Originally posted by Multiplayer Bot:

I don't remember downloading this from another server? I thought it was some sort of update at first. How do I change this back? Is there any connection from stalker directly to hl2 or is it just a silly mod?

Maybe it's modified your gaming files?

Originally posted by SquiddyGaming:

Originally posted by Multiplayer Bot:

I don't remember downloading this from another server? I thought it was some sort of update at first. How do I change this back? Is there any connection from stalker directly to hl2 or is it just a silly mod?

Maybe it's modified your gaming files?

Has to be, but what else has been modified?

What's up Squiddy!

Originally posted by Multiplayer Bot:

Originally posted by SquiddyGaming:

Maybe it's modified your gaming files?

Has to be, but what else has been modified?

What's up Squiddy!

If you right click the game and click properties; and then in the game properties window click on Installed files and then click on the Verify downloaded files button. Steam will reinstall the game!

You likely connected to a script-kiddie server that downloaded an image/overlay mod and then used listenserver point_clientcommands (which needs sv_cheats 1) to change your background image in your config.cfg. You can find all your downloaded files here...
...\Steam\steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 Deathmatch\hl2mp\download

Do not allow anything other than maps through your download filter from unknown servers. This can be changed in your options/multiplayer tab in the menu or by typing this into your developer's console:
cl_downloadfilter mapsonly

Avoid known BotNet/Troll servers like Saigns, FastPath, and w/e the Stalin kid calls his servers nowadays. Only play at servers you trust when enabling sv_cheats "1" for any reason. Never be a 'host' of your own listenserver (aka start a game from the menu) without using a sv_password for protection.

And verifying the game cache will only apply to Valve VPKs. It will not clear mods unless you clear them yourself. Your modded files will be in your hl2mp/downloads folder and/or your hl2mp/custom folder.

On the advanced side, I highly suggest using a firewall rule that only allows for non-webhosted outboud IPv4 traffic with any connections through your hl2mp.exe, which you would then only* allow for 'inbound' traffic on trusted hl2dm servers and communities. Doing this and using a secure listenserver.cfg when hosting on Steam Networking is why certain Russian script-kiddies couldn't do any malicious thing to my own client.

The Legend. Very good breakdown thanks

Originally posted by Multiplayer Bot:

The Legend. Very good breakdown thanks

Hopefully it's fixed!

So far no more issues upon reboot. I did delete a lot of downloaded content and put a filter up. Can't believe I had 32gb of just maps.

Originally posted by Multiplayer Bot:

So far no more issues upon reboot. I did delete a lot of downloaded content and put a filter up. Can't believe I had 32gb of just maps.

The maps are safe to keep, usually, and my folder is over 200 gb. If you're not sure about a given map, a good software for decompiling a map would be bsp source.

Originally posted by Multiplayer Bot:

So far no more issues upon reboot. I did delete a lot of downloaded content and put a filter up. Can't believe I had 32gb of just maps.

Maps do take up alot of ♥♥♥♥ space so I just delete them every so often.

There is a way this can happen, I haven't seen it with stalker specifically but I also have a level on my server that changes skins for players and stuff, and another level that changes sounds.

A menu background change is very rare but can happen with alt tabs and stuff. If it is indeed a level causing those changes because the mapper packed custom things inside the mao then all you have to do is restart the game and its back to normal again.

Yes its very normal for maps like that, the reverse happens to. If you were already playing other maps before playing the stalker maps the models and textures can have stayed normal. You need to play the stalker map as the first map or to have alt tabbed for the maximum effect to have a chance of happening.