CSS won't start

no turning the graphics down wont cause it to freeze on that screen all the time i change my video settings all the time and it doesnt freeze.  what woody means by reformatting the computer is reinstalling the operating system on the computer.  only if you have the install cd that come with your laptop or if you made a backup cd when you first bought the laptop.  most newer laptops also have the installation files saved on a partition on the harddrive. 

 

If Hl2.exe isn't responding it's usually due to the pathfiles not being found.
What OS are you using?
Do you have any anti-virus software running in the background?
Clocking your computer could also be worth doing if it's a old laptop.

AVG, Norton and Avast have been known to interfere with games.
If you have no antivirus running in the background perhaps this may help:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_art ... -TIAV-5361

 

Tried restarting Steam as a whole?
worked for me