Crash Problem

[Fred843]

My friend has a problem with staying on servers when playing PR. He connects to the server and loads up the map but then as he tries to spawn it says his connection to the server fails, the game then puts him back in the lobby and this happens with most servers he tries to join. He has tried looking at whether his antivirus or firewall is blocking the connection but hasn't been able to fix it.

He also uses a fix which involves 'alt-tabbing' out of the game and disabling one of his processors because apparently it interferes with the BF2 engine and this has increased the amount of games the game works for but it still doesn't for about 60%

He's using Vista with a Hp 6107 with no components changed

I was wondering if anybody else has had problems like this and knows how to fix them

Thanks

[thepalerider]

When looking for answers please follow these simple steps.

#1 : Read the red stickys First.
New PR problems are rare so most answers can be found here.

#2. Use the search feature on PRs web site or GOOGLE IT!.
Often the quickest way to find what your looking for when you have an error message.

#3. Please remember to include your friends basic PC info in your post
You have spent some time trying to help yourself without any luck, so your ready to ask for help:

Please 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,type of monitor
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.

Good luck
Welcome to PR
"Project reality, it's all about the teamwork."

Have your friend work through this list:

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.

W7 users = In services ( inside the 'log on' tab) check box which states “Allow this service to interact with the desktop.

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

[Fred843]

Ah ok, thanks for the advice