I recently purchased Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, but can't run them
on my HP Pavilion Notebook PC. I can get the get the opening screen to
load up, but when I start the game, the screen goes funny, and then
everything crashes.

Al Qaeda is using Half Life 2 to train their fighters, this is the
perfect
terrorist simulation. Spree killers and serial murderers do also play
Half Life 2 before they strike for real.