Sorry for spamming the forums, this is my second thread in less than 12 hours but I'm so damn happy I couldn't help myself.
So everyone's heard all the possible ways of reducing lag/connection problems. If you've already tried the following:
*Check your network connections and make sure your router (if any) and modem have the current firmware versions.
*Make sure no firewall or antivirus programs are running in the background...
*...as well as any P2P or downloads...
*...and other programs that might steal bandwidth, e.g., instant messaging apps, IE/Firefox, etc.
*Turn off VoIP if not using it, and do not use EAX unless you have a totally kickass sound card.
*Use the SettingsManager.floatSet GSDefaultLatencyCompensation command in BF2 console.
If you're reasonably sure your hardware is fine, and are still getting mucho connection problems, you just might need to uninstall and reinstall BF2. Before starting, be damn sure you can reinstall it afterwards--in other words, if you're messy like I am, spend 20 minutes or so to locate the complete set of Install discs and the manuals so you can provide the CD-keys when asked. Now then, here's the procedure I used:
1) From the Control Panel's "Add and Remove Programs" utility, uninstall BF2 (this will take care of Euro Force if you have it too) and Special Forces (if applicable). If you're running 1.2 or later, the Uninstall program will allow you to keep your profiles and server prefs on the drive--do so, since you're reinstalling anyway.
2) Defragment your hard drive! I can't stress the importance of this enough. (Right-click on your System drive in My Computer, go to Properties, and choose "Defragment Now" under the "Tools" tab.) You will need to have 15% free space if you want it to have any effect (~6 GB of free space per 40 GB of drive size). If you don't have enough, delete some pr0n. Expect this to take about 1 minute per gig of crap on your drive (at least on my pokey 5400 rpm IDE piece of crap).
3) Once the defragging is done, reinstall BF2. You will be prompted to install GameSpy and register, etc. You don't have to (especially if you already did the first time around). DirectX 9.0c will "update" (even though DX9.0c is still the current version--don't worry about it). Then you will be told to restart, but don't.
4) If you have Special Forces, reinstall it now. BF2 will be patched to 1.1 (useless, and it takes a while too, but there's no way around it) and then the SF expansion will install. Again, you'll be offered GameSpy and registration (skip it) and a restart prompt. Don't do that yet, though.
5) Now then. At this point it gets a little different. If you have Euro Force and/or EA Downloader, open it now and download the Full BF2 1.22 patch (about 350 MB, or 30 minutes on a T1). If you don't have EA Downloader, get the Full BF2 1.22 patch direct from EA's website or from the bf2s files! Once you got it, install it.
6) After patching (if applicable) install Euro Force. Euro Force won't work on anything less than BF2 1.2; that's why you patch first.
7) NOW, restart, finally (by not doing so earlier you saved as many as 3 restarts).
8) Run BF2 to make sure everything went through okay. Enjoy your connection-problem-free BF2!
Obligatory Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility should you completely hose BF2 and/or your hardware by following this walkthrough. I don't see how that could happen, but I shield myself from it nonetheless. Furthermore be advised this may not solve your connection problems, especially if your hardware is really the culprit--all I can promise is that it worked for me, and I tried every other hardware and software solution I could find.
With that said, hope it works for you too! No more trying to knife someone and ending up shotgunned at point-blank from a connection problem!
So everyone's heard all the possible ways of reducing lag/connection problems. If you've already tried the following:
*Check your network connections and make sure your router (if any) and modem have the current firmware versions.
*Make sure no firewall or antivirus programs are running in the background...
*...as well as any P2P or downloads...
*...and other programs that might steal bandwidth, e.g., instant messaging apps, IE/Firefox, etc.
*Turn off VoIP if not using it, and do not use EAX unless you have a totally kickass sound card.
*Use the SettingsManager.floatSet GSDefaultLatencyCompensation command in BF2 console.
If you're reasonably sure your hardware is fine, and are still getting mucho connection problems, you just might need to uninstall and reinstall BF2. Before starting, be damn sure you can reinstall it afterwards--in other words, if you're messy like I am, spend 20 minutes or so to locate the complete set of Install discs and the manuals so you can provide the CD-keys when asked. Now then, here's the procedure I used:
1) From the Control Panel's "Add and Remove Programs" utility, uninstall BF2 (this will take care of Euro Force if you have it too) and Special Forces (if applicable). If you're running 1.2 or later, the Uninstall program will allow you to keep your profiles and server prefs on the drive--do so, since you're reinstalling anyway.
2) Defragment your hard drive! I can't stress the importance of this enough. (Right-click on your System drive in My Computer, go to Properties, and choose "Defragment Now" under the "Tools" tab.) You will need to have 15% free space if you want it to have any effect (~6 GB of free space per 40 GB of drive size). If you don't have enough, delete some pr0n. Expect this to take about 1 minute per gig of crap on your drive (at least on my pokey 5400 rpm IDE piece of crap).
3) Once the defragging is done, reinstall BF2. You will be prompted to install GameSpy and register, etc. You don't have to (especially if you already did the first time around). DirectX 9.0c will "update" (even though DX9.0c is still the current version--don't worry about it). Then you will be told to restart, but don't.
4) If you have Special Forces, reinstall it now. BF2 will be patched to 1.1 (useless, and it takes a while too, but there's no way around it) and then the SF expansion will install. Again, you'll be offered GameSpy and registration (skip it) and a restart prompt. Don't do that yet, though.
5) Now then. At this point it gets a little different. If you have Euro Force and/or EA Downloader, open it now and download the Full BF2 1.22 patch (about 350 MB, or 30 minutes on a T1). If you don't have EA Downloader, get the Full BF2 1.22 patch direct from EA's website or from the bf2s files! Once you got it, install it.
6) After patching (if applicable) install Euro Force. Euro Force won't work on anything less than BF2 1.2; that's why you patch first.
7) NOW, restart, finally (by not doing so earlier you saved as many as 3 restarts).
8) Run BF2 to make sure everything went through okay. Enjoy your connection-problem-free BF2!
Obligatory Disclaimer: I accept no responsibility should you completely hose BF2 and/or your hardware by following this walkthrough. I don't see how that could happen, but I shield myself from it nonetheless. Furthermore be advised this may not solve your connection problems, especially if your hardware is really the culprit--all I can promise is that it worked for me, and I tried every other hardware and software solution I could find.
With that said, hope it works for you too! No more trying to knife someone and ending up shotgunned at point-blank from a connection problem!
Last edited by [QXJZ]Capt_Kefra (2006-04-18 21:06:21)