CTD when joining server

[XxxGrANdmA]

Well i still haven't fixed my problem of crashing to the desktop when joining the server but i just reinstalled bf2 and when i tried joining a server it worked fine! But then i installed the 1.41 and 1.50 patches and tried to join the server but i ctd. I unistalled pr, ca, and fh2 and still no luck so im getting pretty mad. I have a feeling it's the new video card the guy installed into my computer because before then i could still run bf2, pr etc. but at low settings and bad fps(cause my comp was **** before). So far ive tried to 1)update pb (many times) 2) Use bf2 cleaner 3) update my video card 4)turn all my settings down to low to see if that was the issue. I don't understand what else i could possibly do. The only thing i can think of is the card might not be compatibile with bf2 or possibly something else in the computer. I have a Radeon HD 4350 card. The guy also added more ram and drive space and also an external hard drive to backup info. I realy could you some help here. I don't wanna be the only one w/o pr 0.9

Edit: could it be that 1 of the patches are corrupted?

[thepalerider]

It's possible but unlikely, still it won't hurt to rule it out.

The most common causes of CTD are:
Failure to uninstall any previously installed versions of PR.
This can easily be done via the Windows Control Panel
'Add and Remove Programs' icon, under "Project Reality 0.x".*,
then delete the PR folder to remove any leftover files.
Don't forget to delete the desktop short as well.
PRv.87 uses 2 installers. You must install both 'core' and 'levels'.
It is recommended that you restart your system after you install/uninstall programs
to ensure all installed components, files and registry entries are correctly installed or removed.

BF2 not updated to v 1.41 before patching with v1.5
FULL update 1.41
Final v1.5
Some have posted Updating with the
1.5 update
Sometimes does not complete, but looks like it does.
To find your version of BF2
run PR in 'windowed' mode
Look at the upper left corner
you should see
v.1.5.3153-802.0


Incomplete install of 'Core' & 'Levels'
Project Reality v 0.87 uses TWO separate Client Installers and should be installed in this order.
pr_0874_core_setup first and followed by pr_0874_levels_setup.
(Use the 'levels' installer to make a desktop short cut.)
If you get any errors, download a new installer from a different source and try again.

Compatibility mode to xp and run as admin not set in desktop shortcut on Vista PCs
Right click shortcut
choose 'properties' from bottom of list
Click on the Compatibility 'tab'(along the top of the window)
Check 'run as admin' box, select WINDOWS XP(service pack 2


In game textures set to 'HIGH'
Set the textures to medium.
I'm not sure why this makes a difference with high-end cards that can run games like Crysis
on high quality settings with no problem at the same res,
but for some reason it can matter in Project Reality.

What are your PC specks again?

[XxxGrANdmA]

Do you just type in dxdiag to check system specs?

[thepalerider]

Please remember to include your basic PC info in your post :
Operating system = XP, Vista etc.
systems specks = cpu/speed, ram installed, video card/video ram on card
network setup = cable, 4 port 10/100/1000 d- link gamers lounge/ wired connection.
And a brief history before and after problem started.
Please describe when your CTD or problem hits and
what you have already tried.
The more info you can give the better your chance of getting a quick answer back. You don't have to write a book, but your basic PC info is needed to help you.

[XxxGrANdmA]

Operation system= Xp
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
RAM:3326 MB
Video Card: Radeon HD 4350 1 gig
Before the problem i had the latest patch for bf2 (1.50) and pr version .87. Took my computer in to get an upgrade so i could run it smoother. When i got it back i could play single player fine but connecting to online servers just crashes right back to the desktop. So far I've tried deleting old drivers, getting new ones. Updating pb and uninstalling/reinstalling bf2. after reinstalling bf2 it was fine reinstalled patches 1.41 and 1.5 which just caused it to have the same problem before. Also i have updated my directx9. Just one question, is my video card compatible w/ direct x 9 and do i need to install 10 for it to work. i don't know why that'd have an effect on it because i tried the arma2 demo and i ran it fine w/o problems and I also tried Microsoft's flight simulator w/o any trouble (sometimes there was video glitches where the water would sometimes flash white.)

[thepalerider]

Is should be compatible w/ direct x 9.
Have you started BF2 at least once before installing PR?
BF2 run OK?
Your specks look fine and should work.

Remember when reinstalling to do PB too.

Punk Buster not updated:
Before you go online to join a server
you should:

1. Download pbsvc
2. Start pbsvc installer, you should see options for install, uninstall, test.
3. Run the Uninstaller, then delete the PB folder to remove any leftover files.
4. Restart your computer.
5. reinstall punk buster files with pbsvc( if your using Vista DO NOT set compatibility to XP, run as admin ok)
6. After pcsvc installs, click the "test" option to check the punk buster install you just did.
5. Make sure it comes back "all green"
6.Download pbsetup(pbsvc DOES NOT install pbsetup.
If your using Vista DO NOT set compatibility to XP, run as admin ok)
7.Create a pbsvc installer shortcut AND pbsetup program shortcut on your desktop.
8.Run pbsetup (from the shortcut on your desktop) add BF2 to the games list, then hit update."

(pbsvc installs the punk buster 'engines' or applications.
PBsetup installs the files/gas the 'engines run)

Check Punkbuster B is set to auto re-start.

Open your Control Panel. Go to Administrative Services. Click on Services while PR is running. Select Punkbuster B, right click, select properties, select the recovery tab and make sure they all say "Restart the service" for all three dropdowns. You can do the same for PB A, but generally speaking, it's the B client that stops responding. Any time you update PB, you may need to re-do this step.

Firewall not set up (open) for BF2 and punk buster
UPDATE YOUR FIREWALL

Make sure your firewall has permission for:

BF2.EXE
PBSETUP.EXE
(search for your location)

PNKBSTRA.EXE
path:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSWOW64\PNKBSTRA.EXE
or (not 100% sure but for 32 bit O/S I think it's)C:\WINDOWS\SYSWOW32\PNKBSTRA.EXE
PnkBstrB.exe
path:
"C:\Users"your user name here"\AppData\Roaming\PnkBstrB.exe"
Don't forget to open for BF2VoipServer as well:
C/Program Files/EA Games/Battlefield 2/BF2VoipServer.exe

[XxxGrANdmA]

Thats the problem. I can't get BF2 multiplayer to work. Pr's doesn't work either. BEFORE i patched the game to it's current version (im talking about bf2 here not pr) it worked. like the right out of the box version worked online and i could join a server. I obviously wasn't going to keep it at this version but just wanted to see if it would work at its current state. so AFTER installing 1.41 and 1.5 bf2 wants to ctd when i join a server. It was perfectly fine before i got an upgrade for the computer. (new video card, more ram , hard drive space etc.)

[XxxGrANdmA]

Where is the pb folder located exactly? also while i was unistalling the pb something came up red i think next to registery ( sorry i closed the program w/o looking very closly)

[XxxGrANdmA]

i think i found it but before i delete it i just want your confirmation. C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\pb

[thepalerider]

That's it.
Good luck

[XxxGrANdmA]

it says - Searching for PnkBstrA None Found
everything else is green though
edit:nvm it says "ok" in green after it.

[XxxGrANdmA]

k ill see if it works.

[XxxGrANdmA]

no luck. When i tried to join a full server it didn't crash but only said the server was full but when i joined one with free slots, it just ctd again.

[Mr.Hyde]

Do me a favor GrANdmA,

GoTo your Run command and type in dxdiag.

The DirectX Diagnostic Tool window will pop up with several tabs on top.

On the bottom right corner of the window should be a button "Save All Information".

Save the DxDiag.txt to somewhere handy, like your desktop, and post it here. Preferably in an attachment.

I'm just lookin for something that might have been missed through all of paleriders extensive responses.

[XxxGrANdmA]

Ok one second. i just manually uninstalled all the files from bf2 and i just reinstalled it+restarted my computer.

[XxxGrANdmA]

Sorry but how do you post something as an attachment? Oh and do you want me to run all the tests?

[XxxGrANdmA]

Well just reinstalled Bf2 and could play fine on a server(this isn't version 1.41 or 1.50 though, it's just the standard version) but got kicked by pb, but i just updated it so it should be fine now. Now before I mess anything up, i would like advice where i should go from here. I've already got the 1.41 patch and 1.50 patch installers on my system so if i just run them i should be good but I'll wait for someone to help me out.

[XxxGrANdmA]

Reinstalled patch 1.41 and i could join a server w/o crash but got an odd pb message saying i was kicked for like an unknown windows api or something like that then there was some numbers but i'll try and install patch 1.50 now. wish me luck

Edit: Well looks like the problem is the 1.50 patch because as soon as i tried to join a server i crashed. Does anyone know how to remove a patch. I'm going to try to redownload and reinstall the patch.

[XxxGrANdmA]

Can this be a problem with audio drivers? Maybe the video card is conflicting with my old sound card or something like that.

[XxxGrANdmA]

Should I call EA Tech Support Because nothing seems to be working.