Impossible to play LAN games

[~Binabik~]

Here is my problem. Everything runs smoothly with JKII, SP, MP over the Internet except for joining LAN games. I can create on both PC's and play, no prob. I see the server OK in the server list but as soon as i choose "join" or double click on the server my comps freeze and I have to manually shut them off to restart. My Lan works fine for every other game I play so I know it works ok (its BNC by the way). I'm out of solutions right now : I removed ZoneAlarm and Norton, made sure both PC's have the same version of DX (8.1). Verified all my drivers etc... I guess it all has something to do with my LAN but i cannot find what it is.

I looked through the forum and found similar issues to the one I have, but they are unfortunately unanswered.

 

 

My sys specs

PC1 : P4 1.5 with 256 RAM. GeForce 3 vidCard with up to date drivers (last whql drivers from nvidia) and a sb 64 sound card.

WinME

 

PC2 : PIII 800 with 128 Mo RAM. TNT2M64 vid Card and sb live sound card.

Win98Se

 

Network Protocol : TCP/IP

[Sutek]

I can only suggest a little experimentation first:

 

Do you get this effect on both machines? ie if you start the server on the faster one and try and join it freezes, and if you start in on the slower one and join with the faster it also freezes?

 

If not, then which machine freezes? On the other hand, if it *is* only one machine, you might want to try a reinstall of the game on that machine (remove the game, then related registry entries, then reboot, then reinstall) in case that helps - it might be corrupt game files/registry entries.

 

Since you only get this on the LAN games (or so you said?) then my primary fault would be something with your LAN config, but atm I am stumped beyond the above suggestion. You could try checking link/trans lights on the cards to see if there is data being transferred (possibly one netwrok card is having trouble?), a slow transer rate may cause it to appear to hang (unless it is a true hang, in which case everything should be frozen). Also, I take it you checked that there were no other background tasks that may have comsumed network time (a background real-time virus scanner for instance).

[~Binabik~]

Thanks for your answer

 

I have the same behavior on both PC's. Making server and playing with bots works fine for each. Its when I try to join that they freeze (and I mean completely frozen, nothing responds ctrl-alt-del doesn't work either... umm i think of something the saber mouse pointer stays where it was when the pc froze, but i get the regular windows pointer that I can move around but its all). I tried it with both PC's and get the same. I even waited for 10 mn once...

And yes, there ain't no other programs running. I removed the anti-virus (uninstall) and ZoneAlarm.

 

I guessed there is something with the LAN but since it works for every other game i'm stumped too.

[Sutek]

How curious...You get the standard windows pointer? Have you tried pressing Enter at that point?

 

Sometimes when that happens it has really gone to "This program has stopped responding" boxes (or other close program error windows), but due to the nature of DirectX and most games, it doesn't show up.

 

JK2 generates a log file as well when running, it might be worth having a shufti at that and posting the last few entries if you think they might make sense - or they may give you a clue as to what went wrong.

[~Binabik~]

Nope no luck there. Once the game froze, no amount of key stoking will change anything. Alt-Tab don't work and I tried every combination like Ctrl-esc, alt-esc, enter, alt-F4 etc...

First i thought it was an issue with DirectPlay, but since it works fine on the Net everything points at my LAN as culprit.

While re-reading my previous posts, i noticed that i forgot to mention that when the PC freezes the sound kinda loops.

 

thanks anyway for the try )

[Sutek]

Yes, now you mention the sound loop that says the whole thing has fallen over at that point. I'd say your LAN config might well be at fault, but atm I have absolutely no idea what it could be.

 

Having said that, it might be worth seeing if you network card is conflicting/sharing it's IRQ. Do oyu have ACPI enabled (in the BIOS) or disabled? I had some trouble with that (general trouble) until I disabled it. One final suggestion is that it may be a WinME/Win98 not liking each other, but other than that I don't know. Sorry.

[~Binabik~]

np thanks a lot for trying to help.

 

I have ACPI enabled but frankly I have at the moment a very stable PC (except for the present pb) so i'll stay away from fidling with the BIOS. Maybe later if no other solution is found and if I find the unability to play over LAN unbearable.

 

thanks again

[deeps]

Im with ya on this prob! I tried LANing 3 PC's with some strange results!

PC1= Win98, PII 450, 256mb (PC100) ram, Voodoo 4

PC2= Win98, P4 1.4, 128mb DDR ram, GeForce2

PC3= WinME PIII 1.0, 256mb (PC133) ram, Geforce 2

 

Now, I can connect PC 1 and 2 together, no probs

Can connect PC 1 and 3 no probs

Can't connect PC 2 and 3 together at all (ends up with the sound loop) for JKII (can for other games)

 

This definately seems to be an ME prob somewhere BUT if I set up PC 1 as server, then PC 2 and 3 can connect to this.

Weird. If anyone has a solution for this I'd be glad to hear it!

[~Binabik~]

I sure hope it ain't some incompatibility between W98 and WinMe. I tried everything i know about LAN tweaking with no results.

 

Well...