verifying client data, for a very long time.

[Johny 1337]

my load times are reasonable (less then 2 minutes max most of the time) but i cant seem to join online servers as the verifying client data phase (where did dice get the bright idea to add that?) takes forever, the only thing that ever gets me out of this phase is the eventual login server disconnection or a random crash (game just dissapears all of a sudden, no struggle to take back control of my computer; unlike empires.)

can someone help?

[thepalerider]

If you still have trouble run battlefield cleaner to flush out your video cache files

Still no joy?

Trash your BF2 cache files
Path:
C:\Users\'your user name here'\Documents\Battlefield 2\mods\bf2\cache

Throw EVERYTHING inside the folder named cache away.
don't worry the files will be replaced with new ones when the game restarts.

Still CTD?
OK
Some other things you can try before you uninstall/reinstall.
Backup your BF2 folder that's inside your documents folder. Once you have a backup delete the original from your documents folder.
Try starting PR from your PR shortcut
a new default folder is created
link to your online account.
If all goes well (CTD gone) all you have to do to get your custom settings back is copy your 'control' file from your backup to the new profile folder.
path:
C:\Users\your user name here\Documents\Battlefield 2\Profiles\0002
note: you may not have a 0002 folder so use 0001