How can i play halflife 1 on windows XP

Three ways.
1) Go to a cheap variety store and look in their software bargain bins and you might find it (got mine for $AU20). Then install HL, then download and install Steam using your HL serial no. then do the import process to bring you new HL install into the Steam environment to save the full download.

2) Still buy the game and just install Steam and let it automatically install your allowed games.

3) Install Steam and purchase the game online and it will do the rest.

Most newer machines will play HL fine with no major install/config problems. All updates for the game after 1.1.0.0 (i think) are issued through Steam so if you try and update a pirate copy, Steam will spin up your cd-drive and spit out the CD to chop your legs off.

no i have the cd but i cant get it 2 run on Windows xp on my laptop!!!!

What's the problem? My HL1 has always worked on XP (non steam infected version).

Does it give any error message?

If you haven't installed Steam yet, try that!

http://www.steampowered.com/