How to use GCFScape
by Naigel nicky_pelupessy@hotmail.com

      In this tutorial I will tell you how to extract the .wad file from the .gcf files used by Steam. Steam uses .gcf files which are pack files. They contain all the files which Half-Life needs (including the .wad). These pack files are located in the ...\Steam\SteamApps\ folder. In order to see what those files actually contain, we would need GFCScape, which you can download HERE (you can either download an executable or a .zip archive).

      As you can see on the download page of Nem's Tools, you need .NET Framework v1.1 to run GFCScape. "GCFScape is written in C++ .NET and as such requires the .NET runtime to run. The .NET runtime is also available as a Windows Update. v1.1 is required." Click HERE to visit the Microsoft website, and then click on download which you can see to the far right, now download and install it (note: this update is about 25 megs in size).

      When you are done with installing .NET Framework v1.1, run GCFScape. This is how GCFScape looks like when you start it (note: I have a custom Windows theme so the window looks a bit different):

      Now click on the Open button:

      Browse to your Steam\steamapps folder. Mine is located at C:\Games\Steam\SteamApps (you browse to whereever your Steam is installed!). You'll see that there are several .gcf files. For the halflife.wad we need to enter the half-life.gcf. So, click on half-life.gcf and then click on Open. Now you will see this:

      When you click on Open, you see this:

      It says 'half-life.gcf loaded'. Now, double click on 'valve', the menu will expand and you will see more items. And you see the contents of 'valve' in the right window. Find the halflife.wad in the right window (scroll down).

      Rightclick on halflife.wad and click on 'extract'.

      For now, let's just copy the halflife.wad to the desktop. Select desktop (it's called bureaublad in Dutch, so you see bureaublad on the picture) and click on ok.

      If correct, you will see it wrote halflife.wad to your desktop. Let's see if it actually did.

      It's there alright! That's it, you've succesfully extracted the halflife.wad from the .gcf file. Make sure you read the FAQ as well, which is located HERE. If you still have questions, feel free to contact me.

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