Ida

deer
aa
Jan 6, 2008
2,289
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Ok, update: I reinstalled TF2 and now I can launch Hammer, but only from the SDK launcher. The bin folder still doesn't work.

But when I launch it, I get this error:

42J9a.png


And then it shuts down/crashes.

Edit: Nevermind, launching from sourcesdk/bin works now. I'm still as confused as ever but at least it seems to work now.
 
Last edited:

Ida

deer
aa
Jan 6, 2008
2,289
1,372
Ok so I have an update: Apparently all of the entity icons and stuff are gone, because they're all red error models. I decided to reinstall Booj's FGD pack thing, but I get this error when I try that:

47pU1.png


Which is, of course, correct - because I haven't run Hammer from Team Fortress 2\bin, since it doesn't work, as explained. So I guess I'm back to square one: I need to be able to run Hammer from bin, and for that I need it to be able to locate gameinfo.txt. Does anyone have any clue about how I can do that?

Oh, and FiLi: Thanks for the suggestion, but that doesn't work.
 

Ida

deer
aa
Jan 6, 2008
2,289
1,372
Wow, no, I hadn't actually thought of that - and it worked! :D

Thank you! <3
 

nickybakes

You should've played Rumbleverse
aa
Jul 28, 2015
911
1,739
How does team "reacquire it?" because I am getting an error starting tf2 now.
After you delete it (or not delete it), verify your game cache (google it if you don't know how to verify your game cache).

Edit: Ninja'd by idolon.
 

Another Bad Pun

In the shadows, he saw four eyes lit by fire
aa
Jan 15, 2011
801
1,844
How does team "reacquire it?" because I am getting an error starting tf2 now.
Once you've deleted the bin, go to steam and right click Team Fortress Two. Find "validate integrity of game cache" somewhere and it will locate the missing bin folder and replace it with a stock one.

edit: dangit guys i posted first but then reposted to quote him and now im last
 

CareBear

L1: Registered
Jul 19, 2016
36
4
Can someone help me out, whenever i try to open Hammer from the tf/bin folder it comes up with the same error message stated at the top of this discussion. I have tried verifying my game cache, deleting it and then verifying, running hammer as an administrator, deleting the bin folder and verifying, resetting the game configuration in the source sdk, even completely reinstalling tf2. nothing is working. and i want to be able to use Hammer through the bin folder, not through the source sdk. it may be worth mentioning that i have moved my steam installation to a separate hard drive recently and verified each game after doing so. Please help.
 
Aug 30, 2015
359
451
I'm not certain, but I want to say you have to run TF2 through Steam at least once to have it generate a gameinfo.txt
 

CareBear

L1: Registered
Jul 19, 2016
36
4
done that, didnt work. keeps coming up with the same error at the top of the thread
 

Pocket

Half a Lambert is better than one.
aa
Nov 14, 2009
4,694
2,579
You may have to resort to only launching it through the BAT file; I have the same issue with HLMV.
 

CareBear

L1: Registered
Jul 19, 2016
36
4
I've tried launching it through the BAT file. comes up with a window for less than a split second and disappears. Think its having the same problem as the EXE.