I followed all the instructions in the webbed hreads on how to set up Hammer. Then I ran Hammer and built a hollow box with a light and an info_player_start. Then when I tried compiling it gave the compile process window gave this error: "The command failed. Windows reported the error:
"The system cannot find the file specified.""

So then I scrolled up and saw this:
----- BEGIN hlrad -----
Command line: C:\NSMAPP~1\Hammer\tools\hlrad.exe "c:\ns mapping\hammer\maps\sappypap"
>> There was a problem compiling the map.
>> Check the file c:\ns mapping\hammer\maps\sappypap.log for the cause.

----- END hlrad -----

So I looked in the .log file and found this:
Error: Could not open wad file \steam\steamapps\littleb28@mail.com\half-life\nsp\ns.wad
Error: Could not find WAD file
Description: The compile tools could not locate a wad file that the map was referencing.
Howto Fix: Make sure the wad's listed in the level editor actually all exist

Error: Could not open wad file \steam\steamapps\littleb28@mail.com\half-life\nsp\ns2.wad


So why is it doing this?

1. I'm assuming that file does exist
2. Are the tools in the same drive as the wad files?
3. If this doesnt help, try moving all the wad's you need into the same dir as the compile tools and use them from there (Make sure you select these in VHE or whatever you use)

wuhoo! Thank you, it worked

I do indeed have my Hammer folder on a different drive then my Steam folder. So I did what you said and it worked. Sweeeet.