Mods get ready for a slew of posts dealing with PB. Seems the garbage services that those playing 2142 have been putting up with for months has finally made its way to BF2,
So for those that haven't seen these before, don't start panicking when you see a couple of new services running in Task Manager. Just to save looking for the important bits regarding these services,
and the download for the pbsvc,
This is courtesy of kr4z30g and the response he got from EA (regarding the PnkBstrB stopped responding issue),
Added this, possible fix for those getting the connection lost,
posted by Septa Scarabae.
What other components does PnkBstrA update?
There are currently two other new components, another service called PnkBstrB and a kernel driver called PnkBstrK. These are not installed by the PBSVC Setup Program. They are installed and/or updated on the fly by PnkBstrA when a game is launched with PunkBuster enabled. PnkBstrB and PnkBstrK help PunkBuster look for cheats while users are playing on PunkBuster enabled servers.
There are currently two other new components, another service called PnkBstrB and a kernel driver called PnkBstrK. These are not installed by the PBSVC Setup Program. They are installed and/or updated on the fly by PnkBstrA when a game is launched with PunkBuster enabled. PnkBstrB and PnkBstrK help PunkBuster look for cheats while users are playing on PunkBuster enabled servers.
Why is all this necessary?
Starting with Windows Vista, there is a greater focus on security (which is a good thing). Unfortunately, however, with this focus comes a bit of complexity. In order for games having PunkBuster integrated to be more secure, the part of PunkBuster that needs full access to the computer for scanning purposes now must run all the time at the system level. This is necessary due to new Microsoft requirements for gaming under Windows.
Starting with Windows Vista, there is a greater focus on security (which is a good thing). Unfortunately, however, with this focus comes a bit of complexity. In order for games having PunkBuster integrated to be more secure, the part of PunkBuster that needs full access to the computer for scanning purposes now must run all the time at the system level. This is necessary due to new Microsoft requirements for gaming under Windows.
Are the new components optional?
Starting with PB Client version 1.700, the new components are required. Uninstalling and/or disabling the new components will cause PunkBuster to stop working correctly and will cause frequent kicking from PunkBuster enabled servers.
Starting with PB Client version 1.700, the new components are required. Uninstalling and/or disabling the new components will cause PunkBuster to stop working correctly and will cause frequent kicking from PunkBuster enabled servers.
What is all this about new PunkBuster services?
Beginning with PunkBuster client version 1.500, we have extended the PunkBuster Anti-Cheat system to operate without the requirement to run PunkBuster supported games with Administrator privileges when running under Windows 2000, XP, or Vista. In order to do this, we have developed new Windows service components to work with the PunkBuster system. PunkBuster will automatically begin using the new service components on supported systems. To manually install/uninstall the components, users may use our PBSVC Setup Program. However, uninstalling the new service components will disable PunkBuster and may prevent playing on PunkBuster servers. PBSVC can be downloaded from here. Once the PnkBstrA service is running along with a new PB client version 1.500 and higher, running PB enabled games under Windows 2000, XP or Vista no longer requires Administrator privileges.
Beginning with PunkBuster client version 1.500, we have extended the PunkBuster Anti-Cheat system to operate without the requirement to run PunkBuster supported games with Administrator privileges when running under Windows 2000, XP, or Vista. In order to do this, we have developed new Windows service components to work with the PunkBuster system. PunkBuster will automatically begin using the new service components on supported systems. To manually install/uninstall the components, users may use our PBSVC Setup Program. However, uninstalling the new service components will disable PunkBuster and may prevent playing on PunkBuster servers. PBSVC can be downloaded from here. Once the PnkBstrA service is running along with a new PB client version 1.500 and higher, running PB enabled games under Windows 2000, XP or Vista no longer requires Administrator privileges.
Since the new components have been installed, I now get kicked from PunkBuster servers for "handshaking failed" or "Losing Key Packets", how can I fix that?
Some other software programs such as virus scanners, firewalls and Internet security software packages are suspicious of any new services and kernel drivers when they are first released. Some of these will block our new components thereby causing the "Losing Key Packets" kicking. Until these various packages are updated to correctly identify PnkBstrA.exe, PnkBstrB.exe, and PnkBstrK.sys as components of the PunkBuster Anti-Cheat System, players who experience PunkBuster kicks due to these conflicts need to either manually adjust the settings of the other software running on their system or disable the other software while playing on PunkBuster enabled servers. The new PunkBuster components make use of network resources and also frequently update files in the Windows system folders. This activity triggers warnings or blocks by some other security programs, some of which consider all unknown programs as threats or malware. Our new components are simply extensions of the existing PunkBuster system using new services and kernel software drivers, and are each signed with Verisign / Authenticode digital signatures for verifiable authenticity purposes. Most major security packages do not block our new components; users with other software that causes these conflicts should contact the vendor of their security package and request an update to correct this conflict.
Some other software programs such as virus scanners, firewalls and Internet security software packages are suspicious of any new services and kernel drivers when they are first released. Some of these will block our new components thereby causing the "Losing Key Packets" kicking. Until these various packages are updated to correctly identify PnkBstrA.exe, PnkBstrB.exe, and PnkBstrK.sys as components of the PunkBuster Anti-Cheat System, players who experience PunkBuster kicks due to these conflicts need to either manually adjust the settings of the other software running on their system or disable the other software while playing on PunkBuster enabled servers. The new PunkBuster components make use of network resources and also frequently update files in the Windows system folders. This activity triggers warnings or blocks by some other security programs, some of which consider all unknown programs as threats or malware. Our new components are simply extensions of the existing PunkBuster system using new services and kernel software drivers, and are each signed with Verisign / Authenticode digital signatures for verifiable authenticity purposes. Most major security packages do not block our new components; users with other software that causes these conflicts should contact the vendor of their security package and request an update to correct this conflict.
Delete and Reinstall the Punkbuster Folder and Software
To delete and reinstall the Punkbuster folder and software:
Click on My Computer.
Click on the C: drive, or wherever you have Battlefield 2 installed.
Click on Program Files.
Click on Electronic Arts.
Click on Battlefield 2.
Right-click on the pb folder, then click Delete.
Download and run the installation software for Punkbuster, which can be found here.
Click the Uninstall button.
Close the installer.
Click on the Start button.
Click on Run.
Type regedit in the text field and press OK.
Warning: Changes to the registry can cause your computer to operate improperly, so please follow these instructions exactly as they are written.
Follow these steps to back-up the registry so that should something go wrong, you can restore your system back to a working state:
If you are using Windows 2000/XP/Vista, click on File, and select Export. Note: If you are using Windows 95/98/ME, click on Registry
Then select Export Registry.
Select All under Export Range.
Type backup into the File name field, and click Save. You've now created a backup version of your registry.
Once you've created your backup, continue as follows.
Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Click the plus sign next to System.
Click the plus sign next to ControlSet001.
Click the plus sign next to Services.
Look for PnkBstrA, PnkBstrB, and PnkBstrK, and if they exist, right-click on each one and select Delete.
Click the minus sign next to ControlSet001.
Repeat steps 5, 6, 7, and 8 immediately above for any other ControlSet folders you have, such as ControlSet002 or CurrentControlSet.
Close regedit.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Double-click on drive C:.
Double-click on windows.
Double-click on system32.
Look for PnkBstrA.exe and PnkBstrB.exe and if they exist, right-click on each one and select Delete.
Double-click on drivers.
Look for PnkBstrK.sys, and if it exists, right-click on it and select Delete.
Restart windows.
Follow the instructions here to reinstall Punkbuster.
Try to play Battlefield 2
To delete and reinstall the Punkbuster folder and software:
Click on My Computer.
Click on the C: drive, or wherever you have Battlefield 2 installed.
Click on Program Files.
Click on Electronic Arts.
Click on Battlefield 2.
Right-click on the pb folder, then click Delete.
Download and run the installation software for Punkbuster, which can be found here.
Click the Uninstall button.
Close the installer.
Click on the Start button.
Click on Run.
Type regedit in the text field and press OK.
Warning: Changes to the registry can cause your computer to operate improperly, so please follow these instructions exactly as they are written.
Follow these steps to back-up the registry so that should something go wrong, you can restore your system back to a working state:
If you are using Windows 2000/XP/Vista, click on File, and select Export. Note: If you are using Windows 95/98/ME, click on Registry
Then select Export Registry.
Select All under Export Range.
Type backup into the File name field, and click Save. You've now created a backup version of your registry.
Once you've created your backup, continue as follows.
Click the plus sign next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE.
Click the plus sign next to System.
Click the plus sign next to ControlSet001.
Click the plus sign next to Services.
Look for PnkBstrA, PnkBstrB, and PnkBstrK, and if they exist, right-click on each one and select Delete.
Click the minus sign next to ControlSet001.
Repeat steps 5, 6, 7, and 8 immediately above for any other ControlSet folders you have, such as ControlSet002 or CurrentControlSet.
Close regedit.
Double-click on the My Computer icon.
Double-click on drive C:.
Double-click on windows.
Double-click on system32.
Look for PnkBstrA.exe and PnkBstrB.exe and if they exist, right-click on each one and select Delete.
Double-click on drivers.
Look for PnkBstrK.sys, and if it exists, right-click on it and select Delete.
Restart windows.
Follow the instructions here to reinstall Punkbuster.
Try to play Battlefield 2
Added this, possible fix for those getting the connection lost,
posted by Septa Scarabae.
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