Topic: $20 For Solution! C&C Generals LAN

[Wearylamplighter]

NOTE: This isn't a joke.  I will pay, via paypal, check, or cash at the discretion of the recipient $20 to the first person to offer me a solution that works to this problem.

Why?  Because after 6 phonecalls to EA and I don't know how many e-mails, I'm about to give up.  But before I do, I'm going to get somebody's attention to see if there's an answer out there.  Again, this isn't a joke.  If someone can offer a solution which fixes my problem, I WILL pay them $20.  The first person to offer a working solution, either through this forum, or through my post at the official forum (going to put that up soon), or through e-mail (wearylamplighter@msn.com), will get the money in one of the three ways above; however they like.  I WILL also post here if/when I have been given a working solution.  So, here's my problem (I posted on it earlier today in another thread, but here is the whole thing again):

I have two legal copies of Generals with different serials installed clean and patched to 1.7 on two machines, one running ME and one running XP SP1 (XP firewall disabled).  Both of these machines are behind a linksys BEFSR41 v3 router with latest firmware connected to DSL.  The ME machine has LAN IP 10.10.10.100, the XP has 10.10.10.101, and the router is 10.10.10.1.  I am trying to play a LAN game (NOT on the internet) with these two machines.  The FIRST and only the first time I tried this, it worked fine.  The second time, hours later and no changes to my knowledge, it didn't work, and it hasn't worked since.  Here is what happens.  Both machines can join the game lobby, regardless of who is hosting.  Changing options and clicking accept; all is fine.  But when you press "play", the XP machine (again, regardess of who is hosting) only shows its own status bar loading.  The ME machine shows both, and when the game starts the ME machine says the other player is disconnected.  The XP machine takes a long time to start (almost a minute, when it usually only takes less than 3 seconds in single player) and when it does the game appears to work for about a fraction of a second, but then both computers say the other has been disconnected.

So, there's the problem.  It does this everytime, regardless of who is hosting.  I have tried clean reinstalls (even deleted the my docs folder files).  I have tested direct play and that works fine.  I have tried using Direct Connect (this gives same problem).  I have enabled DMZ and set up port fowarding, triggering, etc.  (although I have been told that since both machines are behind one router this shouldn't be necessary).  I have tried firewall override.  All my drivers and chipsets are the latest, and single player works fine.  Also, individually, both computers work fine playing Online with other people (although they both can't play online with each other).  I hope someone can help; either post here or e-mail me with possible solutions or any more info you need!  Thanks.

[gryphon]

can you try to play between the 2 computers without the Linksys in between and just with a crossover cable connecting them ?

[RotteVis]

Why donīt you drop ME and take XP or even  98se. ME is the far most worst version of windows ever in my opinion. And then try it again. Donīt forget to set your submask to 255.255.255.0 on both computers.

[Wearylamplighter]

Responses so far (thanks to both of you): I don't know if the crossover cable would solve the problem; I will try this weekend.  I was of course hoping to get a solution so that I could keep my network up, but I will try this anyway in case it helps diagnose the problem, if no other solutions are found by then.  It just seems very odd that it would work one time, and then a few hours later stop working permenantly??

I have Me on one system because I have some software for my work I can't get running correctly on XP, and I don't have 98 software, only ME and XP.  My network doesn't give me any other trouble even though I have XP and ME machine otherwise though; only seems like for this game.  I can transfer files and talk between computers with no trouble, even though I too have heard ME is the worst.  Also, subnet masks on both computers are 255.255.255.0.

I look forward to any more suggestions I can try, and I will check back and post regularly.  Oh, one thing about the solution; in order to be eligible for the money, it has to be a reasonabe solution.  I had someone suggest that I buy new computers and someone else suggest that I format C: and start over.  :-)  Sorry, these might work, but of course will not do this just to get game running.  Same thing for buying new network router, etc.  I know I can just go and start replacing hardware until solution is fixed, but I need something I can do with the systems I have.  Oh, also, system specs are- ME machine--1.7 P4, 512 PC800 RDRAM, Ge440 MX 64 MB, SB Live value, standard 10/100 NIC card-Dell machine.  XP machine--2.8 P4, 512 PC2700 DDRAM, FX5600 Ultra 128 MB, SB Live, gigabit NIC card on motherboard-based on SINXP1394 Gigabyte motherboard.  In case any of that helps.  Thanks again.

[gryphon]

Same thing for buying new network router, etc.

That was why i asked for the crossove cable.. . you have a Linksys. . and let's face it. . a lot of the problems come from miss-configurating Linksys routers or Linksys routers blocking things. ..

Did you check if UPnP is enabled on your router ?

[Wearylamplighter]

Hi again.  I will try the crossover cable when I can (I have to get one from a friend), but I am still looking for solutions while I wait :-)  I DID NOT have UPnP enabled before Gryphon, and I was hopeful for a minute that it would solve the problem, but still same problem after I enabled it.  The thing that is still bothering me is; the game worked once.  And I didn't change any configurations; why would it mess up in just a few hours?  Anyway, I have attached screenshots from my entire linksys router configuration in case anyone can tell me if I should try changing anything.  The only screens I left out were:

DDNS Service - Disabled

No Port Range Forwarding or Triggering

DMZ - Disabled

Thanks again, hope to hear back from you all!  

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[RotteVis]

I saw that you have a gigabit NIC in one of the computers, one very cool function of gigabit is that it autodetects if the cable needs to be crossed. You can put in a standard UTP cable and if it needs to be crossed it does that automaticly. But what I donīt know is, if both pcīs need a gigabit NIC.

[Beta]

I will do anything for $20, so here's my solution. Hold your router firmly and try shaking it for 1 minute. Please let me know if this has solved your problem   Btw I prefer cash.

[Phoenix]

The first time, were you connected to the internet?? Maybe becasue you computers are now searching for the internet, so pull out you wan cable and try again...
Install IPX/SPX protocol on both systems, Red Alert was also having trouble with TCP/IP only.  
else look at you networksettings in generals.

[Wearylamplighter]

Ok, update time again :-)  Any people familiar with linksys, please remember to check out the screen shots of my configuration I have attached in a zip file in my last post.

UPDATES: To RotteVis; I'll be trying the crossover cable this weekend hopefully if I can get one from a friend.  They don't have any at the Best Buy store around here, and that's the only computer place around.  Don't know what a UTP cable is, or what autodetecting cable needs to be crossed is...?  Anyway, I'll update after I've tried crossover cable.  (Did you mean that with a regular cable, the gigabit NIC can in effect make it a crossover cable?  Would that work with only one gigabit NIC?  If you think I can just stick a regular cat-5 cable between them, I can try that.)

Next, Beta, tried shaking it and throwing it already.  Sorry, didn't help.

Phoenix, when I said "the first time it worked" I meant, the very first time I tried to play a LAN game, it worked fine, but a few hours later and ever since, the XP machine only shows its own progress bar, etc.  I don't want to actually play on the internet/ie Generals Online, although either computer individually can play online with no trouble.  Also, don't know what a WAN cable is?  I have wired network if you are talking something about wireless.  I can try disconnecting the router from my modem if that will do anything?  Last thing; one guy in the official forum told me to remove and reinstall IPX, etc. and I did that.  So I tried without IPX protocol on both system, and WITH IPX protocol on both systems; no luck.  Any other network settings to look at?  I can post a screen of my network configuration if anyone wants it.  Thanks again.

[Phoenix]

wan cable.. disconnect your modem from your network...

[Beta]

Last thing; one guy in the official forum told me to remove and reinstall IPX, etc. and I did that.

If unplugging the internet cable and trying a different network cable didn't solve this, you could try to reinstall all network protocols. Perhaps something has overwritten something from some network protocol.

[gryphon]

Are both versions C&C Generals or C&C Zero Hours and are they both patched equally ?

EI is sitting next to me at the moment. . . and talking about it trying it with 2 WinXP computers migt not be such a bad idea. Have you tried to host the game rom both computers or just one ?

[Wearylamplighter]

Update time :-)  Phoenix, tried disconnecting modem from router (I think this is what you were suggesting).  No internet, could still join the LAN room and accept, but same error once I press play.

Beta, tried reinstalling protocols (one of the things EA suggested); no help there.  Thanks though.

Gryphon - Both versions are Generals patched to 1.7 (don't have Zero Hour; wanted to make sure Generals worked first, which it isn't).  I have done totally clean installs (even got rid of all general's data folders) and tried without 1.7 patch, and with.  Same problem always.  Also, it doesn't matter which machine hosts.  The XP machine always shows only it's own progress bar, and the ME machine always shows both.  So, here are all the suggestions I have recieved but haven't tried yet:

1. Crossover cable - will try this weekend.
2. Install XP on the ME machine - last resort.
3.  Give up.

Thanks for all your help folks; please keep the suggestions coming as I will try them all and keep you updated.

[Phoenix]

Can join see the other computer in the network??? i mean, if a win 98 pc you have to use the netsetup.exe, if you configure your network in win XP it will ask you what to do... exit setup, make install disk etc.... I presume you did that allready...
try the settings in C&C, try to start an internet game in you local network, or a lan game in you local networl...
Hope you get it fixed...

[Wearylamplighter]

Last update :-(

Phoenix, yeah, the computers (could) see each other fine.  Join the room talk, change options, etc.  Only when you start game does it mess up.  Anyway, I tried putting XP on my ME system; I didn't want to, but I had run of of suggestions.  EA hasn't been helpful at all.  They say "ask your router company, Linksys, because its not the game".  Linksys says, "ask the game company, cause its not the network/router".  And who gets screwed?

So I tried XP, got it installed and everything.  Still same problem, and I can't use some programs I needed for work (gotta either put ME back on there or find some other way to use them).  So, I'm giving up.  A BIG thanks to everyone in this forum who offered their advice and suggestions; I really appreciate it.  But this has been too much trouble with VERY little help from EA.  I'll just go get an old copy of Red Alert or something maybe try that, or try to get my fiance to play battlefield with me :-)  Anyway, thanks again, and best wishes to you all.

[gryphon]

did you try just with a crossover cable ?

[Doc Nyar]

I'm sorry to see that your problem hasn't been fixed yet. However, if we could try to find the solution, it may help other unfortunate people in the same situation. I'd like to ask you to stick around and try to solve this. Somehow I've got the feeling we're overlooking something (not sure what though)...

[Wearylamplighter]

Alright folks, better grab a seat for this one.  I consider myself pretty good with computers.  I built my own and can fix most of the issues that come up.  And I know that 99.9% of the time, if something's going wrong, its the user's fault.  But once in a while, a program or the whole system just acts so strange that it stumps me.  So here's the deal:

As of about 2 am last night when I went to bed, Generals still wouldn't play on my network.  This morning, my friend stops by with a couple of his PC's, both running XP and his Netgear 5-port switch.  Just for the heck of it, we set up his network, and I put my XP machine on there.  I don't make a SINGLE change to anything myself.  Apparently, my machine detected the right settings because I was able to play Generals on his network with no problem.  But that's not the odd part.  After he left, I plugged my machine back up where it was originally and hooked all the cords back up and stuff.  And I turned both of my systems on (they were back to being XP and ME, after I put ME back on my old one).  Without making any changes AT ALL to anything, I started up generals and......it works fine now?  So apparently, the fix for this issue is: change hundreds of things for about 5 days for no reason, then hook your computer up to someone else's network, don't change anything, hook it back up to your network, don't change anything, and everything will be fixed.  I'd love to hear everyone's explanations for this one....

[Doc Nyar]

The issue may have been that a certain setting was set incorrectly. When you hooked up to the other network, new settings were found and installed. When you reverted back, the default settings of your own network were loaded, which may have solved your issue.

I if it stays up though, as you've stated in the beginning of the post that you were able to play it once before (first time).

When you hooked everything backup to your network, were any new settings found/installed ?

[gryphon]

gryphon is still thinking thinking Linksys. . . buy a crossover cabe. ..

who hosted the Generals games when also using your friends computer ?

[Phoenix]

Phoenix is also thinking about a cross cable...
me thinks linksys screws the whole thing....
the fact that you can join in a game, and talk to each other, but when starting the game it goes wrong...

from an other point of view... i have been trying C&C generals ZH with my little brother, and when we start the game, i can start building but then all my buildings explode..... :S all other games will work fine... so i think it is just that damn game of EA. The game engine is really bad, and obvious is the network protocol used by the game and the network engine also the worst ever....

[Doc Nyar]

from an other point of view... i have been trying C&C generals ZH with my little brother, and when we start the game, i can start building but then all my buildings explode..... :S all other games will work fine... so i think it is just that damn game of EA. The game engine is really bad, and obvious is the network protocol used by the game and the network engine also the worst ever....

Do you, or your brother, have any mods installed, or modified any files ? This problem is well known and usually caused by either of these two things.

[gryphon]

Or an illigal serial key ..

[Phoenix]

I think gryphons option..... an origional cd copied, and an other serial used... so probably is that the cause... but i dont matter.... C&C is just a bad game to me... bad engines...

[Wearylamplighter]

Hi folks; sorry for the posting delay.  Here's an update for any who are interested:

To answer the questions I've been asked, Doc, the game is still working fine on my network.  In fact, my best friend and his wife came over to play against my fiance and me last night and it was a blast (we won :-)  The only problem now is that it seems a little laggy at times, even over a LAN with very high-end computers on it...?

So anyway, hooking it up to anohter network, then hooking it back up to my network fixed the problem somehow.  NO manual changes were made to ANY settings whatsoever, and window's never said or at least I never noticed it detecting net settings.  Oh well.

About hosting, my XP machine always hosts in all cases, both when I was having the problem; playing with my friend, and now.  So it wasn't about who was hosting.  Also, haven't tried a crossover cable; b/c I don't need it now and they are $25 at the closest computer store.  If I get one online at some point, I may try it.  

Phoenix, even if serials/etc are causing your problem, I can at least agree that the netcode seems bad.  Like I said above, even a two-person game sometimes lags on my network.

Anyway, thanks again for your help people.  I'll definately check back in to this forum from time to time to see what's going on and if I have any more problems :-)  I'll probably be picking up Zero Hour soon and trying that out.  The only gameplay grips I have with Generals as a fan of the series since the DOS very first game, is that I want my WALLS back!  And where are the naval units...?  Oh well.

[Doc Nyar]

I'm glad it works again, happy gaming

I'm just starting to wonder if re-installing your network would have solved the issue as well... Maybe worth a try if, God forbids, it happens again

[Wearylamplighter]

Haha...not so fast whoever solved this.  No, I'm not joking, its broke again!!!  So what, I now have to drive 3 hours to hook my computer up to my friends network and then drive back home whenever I want to play?  <sigh>

Ok, so maybe ya'll can still help.  Game was working fine Tuesday night.  Wednesday night, tried to play, and I'm getting the same error I used to get.  To the best of my knowledge, no changes were made to my settings; I certainly didn't go and mess around with them, so whatever happened, it changed without my knowing/intentionally doing it.  Anyone have any suggestions for maybe resetting my network config/reinstalling network on my XP machine?  When I go into "my network connections" I see my LAN connection, but there is no delete or reset option; only repair, which doesn't appear to do anything.l  Thanks.

[Doc Nyar]

What if you would delete your network card from the device manager. That should re-install everything again after you've reboot.

[Wearylamplighter]

Thanks for the advice Doc, but sorry, didn't work.  I uninstalled my ethernet adaptor from device manager, rebooted, it found the stuff again, and tried to play; same problem.

Here is what gets me.  The situation seems to be this.  There is some setting on the XP machine that is causing this problem.  When I connected this machine to another network, this problem setting was changed and corrected automatically.  When I connected back to my network the setting remained correct for 2-3 days, then during normal use somehow jumped back to the incorrect setting.  The question is WHAT setting could this be?  I'll open for suggestions of course.  And this weekend if I can I may do this: write down all my settings I can find, then go and hook my computer back up to friend's network, and write down all the settings again, and see if there are any differences.  But whew....that's gonna be alot of trouble.  Hopefully somebody out there might have a couple things I can try in the meantime?  Thanks, as always.