Punkbuster is beginning to do my head in!

[MasterBlaster76]

:help

I've been trying to play Modern Warfare and World at War online, but it's beginning to get damned annoying. Every few minutes, I am being kicked off the server by bloody Punkbuster! I am not using any cheats, so why is this idiot 'anti cheat' system kicking me all the time? I have tried servers with Punkbuster disabled, but they seem to be either less stable and I could've sworn I emptied half a clip into someone at close range, and he didn't die. I have posted at the IW Forums, but no-one there has replied.

This is taken from kaTana's Blag Blog Article, but i think it needs to be put in Technical Issues Forum:


Written by KaTana

Punkbuster seemed to have gone bananas on me last saturday. Every time I connected to a server, it disconnected after approx 2 minutes, with a whole host of different reasons, most of which seemed to indicate that it couldn't connect to the Punkbuster master server.

After two hours of frustration and faced with the possibility of a re-install (my rank!!!) I believe to have found the solution. It's a quick re-install of Punkbuster following the below procedure.

1) Locate the 'pbsvc.exe' file on the COD4 disc (root directory).

2) Run this program and choose the option to uninstall.

3) Once uninstalled, locate the 'pb' folder in the COD4 folder on your hard drive and empty it, but keep the folder.

4) Re-run the 'pbsvc.exe' program on the COD4 disk and choose the install option.

5) Once done, you will need to go to the Punkbuster website and download the updater tool (pbsetup.exe)

6) Update COD4 using 'pbsetup.exe'. That's it!!

By the way, don't expect any entries in the pb folder until you have updated.

So, can any of you Call of Duty online veterans help?

By the way, if anyone here's playing World at War, my name's 'Sierra-Hotel'.

 

[iridescentt]

Happened to me ages ago. Do this, its the manual way to update PunkBuster:

Go to 'evenbalance.com', find the Call of Duty MW/WaW page, download the latest update and then run the program.

After that everything should be fine.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I did all that mate, all updates are installed and Punkbuster says it's all up to date, yet it's still happening!

Edit: Most of the time, the message says something like 'corrupted file memory' whenever Punkbuster kicks me.

 

[pcfan123]

Steve I suppose this is not a good time to remind you that these problems don't exist on console? :rtfl

 

[OffCutters]

^ That.

Never liked playing shooters on computer anyway....

 

[Cricketdude]

Yeah, just point and click.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

^ That.

Never liked playing shooters on computer anyway....

I never liked playing shooters on console - you need a mouse/keyboard to play an FPS properly.

Steve I suppose this is not a good time to remind you that these problems don't exist on console? :rtfl

Neither do mods, or the chance to get the game for less money. Or dedicated servers.

 

[blake]

I have to agree with MasterBlaster, shooters are way better on PC. Much more freedom, it's so hard to aim with a console. Mouse and keyboard any day over a console.

Sounds unlucky with the online connection thing though... and from what I've heard, MW2 is even worse online on the PC.. so COD aren't really doing too well for themselves online.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I haven't played MW2 on PC yet, so I can't say, but the idea of a limit of 8 players in FFA doesn't bother me - I prefer maps with smaller amounts of players - it's far more tactical and less run and gun. I don't like the idea of no dedicated servers though - anyone could be the host and they might have a lousy connection. Also, the fact that you can't return to a server again and again as a favourite puts me right off - I don't like to have to play on random servers all the time. Unless IW see sense and return dedicated servers to the PC version, along with the ability to have a list of favourites, I doubt I'll get MW2. The campaign's far too short on its own to merit the purchase, although Spec Ops sounds good.

As far as World at War is concerned, for me it's the best CoD online so far on PC. CoD 4's good, but there's something about the WW2 setting that I prefer. Also, I've really got into bolt action only servers - like servers with less players, they're more tactical.

I've submitted a support ticket to Punkbuster, so hopefully I'll have this sorted out soon.

Anyway, thanks for your help so far guys and to those who've been less helpful , well the PC vs Console war will never die, will it? Each machine has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Oh, and Merry Christmas to you all!

MasterBlaster76 added 1 Minutes and 18 Seconds later...

I have to agree with MasterBlaster, shooters are way better on PC. Much more freedom, it's so hard to aim with a console. Mouse and keyboard any day over a console.

Sounds unlucky with the online connection thing though... and from what I've heard, MW2 is even worse online on the PC.. so COD aren't really doing too well for themselves online.

Thing is, I was playing CoD 4 for ages quite happily, with no problems with Punkbuster at all. It's only recently that this problem has been happening.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but Punkbuster suggested updating/disabling FRAPS; I did so and haven't been kicked since. My favourite is bolt action only servers - it's more tactical than the usual run and gun of CoD online.