Try installing the Half-Life game in the Steam Deck's Desktop Mode, and I was able to get it from there. I hope this helps!
This happens to me too. The issue isn't that you can't install HL, MetalClaw, it's that you literally can't view the HL game entry on the deck without it screwing everything up - power menu no longer works, steam button doesn't work, A button basically doesn't work, you can't perform any actions other than switching library views. You have to force a shutdown and restart by holding the power button. I previously had HL installed as well, so it has something to do with installing and then uninstalling it. Doesn't matter if I've purged every HL file from steamapps, it's still doing it in January 2024.
this is still happening as of November 2024
I am on bazzite, so this is not a steam os unique issue. It worked fine installing half life for the very first time on a fresh image, but subsequent installs in game mode result in the same issue reported by OP
I'm having this issue too, on a deck with SteamOS 3.6.20
I installed HL:Source on my SD. It loads the iconic Valve logo then locks up on what should be the main menu (no text). I launch it again from Desktop mode. Same issue.
A quick search online told me that I have to install HL2. I installed it in Desktop Mode. Now HL:Source launches fine and I can play. Then I go back to Gaming Mode. Same issue as before.
I go back in Desktop Mode. HL2 launches fine and plays fine. I close it. I launch HL:Source -- it freezes on the what should be the main menu, but just says "Half Life".
My SD is the LCD original with 512Gb running SteamOS 3.6.20.
Still an issue. I thought my steam deck was starting to break!
I'm still having this issue on Steam Deck SteamOS 3.7.15 Stable. I have to restart to resolve the issue but then the Steam Deck freezes during shutdown and I have to force it by holding the power button.
Edit: Forgot to mention it happens when pressing the install button. Nothing happens when you press install but instead the Steam Button and ... Button stop working until forced system restart. Even after restart, same symptoms persist with Half-Life being unable to be installed.
this has also started happening with half life 2 btw after the anniversary update. The only workaround is to go to desktop mode and install from there. It is safe to then go back to game mode but only after the game has completed installation
I confirm the issue still exists today (stable release)
Nothing extracted yet.
I don't know how, but my girlfriend managed to install Half-Life on my Steam Deck a couple of days ago, but the game had problems (mostly with jumping not working) so she uninstalled it.
Today, I tried installing it again, but just opening the Half-Life library entry bugs the Steam Deck.
If you do manage to restart the Steam Deck, it all works as expected again, as long as you don't open the Half-Life entry in the library. If you do, all the bugs start all over again.