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I'm at the end of my sanity. Had to reinstall BF2 and PR yesterday. Install went like clockwork. However, I now try to connect to a server and I get the 'Failed to connect. Please check your network connection(s) and try again' error.

Figured it could be a punkbuster error. Done all the necessary firewall and anti-virus exceptions. Done 3 uninstalls-reinstalls of punkbuster (via pbsvc and pbsetup). However the same error message crops up. I have noticed, however, that there is no pnkbstrA/B file in my battlefield2/pb folder. The only place where the pnkbstrA/B files are located are in system32. Is this the source of my problem?

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Tried connecting to a server on vanilla (as if that many people still play vanilla!), same message appears. I believe it's now a port-related problem. I am connected to the router by cable via one of those TP-LINK plugs.

Have you any other online games you play? Are they working?

Which model of TP-Link plug?

Hi LITOralis.nMd, thanks for your time!

Yeah, I play Battlefield 3 and ArmaII, both of which connect and work fine. I believe the model is the TL-PA211 200mbps.

Since my post, I have done battle Tron-style inside my router setup, using the guide on portforward.com (My router is a Netgear DGN1000SP courtesy of Orange). But this was to no avail; both vanilla and PR come up with the same message when I try to connect to a server.

PR used to connect and run fine until I downloaded the .973 patch months ago and I got the CTD upon splash page (which I why I reinstalled it yesterday).

Figured I'd look for an error report, but I have no prerror.log file in my directory!

TL-PA211 - does it have built in software? It should so go into it and disable QOS. I suppose it should not have NAT or anything related to it.

As for Netgear look here its all explained Port Forwarding Battlefield 2 on the Netgear DGN1000SP - PortForward.com

If it wont work after you forward ports, try and disable Firewall temporarily see where it takes you.

Hi MaSSive,

I forwarded the ports using the portforward.com guide yesterday, though this did nothing.

The TP-Link resource tool doesn't have a 'disable QOS' option per say, but I deselected the options in the QOS tab so there is nothing selected (which I assume has disabled the built-in QOS). I have also disabled QOS packet scheduler via control panel/network and sharing centre/manage network connections/local area connections - properties. However, I still get the message upon trying to join a server.

I then disabled NAT/firewall in my router config. After this though, the server refused connection upon logging into PR.

Do you think another reinstall is necessary?

Hmm no I dont think reinstall will solve this. Have you rebooted your routers after doing all this? Do that first. Then check you firewall ( Windows firewall or whatever you use ) if its not blocking BF2 or anything related to it. Try adding PnkBstrA and B to exception list.

Alternatively try to connect without TL-PA211 if you can and see what that does.

Do a Tracert on a servers IP you frequently play or any that is close to you. Also do this for gamespy.

Post back results.

Managed to get it working! It was to do with the Netgear router, apparently there's a few problems with using Neatgear for online gaming. Basically, I went into the router setup to ADSL settings, and switched the multiplexing method from VC to LLC. Restarted the router and hey presto, I connected to a server in both vanilla and PR.

Thanks for your time MaSSive, was greatly appreciated.

Cheers, locking.