Unbelievable Loading Time -_-

[DonMendonsa]

I looked at other posts but they confused me. So what I'll do is post my Specs and let you have at it. I have no clue why it takes so long. It takes three minutes for the loading bar to move over 3 pixel colums... and its still at 0%. Anyway, here are the specs:

AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 945 Processor 3.3GHz ea.
8.0 GB RAM
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Edition (build 7600), 64-bit
ATI display adapter (0x68BE)
ATI Radeon HD 5750 Card
ATX 12v 2.2 500 WATT Power Supply

This comp cost over 2G's and I got it no more than a week ago. Tell me whats up?
If you need to know anything else, ask me...

Note: It tends to happen on and off. However, it still happens more often than not. If I'm lucky, I can get one game in a day. It is also affecting BF2 w/e it is.

[DonMendonsa]

Someone help me? Answers pl0x??? D=

[FuzzySquirrel]

Defrag your HD

Update Punkbuster

Clear your BF2 Cache

Also, Have you tried any comparability modes?

[DonMendonsa]

Um... I'm not VERY tech savvy. All I know is that I got this about a week ago and I rushed into it. My old computer(laptop) couldn't run this game for *insert expletive here* but it never had these problems. Mind explaining how to perform each of those? I know its more helpful to know that you're helping someone who knows their stuff but I haven't been able to play this game in a long time. So I don't know much. Not even how to parachute... I'll read the manual later >.>

... I swear... I haven't had this game installed for more than 2 days so I don't believe it's the cache. However I'm willing to try anything. Just need the know how. Even for cache clearing. ^_^

[FuzzySquirrel]

To defrag

Start > Computer > Right Click on C: > Properties > Tools > Defragment

To Clear bf2 cache (delete everything in here)

C:\Documents and Settings\[username]\My Documents\Battlefield 2\mods\bf2\cache\

and to Update Punkbuster

>>> Download <<< run that and its pretty self explanatory.

[DonMendonsa]

I'm very confused right now. I really don't know what to think of this. I performed all those steps. Even in order. I ran into no problems what so ever. I tried playing a round. The same thing happened. Unbelievably slow loading. I restarted the computer. Tried it again. Same thing. The reason why I'm so confused is that I managed to play last night and I was playing for hours. I didn't want to lose the oppurtunity. It just started working last night at about 11PM after HOURS of trying to get it to work. And it just started randomly. I played till 5am. (REALLY didn't want to waste it). And now, here I am. The next day. And I get ziltch. Is there something I'm missing? I've redownloaded before. Did it 3 days ago. I really don't want to redownload it again because I ran into a lot of problems that delayed my play time by two days when I first downloaded it.

Any other suggestions or ideas?

[SnipeHunt]

just a thought.....fire up the task manager before the game and it it lags just tab over to see if your cpu or ram is maxxed out.. I know your specs are enough to pilot the space shuttle, but maybe there is something going on there.

[WhatMan]

First of all, is your Windows clean of any ****? Spyware, etc? If you don't know, get Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com
Do a scan....

• Do you have a anti-virus?
• Have you disabled UAC?
• Try running it as Administrator by right click PR

After you done the above,

Get Vista Optimizer > Set it to Gaming Mode
http://vista-services-optimizer.googlec ... _12108.exe

After Gaming Mode is set,
right click on Desktop > Personalization > Windows Classic

And try PR with admin privileges

[DonMendonsa]

I figured out the issue. I still need help with it because it is a massive inconvenience to me. Last night, it wasn't working, as usual. I tried flipping around some of the graphics and what not. I set it as low as possible; It failed. I set it high as possible; It failed. I got fed up so I uninstalled it an redownloaded it. I tried to play a game, and ta-da! It worked. However, I noticed something; Every single time I've ever been able to play the game, the first time I load a server, it always gives me the notice that it's optimizing the shaders. So then it hit me, there is a bug correlating between the graphics and the game. My graphics won't reset! I tried again this morning to play, didn't work. I altered my video settings once more and tried to play again. Didn't work! It confirmed my theory! However there is one little hiccup. Like I just mentioned, I couldn't play in the morning although the settings I used last night were working. Therefore I have debunked the possibility of it actually being my graphics. The issue is that there is something blocking the game from updating the graphics settings or stopping them from being used. I change my graphics to the highest setting, doesn't work; I reinstall the game, it works with current settings(MAXED); I come back the next day with the same settings, doesn't work. I know I'm repeating myself but I'm trying to paint a very clear picture for you.

Another issue I forgot to mention is that whenever I close PR, whether I managed to get it working or not, I always hear the "ding" sound as if an error window popped up. However, no such window ever appears. I tried catching it by having the Task Manager opened while I close the game, the sound occurs, however no window pops up nor shows on the task manager. I'm thinking a very strong internal error.

As I mentioned in a previous post, this affects my BF2 game as well. Same issue with loading time. However, I know it's not BF2 because I can play it fine until I download PR. Then, all I can do is get lucky to get a game going. There is something in the PR files causing an error. Maybe a bug that was unseen? I've redownloaded core and levels and reinstalled PR countless times. And yet, this still happens.

Basically, the only way for me to play the game until I shut it down and repeat this step is to change to graphics to w/e setting, uninstall the game and reinstall which takes about 10 minutes. As you may or may not be able to imagine, this could get rather annoying -_-. Quite frankly, I do not wish to do this every time NOR should I have to.

Now that we have a better understanding of what it could POSSIBLY be, is there any further help that anyone can give me? I'm really starting to lose confidence in this. I don't want to but it's happening. I just wanna play the game...

T-T

[DonMendonsa]

just a thought.....fire up the task manager before the game and it it lags just tab over to see if your cpu or ram is maxxed out.. I know your specs are enough to pilot the space shuttle, but maybe there is something going on there.

In reply to this, no the game only spikes it to 25% CPU usage.

[WhatMan]

Upgrade your drivers

or reinstall your whole OS lol

[DonMendonsa]

I really don't understand why I have to. This thing is just over a week old. I've already been playing crysis for a week. If I can play crysis without any problems... I think I'm doing something right.

But for the sake of the game and my sanity...
How do I update a driver.

[Darkpowder]

Best way is to look on the manufacturers website for each of the cards you have,
GFX, Soundcard, and motherboard manufacturer / model.

also, run all your windows updates regularly (don't use the gfx drivers from windows update).

Please also describe,

What if any unusual utilities you have installed on your machine, and have a think whether any of the stuff you have installed might be from an untrustworthy source.
Also, write up the anti-virus program you have installed and whether its up to date.

Finally re defrag, how much free space have you on your Hard-disk (the C or D drive) that BF2 and PR is installed on.

Also have you put your old HD in a new PC (your old HD had windows on and you plugged it in with loads of new hardware without re-installing your Windows)?

[DonMendonsa]

Okay; I see you're a support technician. I imagine you've read this post. But I feel like no one is understanding this. I'll start from the beginning. This is a BRAND new computer. I had Geek Squad install my ATI Radeon HD 5750 along with my ATX 12 v2.2 500 WATT powersupply. I don't know how to do all that. That's why we paid them to. Now let's all admit. We all know that Geek Squad know what they're doing. The ensured me that there will be no problems when it comes to gaming for this is a gaming tower. So, with this fully ensured computer, I go home, hook it up and(see bottom for scan statistics) IMMEDIATELY go the realitymod.com. I tab it. I pull out my copy of BF2. I install it. No problems WHATSOEVER. I install patches 1.4 and 1.5 from the battlefield blog. The only area to download it nonetheless, the ONLY area I would download it from.

Once it's all downloaded, I re-opened the PR browser, downloaded core and levels. I ran the game. The first thing I did was go to the video options. I turn EVERYTHING on max and set the resolution to its highest because I have a massive monitor. I go to play a game. I play for a good 7-10 hours. I come back the next day. Start PR, try to enter a game, and thus begins the issue. It loaded REALLY slowly. I sat there for 5 minutes. The loading bar only moved over 3 pixel columns(REALLY SMALL AMOUNT) and it remained at )5 which was reasonable for how much the bar had loaded. I pressed esc. It unloaded resources. I went to the video section and turned everything down to the lowest amount. I try another game. It doesn't work once more. I go to the forums on PR and start asking questions. The next day I try to start a game. This time it works and it also brings up the little black box that says the game is optimizing my shaders for best gameplay. I play for about 4 hours. Leave for an hour and come back. I try to start a game. It doesn't work. I switch everything to its highest setting once again. Doesn't work. Next day, I try to play. It works and shows the little black box once more that says the game is optimizing my shaders. I play for about 6 hours. Leave. Come back doesn't work.

As you can see. This is very "circular".

I uninstall PR. Reinstall it. Play. It works. I leave and come back once more. It doesn't work. I uninstall EVERYTHING. BF2, patches, PR; Every trace of those programs. Redownload everything in order. No issues. Try playing again. It works. Leave for about an hour. Doesn't work again.

What I've noticed is that it ONLY works whenever it shows the little black box telling me its optimizing shaders. Heres something to hone in on the problem a little more. Go to Video, change settings and press apply. Notice how it says "Settings will change next time you load a game"? Well after I see that, I try to load a game. It doesn't work nor does the box appear. I try it again but restart PR before I play a game. Still nothing or optimization box.


SO. Can you see the problem?
It doesn't update my shaders when it says it will. I shouldn't even have to! I've run the game at max settings before about a day earlier for 7-10 hours. My graphics are not a problem.

Now, before I did ANY of this. I ran Webrooter anti-virus 3 times to get rid of adware and all of that. After those 3, I did one more scan. There was nothing left to clean. I ran the defragmenter twice.

Overall Analysis:
~ This computer has been PROFESSIONALLY installed and enhanced.
~ This computer is 100% clean. I run a virus scan every morning at 5AM.
~ This computer can WELL run PR at max settings and has multiple times.
~ My computer is fully updated. I have it auto check and install updates at 3AM every morning.
~ CPU useage only spikes to 25% when PR is running.


Important things to note:
~ The shader optimizer doesn't run everything from what I'm seeing. Therefore, not allowing me to play.
~ I hear an "error" sound everytime I close the game as if an error window appears. However, nothing does nor does anything appear in the task manager.
~ Whatever is doing this is affecting my BF2 client as well; Causing the same loading issues.

Please read over that VERY thoroughly. I'm sorry if I sound harsh. I'm really aggitated. I GOT my new computer for this game.... And it's not working.

[R-COM] Darkpowder, please before you ask anymore questions, read that a few times to fully understand whats going on. Also note that I'm not THAT technical. I know my basics and SOME advancements with the computer. Acronyms confuse me. Please, if you offer any advice, explain how to perform it. The last thing I want to make you do is type a lot, but I really need to help. And these messages don't seem to come very fast so I want to try to get everything I can in one post so I don't have to reply, "How do you do that?" and wait 2 days. I'm becoming very impatient with this game. It's been TWO weeks since I first started...

Thank you for reading! Get back soon.

[SocketMan]

Unplug the Ethernet (Internet) cable,and
Run BF2
log in as *default* player,
load up some of the single player BF2 maps just to check if it loads.
Report back here with results,do the single player maps load (or not).

P.S.
Every time you change (certain) video settings (Anti Aliasing,resolution),
you should get the *optimizing shaders* notice on the next map load,after restarting PR.


edit*

. It's been TWO weeks since I first started...

Thank you for reading! Get back soon.

Less then 1 week since the original post,to be more precise.

I never said Windows 7 was my idea

[-=TB=-ante9383]

Easiest option: nuke your system and reinstall Windows with everything one more time, to be sure it's not caused by some strange software error. Doesn't take a lot of time. Reinstalling Windows with a few basic drivers (ATI, maybe sound and keyboard/mouse drivers) and installing just BF2+1.5 patch+PR Core & Maps files should not take more than one hour. Compare that to the hours you have lost despairing over what might actually be the problem. Be systematic, try fixing things on the software side first, then, if all else fails, try diagnosing hardware components.

I've got a hunch, though: power supply of 500Watt might not be sufficient, try a different one.
500Watts SHOULD be enough, but that CPU in combination with that GPU may be slightly too power-hungry.
I know it does not seem obvious, but the way that hardware and software have to work in perfect unison for a stable system, if a crucial part like RAM, GPU or even the power supply are not perfectly right for each other, clusterf***s can occur.

Example: When my brand-new €2000 PC would not, just WOULD NOT even install Windows, I desperately looked for a solution for almost 2 weeks, and finally a clever PC repair technician checked one thing nobody had thought about. Does the RAM get enough voltage? Normally DDR2 RAM should require only 1.8 Volts, but my mega-über-overclockable 1337-RAM required freaking 2.1 Volts.
We changed that setting in the BIOS, and BAM! everything worked without a hitch, the computer was transformed from a useless zombie to a Schwarzenegger-esque powerhouse on steroids.

[DonMendonsa]

SocketMan;

I have tried what you've suggested. It works. If I am unplugged from the internet, I can load a BF2 map.

One thing I want to point out to you and I've been trying to explain this the WHOLE time. I KNOW a window will appear telling me it's optimizing shaders if I change certain video settings. THATS the problem. If I update all graphic settings, apply, and try to start a map, the little optimizer window won't appear. The only time it will appear again is if I completley uninstall the game and reinstall. And even then, if the optimizer window DOES appear, sometimes the game STILL won't load.

[SocketMan]

C:\Users\yournamehere\Documents\Battlefield 2\mods\bf2\cache

This is where the "shaders" are stored,you can delete these if needed,but it seems (to me) that the problem is
with your network connection,most likely a firewall (either built in Windows firewall,or
the router/internet gateway firewall) that is blocking pr/BF2 from connecting to the
server.
Do this,but remember it is risky (somewhat)

1.
Bypass the router (the "INTERNET box"),and plug in PC straight to the cable/dsl modem

2.
If the problem remains,try this:

Disable the windows firewall.
With win7 it would ask the user (at some point) to choose the network type:
Home,work,or public. The "public" setting is the most secure,but also the one that can
close up certain programs (games included) from accessing the internet properly.
You can copy/paste this,to get to the Firewall Settings:
Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Windows Firewall

P.S.
I'll be out of town from Sat - Tues,might not be able to reply till then,good luck for now.

The "hidden" window and the sound when you exit the game is not a bug imo.

[DonMendonsa]

SocketMan:

I really appreciate the help and you giving me detailed instructions. Here's what followed in my attempts:

1. I don't even have a cache file in C:\Users\yournamehere\Documents\Battlefield 2\mods\bf2\cache. To be more grounded, I don't have the ACTUAL "cache" file itself.

2. I couldn't really understand what you meant when you said bypass. Here's what I have hooked up right now; My tower is plugged into the little white box on my desk which I'm assuming you meant by the "internet box". So clearly, I'm a little confused. If you could break that down a LITTLE more when you return, it'd be helpful.

3. I disabled all the fire walls and yet when I tried to launch a game it remained at 0% and no shader optimizer appeared.

I'm honestly dumbfounded. People have given me so many instructions and yet nothing has worked. I would appreciate the most help you could offer me. However, if you are absolutely at wits end with this and you can't diagnose a known issue with your own knowledge or the community's knowledge, please do not hesitate to stop posting. This has been up for a while and I do not wish to take up anyone elses time with this any further than nessecary.

[SocketMan]

1.Let's not worry about the shaders for now.
2.What's the name of that white box (check the bottom of it if needed) ?

Also what is the name of your Internet provider ?

I've got Internet here and XP (no PR or win7),but let me just say that it does work on win7,
it's only a matter of time till we get you going