Windows: HOW TO Install Counter-Strike 1.6 Server

Ok, so you want to install Counter-Strike 1.6 instead of CS Source. The process is similar to installing CS Source, First, you will need to download and install the windows »Steam HLDS Updatetool - Windows (687.0 KB) (local download). The default install path is C:\Program Files\Valve\HLServer which is fine in most cases. Your drive letter may differ than above. Be sure you run the hldsupdatetool installer with administrator privileges. Once you've installed the hldsupdatetool, continue reading.

Installing Counter-Strike 1.6 (HLDS)

Now that you have installed the hldsupdatetool, On Windows, click on start then select run and type cmd in the run box. The Windows DOS prompt should now be on your screen, now type:

code:

cd C:\Program Files\Valve\HLServer

The DOS prompt should appear like so:

cmd

Now we're ready to install Counter-Strike, type:

code:

HldsUpdateTool.exe -command update -game cstrike -dir .

Note the period after -dir - Make sure not to leave it out.

If all goes well, the install process will begin and you should now see a bunch of lines scroll on the DOS cmd prompt window.

Source Dedicated GUI

The installer will recognize it is a new install and proceed to download and update Counter-Strike. Leave the window alone! Be patient this may take a while, so go grab something to munch on while you wait, the installer takes roughly 20-30 minutes to download all files (~300MB) on a 6Mbit connection. After it is finished, you will see a "HLDS installation up to date" message.

checking for updates

Starting the server

There are two ways to start the server, either by using the fancy Steam GUI or the Console.

Console on left, Steam GUI on right

Which method you choose depend on the type of server. If it will be a temporary server then use the GUI for easy setup, otherwise, stick with the console, it uses less resources. Select one of the two options:

1. Starting via Steam GUI
Browse to C:\Program Files\Valve\HLServer and double click the hlds.exe icon. A menu will open and everything else should be self explanatory. If you choose the Steam GUI there is no need to read any further, you have successfully installed Steam, simply select your server start-up options using the GUI tabs. To start the server using the console method, continue reading.

Server startup GUI

2. Starting via Console
Browse to C:\Program Files\Valve\HLServer and right click hlds.exe then select Create Shortcut now right click that new Shortcut you just created and select Properties

New shortcut properties

Counter-Strike command line options

Below are a list of commands you can enter in the target field to start the server.

-console
Initializes console mode

-autoupdate
Automatically update the server when Steam updates are released

-game
The HLDS mod you want to run

+maxplayers
Amount of players to allow

+map
The map to start the server with

-port
The port number the server should run on. Can be left out if you plan on using the default port (27015).

-ip
Useful if you have multiple IPs and want to assign a particular IP to the server.

Example, you want to start the server with 12 players and the map de_aztec your target field should look like this:

code:

"C:\Program Files\Valve\HLServer\hlds.exe" -console -game cstrike -autoupdate +maxplayers 12 +map de_aztec

Note the quotes around the path, they are required if the path contains a space.

After you've entered that in the target field, click OK then double click the shortcut icon and the server should now be starting up:

Adding cmds in target field and starting the server

Each time you want to start the server, all you do now is double click the Shortcut icon with the saved Target parameter.

You can also start the server without creating a shortcut: Click on Start, Run, then type cmd now in the DOS prompt window, type:

code:

cd C:\Program Files\Valve\HLServer

then type:

code:

hlds.exe -console -game cstrike -autoupdate +maxplayers 12 +map de_aztec

However, we recommend creating the shortcut so you do not have to type the commands each and every time you want start the server.

Page 5.

On the next page, we will guide you on installing Counter-Strike: Source on Linux.