I'M FREAKIN' SCREWED
So today I decided to install the Escape from the darkness mod into steam. I played it before in WON and already know that software mode crashes the mod. The steamfix that was handed out appears only to give the mod a steam background, not much else.
Anyway once I launched this mod it crashes to the desktop saying D3d is not allowed or something and tries to launch in OpenGL. This is bad. My computer is not good with OpenGL and framerates are bad even with vanilla. Then openGL crashed and it tries to launch in software, which looks horrible in steam so I never use it. Then software crashed.
Then I tried another mod and it force switches to software and crashed.
Then I tried vanilla and it force switches to software and crashed.
Then I tried Opposing force (in another folder from vanilla) and it force switches to software and crashed.
And prior to this my computer switches to a bluescreen and crashed.
I did some testing and the d3d, soft and gl launch commands seem a little buggy.
(right click, properties, local files, verify integrity of cache)
If you're struggling with OpenGL in a 1998 game it might be time for an upgrade, though.
This
And my computer is not THAT old.