Creating a simple, run-of-the-mill skybox... Help!!

Hi everyone. First of all, I need to stress why i've written this post. I've searched far and wide in these forums and looked through the tutorials, and for some strange reason, I can't find a single thing that I understand about creating 2D skyboxes in HL2! Maybe I'm tired, and maybe I'm overlooking things, but i've tried and tried and cant get it to work no matter which information I use!! I'm sorry if this question has been asked hundreds of times and answered, but I need a clear, descriptive and above all, basic explanation of how to create one and make it work!! The thing which gives me the impression that it doesn't work when I create the skybox, is that when i compile and run the map, it doesnt load the level, it just puts me on the menu screen.

Basically, my question is... How do you create a working 2D skybox so that when you look out the window of a room, you can see the sky in the distance?

Once again, sorry if this thread has been posted and solved numerous times, (iv just never been able to find it if it has!)

Thanks a lot to whoever helps!

sorry but just to clarify...are you making a custom skybox or just applying a regular skybox?

To apply a regular skybox:
go to map->map properties->skybox texture name
type in the name of the skybox you want (to find a skybox go to the texture editor and type "skybox" in the filter... you will see textures like havlf, havrt, havup, havdn, haveft, havbk... if you want that skybox type "hav" in the skybox texture name field)

surround your map (or, if the map is inside, it would be better to just put a box around the window) that is textured with the tools/skybox texture

and that should be it!

now say you're trying to make a custom skybox:

you need to make 6 custom textures. Say you want your skybox's name to be mySky.

your textures' names will be mySkyup, mySkydn, mySkylf, mySkyrt, mySkyft, and mySkybk, for the top, bottom, left, right, front, and back of your skybox respectively.

put these textures in your materials/skybox folder (not your map's custom textures folder)

now follow the steps above ... just put mySky in the "skybox texture name" field

Thanks for you help. It worked.