When I try to create an account for HL update tool, I type this in-

....../hlupdatetool.exe -create blahblahblah@g.com password "question" "answer"

and I get:
Checking bootstrapper version....
Creating account
AuthenticationServerRSApublickey failed signiture verification


whats this mean?

I don't know what the Windows equivelent would be but, in linux you would delete the ".steam" folder. All that is in there is the "ClientRegistry.blob", so maybe try deleting that .blob file on your system and try again.

Thanks so much! i found it in the HL directory

whenever you have a problem with any updates, the first thing you should do is delete the blob.

HldsUpdateTool.exe -command -create -username *** -password *** -email *** -question *** -answer ***