1) Getting started with HLDSUpdatetool
First of all download hldsupdatetool from the Valve website (Download Link) We save it to a temporary location and run it.
Navigate through the wizard like you are used to, which means next most of the time. When it asks you about the destination folder, click browse. Type c:\srcds in the textfield and click on OK. Finish the wizard.
Now click on Start, Run and type cmd . Type in the commands mentioned here and end a line with the enter key.
Command(s):
Commandline wrote: cd \srcds
hldsupdatetool
The new version of HLDSUpdateTool will be downloaded now. As soon the cursor just blinks, press CTRL-C.
2) Downloading the dedicated server files
Now we can start downloading the files. This can take a few hours depending on the connection the server uses.
Command(s):
Commandline wrote: hldsupdatetool -command update -game orangebox -dir C:\srcds
At the same time, download the Plan Of Attack: Source Dedicated server package (271 MB). Extract them to the srcds directory.
3) Starting srcds
Now we are ready to run the srcds. Click Start, Run, type in the box there:
Commandline wrote: c:\srcds\srcds.exe -console -game poa -tickrate 100 +map de_dust2 +maxplayers 24
and press enter. Your srcds is now up and running.
Restarting srcds at crash
Batch files are little script files that tell Windows what to do. If srcds crashes, it will not restart like possible under Linux. (Linux uses a "Script\" file too)
What we are going to do is make sure that as soon SRCDS suddenly quits it will restart. First we open notepad. What we write in there is the following:
Command(s):
srcds.bat wrote: @echo off
cls
echo Protecting srcds from crashes...
echo If you want to close srcds and this script, close the srcds window and type Y depending on your language followed by Enter.
title srcds.com Watchdog
:srcds
echo (&#xti;me% ) srcds started.
start /wait srcds.exe -console -game poa -tickrate 100 +map de_dust2 +maxplayers 24
echo (&#xti;me%) WARNING: srcds closed or crashed, restarting.
goto srcds
Replace the marked part with your own commandline and values. Save the file as C:\srcds\srcds.bat in notepad (NOT .txt) and next time click the srcds.bat file. If you need to close srcds, close the hlds window and press Y (depending on language) at the Terminate batch question. Please do note this does not work with crashes/errors that involve a Windows error box.
