**Setting Up Xash3D**

----

Xash3D is intended as a replacement for the GoldSource engine, so the original engine binaries are not needed for Xash3D to work. Generally, you need only the following:

  * The folder containing the game or mod data. For Half-Life, this is the valve folder; for a mod or    derivative game, the folder name is usually the developer name or a variation of the title: for example, **gearbox** for Opposing Force or **Hunger** for They Hunger. 
  * The **xash_build*.rar** file. 
  * The **xash_extras.rar** file. 

**Installation for Pre-Steam Games and Mods**

----

  - Unpack the contents of the **xash_build*.rar** file to your Half-Life folder, overwriting any existing files. 
  - Extract the **valve** folder from the **xash_extras.rar** file to the same folder, overwriting any existing files. 

Installing mods on top of this setup is no different from installing on top of the original Half-Life. You simply need to put the mod data folder alongside the **valve** folder.

**Installation for Steam Games and Mods**

----

Xash3D does not work directly with Steam's ***.gcf** game data archives. To make a Steam-distributed game work with Xash3D, you first need to extract the game data from the ***.gc**f file using a third-party program, such as [[GCFScape|GCFScape]].

**Half-Life**
  - Create a folder for Half-Life. 
  - Extract the **valve** folder from the //<steam_installation_folder>\steamapps\half-life.gcf// file to your Half-Life folder. 
  - Unpack the contents of the **xash_build*.rar** file to this folder. 
  - Extract the valve folder from the **xash_extras.rar** file to the same folder, overwriting any existing files.

**Derivatives and Mods**

  - Make sure you have set up Xash3D to run Half-Life, as described above. 
  - Locate the ***.gcf** file for your game or mod in the //<steam_installation_folder>\steamapps// folder. 
  - From this ***.gcf** file, extract the folder with the game or mod data to your Half-Life folder. For example, for Blue Shift you need to extract the bshift folder from the **half-life blue shift.gcf** file. 

**Launching the Game**

----

To launch Half-Life, run the replacement **hl.exe** program.

To launch a Half-Life mod, do one of the following:

  * Run **hl.exe**, and switch to the mod by selecting Custom game in the main menu. 
  * Create a shortcut to **hl.exe**, open the shortcut's properties and add the **-game** //<mod_folder>// parameter to the command string in the Target text box; for example, //"C:\games\half-life\hl.exe -game gearbox"//. 
  * Create a ***.bat** file that runs **hl.exe** with the **-game** //<mod_folder>// parameter; for example, //"C:\games\half-life\hl.exe -game hunger"//.