Joining server - CPU freezes 100% usage

[Usualwill]

I'm praying that someone can help me with this.

Have loaded BG2 and patched it.
Can log onto Account server with no problem
Can play singleplayer with no problems at all

But when I select Multiplayer the list of servers loads fine but when I click to join server my PC just freezes up on me. Checked CPU usage and its at 100% all being eaten by BF2. I have nothing else running.
I know I don't have a top end CPU (Athlon XP2000+) but its within minimum requirements. I have 1.5Gb RAM, Nividia 6600GT with Forceware 77.72 drivers and have also opened ports on my router and disabled Norton Internet Security 2002.

I've not seen anyone on forums with this type of problem - I see people getting kicked and stuff but my PC just freezes.

Can anyone give me any ideas please cos at the moment I'm pinning my hopes on the next patch sorting it out but I think thats a bit optimistic.

Cheers everyone

[Usualwill]

16 views and no replies!!

Cmon guys I need your collective wisdom..I'm on my knees here!!

[alkajazz]

have you ever just walked away and see if it unfreezes?

[Usualwill]

Thanks for the input - I have left it for like 10 minutes or so but maybe I should try longer. Could a firewall issue cause this type of error?

[Usualwill]

I'm still looking for some inspiration on this folks.
Would a lack of juice cause this type of problem. I'm wondering if I need a new PSU after installing the graphics card?

This ones really driving me crazy - so any advice you guys can offer would be fantastic. I'm getting a bit bored of singleplayer and really want to join you all in the field of battle!!

Thanks

[alkajazz]

i think it might be your Processor.


jc how big is your PSU?

[Usualwill]

I was afraid that it might be the processor but I'm still within recommended levels so I would have thought that it should have functioned albeit slowly..

I'm not sure about the PSU - its a 3 year old system so I wouldn't be surprised if its something less than 300W. Is there any way of telling what I have without opening her up?

[cha0tic]

Your PSU should have a sticker on the left or right side of it, if you don't have a plexiglass window then you need to open up the side. You shouldn't need to take out the PSU though. Also its a good idea, if indeed your PSU is under 300w, that you buy a new one with at least 450w (500w or more is preferable) to make sure the game runs smoothly.

[Usualwill]

Thanks for the advice - I'll check that out.
Is the PSU likely to cause the problem that I'm having though?

[alkajazz]

Thanks for the advice - I'll check that out.
Is the PSU likely to cause the problem that I'm having though?

yea maybe. it thought maybe your video card is sucking alot of your juice causing your CPU to freeze. that might be the case. or you might make sure you
have your CPU Cooled properly and with the right contact stuff etc.

[Usualwill]

Hmmm...Well I've installed a new Antec TruePower 2 480w PSU and. although a lot quieter, its made no difference to my problem!
I've been in regular dialogue with EA Support who have basically been pretty useless.
I've reinstalled, patched, updated punkbuster, uninstalled NIS and tried without that, opened ports on router etc etc but still the problem goes on.
One thing I have noticed is that on the multiplayer screen (where the servers are listed), against each server on the far left there is a bar which is either red,amber or green. For virtually all of mine these are red - any ideas what this might mean? I assumed it had something to do with my router but as mentioned I've opened up the ports and am still getting the same problem. I have a friend with exactly the same router (Draytek Vigor2600plus) and the same ISP and he has no problems (hasn't even needed to open ports). I've traced the route to one of the few green servers (which I still cant access through BF2 BTW) and its fine and doesn't show any packet loss.

Does this indicator help to pinpoint the problem at all? EA Support are now saying that I might have a bad disc but I find that difficult to believe since singleplayer works no probs.

I'm running out of patience with EA now so I'm turning back to experts - YOU!!!

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[Usualwill]

Can anyone help me on this please?

[Marcus1981]

Re: Joining server - CPU freezes 100% usage

If I understand this correctly you PC freezes only when joining a server and not when playing in single player mode? Seems highly unlikely that this has anything to with your power supply then... How do you know that your processor is on 100% load??? Did you run BF2 in windowed mode and check this with the taskmanager or something? If the game freezes on joining a server it is much more likely that the BF2 game freezes while waiting on network input that never gets through... If you have a dsl router check if it has a firewall blocking any traffic, especcially outbound. Mine blocks all inbound and I have absolutely no problem playing the game wheter I use the in-game server browser or Gamespy. You might also want to check if maybe your build-in windows XP firewall is active on your connection or for that matter any 3rd party firewall or worm protection (like Norton). If you do not configure those to let traffic pass to bf2.exe it will not work.

Let me know what you find out...

Good luck,

Marcus.

By the way if your system freezes on waiting for network traffic your processor load would be near 0% not 100%. If something crashes it can be 100%. In that case you might want to consider uninstalling and reinstalling the game and the patches. You might also want to do this with your video card drivers. Also, get the latest version of the video card drivers to eliminate any compatibility issues with BF2.
By the way, I had a real party once with a video card driver simply because I forgot to UNINSTALL the drivers of the previous videocard while it was still in the computer.

In addition you could furthermore try reinstalling (the latest!) version of DirectX. At the moment I'm writing this the latest is 9.0c.

Lot of text but maybe there's something in there that will help you.

[DeathGiver]

Re: Joining server - CPU freezes 100% usage

I froze a lot to. I had a 350Watt ps and a X850 XT and i would freeze on every game i played. I upgraded to a 480 watt PS and now i dont freeze anymore. The X850 took a lot out of my old ps so i upgraded and it doesnt freeze anymore.

[imported_idash]

Re: Joining server - CPU freezes 100% usage

try updating firmware on router too!