1) The 24-bit textures command in the options menu is wrong. In the options, it is "CL_HIGHTEXTURES" (notice the "S"), but it is actually "CL_HIGHTEXTURE" in console ("UNKNOWN COMMAND: CL_HIGHTEXTURES 1"). Use the Steam command list, it shows up as "CL_HIGHTEXTURE". Also, I tried 24-bit textures...