Odd TF2 problem

[CobraJackal]

Well since I can remember, TF2 for me has always been the bane of my steam games.

For starters, I nearly always have a connection problem within 1-2 minutes of entering a server, any server. There are a few exceptions that I can connect to but these are very far and very few.

I have tried all that the steam support page has to offer on the connection problem. My one friend suggests that maybe for some reason my Ethernet controller doesn't like TF2 and I should try a different one to see if anything changes. I do have an Ethernet card I can try out that I forgot I had, and I plan on doing that tomorrow sometime. Also all drivers for my computer should be as up to date as possible.


Now with about all source games, the first server I connect to will have a connection problem, but after that first one I will be in the clear and can enjoy a gaming experience. TF2 just doesn't want me to enjoy if fully and has to have this problem.

I've tried messing with the rate, updaterate, and whatnot but to no avail. I'm having a bit of a brain fart right now because I have put many hours into getting it to work but I can't think of what else I've tried.

Well also, I am not using a router, the computer is plugged straight into the modem. That same friend I mentioned before thinks that maybe it is my service provider. I don't entirely contest this but if it is, wouldn't more games have this problem.

Any help would be very appreciated. If more specific computer specs are needed I will gladly dish them out, and that goes for really any other info that could be used in the search for a solution.

 

[ShadowBlade72]

It all depends, it's a possibility that it's your service provider. Have you tried having someone else come over and plug a laptop in or something and see if they have the same problems?

 

[CobraJackal]

Well I did have friends over recently and my one friend that also plays TF2 was able to play no problem. That leads me to believe that it is more likely my computer or something and not the service provider. But then again, they played on servers that I recently found out that I could connect to so I guess it's still in the air.

 

[ShadowBlade72]

So do you have this problem when connecting to all servers or just certain ones?

 

[CobraJackal]

All, there are just a few exceptions.

 

[Muffins]

Hmmmm, maybe try going into steam menu>My Games>right click TF2>Properties, then Local files, then verify integrity of game cache, then Defragment game files. Hope it works

 

[ShadowBlade72]

Are you using any type of firewall?

 

[CobraJackal]

Windows firewall, which I have off half the time but I do have TF2 on the accepted list of programs. And I have also tried uninstalling everything steam related and re downloading and installing my games to no result. As well as verifying the cache integrity.

 

[CobraJackal]

I don't know if it helps but recently I have had the net graph on while playing to see what happens with whats displayed and I believe in all cases that the connection problem happens the Statistics known as In and Out, the In just freezes wherever it is. Hopefully that bit of information can help with solving this problem.

 

[Christopher]

maby you need a new PC. Try restalling it some times that helps me.

 

[Master Gunns]

What type of Modem are you using? Does it have a built in router?

When your friend came over and played, did he play on his own computer or use yours? Did he plug into the Modem on the same port you were plugged in to if he used his own computer? Or wirelessly?

 

[CobraJackal]

But what I don't get is what's wrong that I might need a new pc. Like I've said before, I have reinstalled TF2 at least three different times but I still have the same problem. What also really gets me is that every other game I play online works essentially fine. Its like either my ISP is completely messing with me or my computer has become skynet and instead of screwing over the earth it decided to something on a smaller scale and mess up TF2 for me.

 

[icebox3D]

you might want to post your system specs

 

[CobraJackal]

I'm using a Speedtouch modem. I think it is just a modem, no built in router. My friend played on his own computer, and the way we had internet set up was that, there was the modem upstairs, which had a long internet cord that went through a hole to the downstairs that went into a switch, and everyone got internet from cords that came from the switch.

I have a gateway GT5644E
2.6ghz amd athlon X2 dual core processor
3gigs of ram
Vista 32 bit Home Premium
a XFX 9800 GT (that was added by me)
400 watt power supply (I think by Ultra, not entirely sure)

Mainboard (copied from CNET haha)
* Chipset type NVIDIA GeForce 6150 SE
* Data bus speed 1000 MHz
400 gig sata3 harddrive

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/gateway-gt-5644e-athlon/4507-3118_7-32865782.html?tag=mncol;psum
^ not really sure what else to list, so just incase i missed anything important
but like I said, got rid of default power supply and video card

 

[CobraJackal]

just an update, tf2 is still acting very odd,

I did contact my internet provider and they said that everything looks good, the thing to watch for is when getting disconnected is if any lights on the modem are going on or off, which i haven't noticed before but i also haven't paid full attention to that when TF2 decides to send me on its weary path.

 

[Carmen Miranda]

Can you try going directly into your modem?

I had a bum D-Link router (that I didn't know was the problem until I tried this).

It wouldn't let any of the server lists load. Too many packets and it would freak out until you rebooted.

 

[CobraJackal]

I don't believe I can go into the modem, but a friend suggested doing the command line prompt forcing the game to run in directx 8 mode. It seems to be at least partially working. I wonder though that since this "solution" is kinda working, would I need to update my directx 10 or 9 files, or something related to that?

 

[CobraJackal]

It has been a little bit for this problem and it hasn't gotten better. I decided that I would uninstall the game and reinstall as a final try to make it work. Surprisingly for the first few days I could connect to servers with very little problem. Then after a few more days, it started to have trouble connecting and now it's back to old self with not letting me stay connected to servers. I thought that maybe it was my ethernet controller messing up because I would play other games, my computer would start to generate some heat and then tried TF2 and it wouldn't work. Then I would try TF2 from a fresh boot, computer not being in use for multiple hours so everything should be pretty cool. It seemed that I was able to connect to more servers and stay connected. If that was the case, wouldn't my other games have connection problems too if the ethernet controller was not functioning correctly?

 

[Lenny Brezhnev]

x

 

[CobraJackal]

I don't have a router, I am using just a modem.