Decapitation by window

For those of you who are interested (the rest of you can move along, nothing to see here), Steam allows you to set launch options for your various Valve games that were built using the Half-Life 2 engine; TF2, L4D, etc...

The string I will be using below launches the game in a full screen window w/o border, as well it skips the logo section on launch (that right, no more bald Valve guy).

As to why you would want to run the game in a window, well for starters it allows for quick and stable Alt+Tabbing in and out of the game. No more crashing, and no more render issues once you return to the game, which means no more getting shot with a rocket from and invisible assailant, cuz that always sux. It's also handy if you run dual monitors, as the game will stay open and visible on your primary monitor, while you do what ever it is that you do on your secondary (Windows Key will break game focus and allow you click somewhere on the secondary).

So, with no further delay, here it be.

1. Open Steam and go to the Games tab
2. Right-click on the game
3. Choose Properties
4. In the Properties pop-up window, go to the General tab
5. Click Set launch options...
6. In the Launch Options pop-up paste this string "-noborder -sw -novid" (do no include the quotes)
7. Press OK
8. Close the Properties pop-up window, and you're done

Launch the game and enjoy!

Note:
Keep in mind I am not a Valve technician, use at your own risk.

Using the "-autoconfig" string in the launch options will reset all configurations back to default, based on hardware detection.

excellent tip, worked like a charm! thx for posting it.

I added these to my L4D and TF2 last night, tested both and it works as advertised. Thanks!

Great deal thanks for that little deal i like it

OK i used it and its badass but is their anyway to make the window bigger.

Ballsac wrote:

OK i used it and its badass but is their anyway to make the window bigger.

Go to options, set to full screen, close and relaunch.

thx

Great tip, thanks! With two monitors this makes using the other one while I am in game plausible.

Mmmm, dual monitors.

The only problem I encounter with this is that there seems to be some screen tearing, even with vsync on. But it's a minor thing.