Counter Strike Source dedicated server installation tutorial on Windows XP or Vista

Requirements

1 GB of free space on disk.
Recomanded OS: XP Service Pack 2 (but it runs well on Vista too)
1 GB of RAM Memory

Installing the server

First af all create a new folder named SRCDS anywhere on disk.

Then download CS Source Server Creator . Double click, Next chose the SRCDS directory and click Install. The installer will open a command prompter black window. Just wait until the installer downloads the server. When it is done, the black window goes away. That means you are done downloading the server.

Some antivirus softwares will get a false virus detection when you run the installer. Don`t worry ! The installer is 100 % safe ! It is just HLDS Update Tool , a little bit simplified for you not to complicate yourselvs with command lines.

Servers configuration

Go to SRCDS\cstrike\cfg and check if you have there a file named server.cfg. If it is not there, create it with Notepad or Wordpad and save it with cfg extension. Then open it and copy this:

Change the Server Name and RCON password as you like.
If you want to enable bots, set the bot quota in this line: bot_quota 0 (put the number here).

Opening the server

There is only one way to open the server so pay attention !

Go to SRCDS directory an look for srcds.exe. Right click on it and select "Create Shortcut" or “Send to -> Desktop” (if you want a shortcut on your Desktop) .
Right click thr shortcut and select "Proprieties".
In the Target field leave a space after the last character and copy this:

You can costumize it :
"-console" – is for the ingame console (the one that opens with `)
"-game cstrike" – is for the counter strike game
"-secure" – is for your VAC anti cheat. If you want it disabled just type insecure instead of secure
"+maxplayers 22 – is the maximal number of slots on your server (you can change it)
"+map de_dust2 - the starting map (you can olso change it)

Patching the server

If you want your server to be Steam Only, skip this step !
But if you want it to accept non steam users, download this patch, unzipp it and copy the following files to SRCDS directory:

-rev.ini and

-Steam.dll

Don`t copy the other files from archive, just these two !

Now you have a Counter Strike Source dedicated server that accepts Steam and Non Steam users.

Now we will make sure that you can administrate your server.
In order to do this you will have to install Source Metamod and Sourcemod or Mani Admin Plugin.
See the Source Metamod installation tutorial.
See the Sourcemod installation and configuration tutorial.
See the Mani Admin Plugin tutorial.