Hi Brad,
Let me reach into my bag of solutions ...
... reaching deeper ...
Here's an exceptional troubleshooter, by a fellow MVP:
http://www.michna.com/kb/wxnet.htm
--
Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
Jimmy S.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site:
http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
MS Games Help and Support Center:
http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
_________________________________________________________
| Hi Jimmy,
|
| That helped a bit for testing (I didn't know of the Direct X network test
| tool). I tried the network test both with UPnP enabled and disabled
| (disabled by default).
|
| When I create a test session on one computer, giving me my internal IP of
| 192.168.1.100 for a TCP/IP test case, I go to the other computer and choose
| to join a session, give that IP, and am given an empty list. Being unable to
| join my test directX session.
| I am still able to share files through the network under both enabled and
| disabled UPnP. Can you shed any light on this? I've broken down and asked
| for help from friends at work whom have come to the conclusion that I should
| partition my drives and test with a lower version of windows having
| eliminated all hardware possibilities (swapped in work hardware for my own)
| and game software (same version games. Testing with Spawnable games to
| eliminate problems as they were designed specifically to be added to multiple
| computers for LAN gaming).
| Any more help is great (as you've helped a lot so far)
|
| Thanks
|
| "Jimmy S." wrote:
|
| > Hi Brad,
| >
| > I don't believe that the version of DirectX is the culprit here,
| > however you may want to toggle the UPNP to see if it works
| > in the enabled position for your network setup... also use the
| > DirectX Network tab to diagnose your network setup:
| >
http://www.updatexp.com/directx-diagnostic-tool.html
| >
| > --
| > Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
| > Jimmy S.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| >
| > Visit my MSN Zone.com and Gaming Help Site:
http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits
| > MS Games Help and Support Center:
http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=gms
| > My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
| > _________________________________________________________
| >
| > | Hi Jimmy,
| > |
| > | Most of those I had already tried and they didn't work. I updated the
| > | firmware on my router however to find that it didn't help.
| > |
| > | - all games I've tried to LAN are running the same version, the most up to
| > | date
| > | - The firewall has been crossed out of the list of possibilities due to
| > | exceptions, but to be thorough, I've turned off all firewalls with no change
| > | - The router Is configured to pretty much let anything through and let
| > | software firewalls handle it. I didn't set up a DMZ for gaming, mostly
| > | because that would disable the ability for my brother's laptop to easily
| > | connect to the wireless LinkSys router and play games without reconfiguring
| > | for him.
| > | - one adapter per computer
| > | - Using Direct X 9.0c (not b) on both comps. Maybe thats the problem?
| > | - UPnP has never been enabled.
| > | - Network drivers are up to date
| > | - No specification required in any games I've tried so far on this network
| > | (they create a listing of available LAN games and the created games won't
| > | appear. If they did, thats when I could find out that game versions are
| > | incompatible as typically it tells you when joining)
| > | - specification of public or internal is irrelevant as I'm not specifying.
| > |
| > | I thought it may have to do with Service Pack 2 and thought there might be a
| > | Service pack fix for it. I couldn't find anything weird in my network setup
| > | at all. My old network setup is almost exactly the same save for the OS
| > | running was Win 98 and Win 98 SE on the computers and they were fine.
| > |
| > | "Jimmy S." wrote:
| > |
| > | > Hi Brad,
| > | >
| > | > When LAN games don't connect, there are a few variables to consider, for
| > | > example check for a patch at:
www.avault.com/pcrl/patches_list.asp?letter=a
| > | >
| > | > 1. Disconnect from the Internet by physically unplugging the cable or DSL
| > | > line, and then since there's no longer danger of outside attacks, turn off
| > | > your software firewall (Norton's, McAfee, Zone Alarm, Outpost, ICF,
| > | > etc.) as these firewalls could be blocking data to and from your system.
| > | >
| > | > 2. If you use a router, it could be blocking you as well:
| > | > Routers have built-in port blocking firewalls based on NAT technology.
| > | > DirectX games require that ports be open in order for the data packets
| > | > to be able to travel from one system to another. Here's How to Configure
| > | > a router for Multiplayer:
http://mvps.org/nibblesnbits/PortRoute.html#howto
| > | >
| > | > 3. If Step 1 applies to you, but you want an alternative solution, pick up a cross-
| > | > over cable from your local supply shop to directly connect one computer to
| > | > the other on a 2 player LAN, especially if both computers are close together.
| > | >
| > | > 4. If you have multiple network adapters, the game might be using the wrong one
| > | > To verify this behaviour, click Start / Control Panel / System / Hardware Tab
| > | > / Device Manager, click the + next to Network Adapters, right click the adapter
| > | > which accesses the Internet, and "Disable" it from the right-click menu. If that
| > | > works, open Control Panel / Network Connections, click Advanced / Advance
| > | > Settings / click the LAN Connection and then the UP arrow to change it's priority
| > | > so it's at the top of the list. Test your Internet games to see if they work this way.
| > | >
| > | > 5. DirectX 9.0b may need to be installed on both systems:
| > | >
http://download.microsoft.com/downl...-4c98-baf3-0c67e7f3751f/dx90update_redist.exe
| > | >
| > | > 6. Universal PnP might need to be disabled in your router, or in Windows XP:
| > | > a) To enable or disable UPnP in XP, click Start / Run / type: services.msc
| > | > and you can then right-click Universal Plug and Play on the list to Start it.
| > | > b) Consult your router manual for the UPnP instructions for your model.
| > | >
| > | > 7. Network Adapter drivers may need to be updated on one or all machines.
| > | >
| > | > 8. You may need to specify the target IP using a game specific method.
| > | > Consult your game manual or readme file in the game directory. For MS
| > | > games:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;gmsnetw
| > | >
| > | > 9. You might be specifying the Public IP instead of the Private (LAN) IP.
| > | > To easily find the Public and Private IP numbers of the computer you
| > | > are using, visit:
http://www.u.arizona.edu/~trw/games/nat_or_not.php
| > | >
| > | > For more in depth troubleshooting, try this MS Network Troubleshooting article:
| > | >
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/columns/russel/02april08.asp
| > | >
| > | > --
| > | > Cheers, Windows XP MVP Shell / User
| > | > Jimmy S.
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
| > | >
| > | > Game FAQs:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
| > | > Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite:
http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call / Contact
| > | > MS Support at:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
| > | > My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty; nor do I confer any rights.
| > | > _________________________________________________________
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | Hi all.
| > | > | I've recently set up another gaming computer on my home network and have
| > | > | come into what I consider a very strange problem. My 2 gaming computers
| > | > | cannot see or connect to games made by one another. (any games. Warcraft III
| > | > | or Battlefront II for some examples).
| > | > |
| > | > | My LAN settings seem ok. I have file and print sharing enabled and my
| > | > | firewall(s) have the games I want to play over the LAN set as exceptions to
| > | > | allow activity through. I can share files fine, see shared Network folders
| > | > | and printers and all of that fun stuff. Its only when I create a LAN game
| > | > | (say in Battlefront II) and go to join the LAN game on the other computer
| > | > | that I cannot see the game. In fact, if I make it an internet game, the
| > | > | other computer can see it, but is unable to join.
| > | > |
| > | > | Any suggestions or answers are welcomed. I'll try my best to check on this
| > | > | to answer any other questions people may have to help me track down the
| > | > | problem.
| > | > |
| > | > | Running Windows XP Home with Service Pack 2.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
| >
