Halo 2 Forum
This topic has moved here: Subject: Halo 2 online help. Updated 4/13. Shutdown timer link added to OP.
  • Subject: Halo 2 online help. Updated 4/13. Shutdown timer link added to OP.
Subject: Halo 2 online help. Updated 4/13. Shutdown timer link added to OP.

I am doing this in an effort to help out all the people having problems with Halo 2. I will post everything I know here that may help you with Halo 2. Some of these are gonna be obvious, some a little more complicated.

Things to try.

1. Clear the cache on your hard drive. This is how to clear the cache. Locate the System section of the Xbox 360 Dashboard. Select Memory, select Hard Drive, and then press Y to view the device options screen. On the Xbox 360 Controller, press the X button, press the X button again, press the left bumper, press the right bumper, press the X button, and then press the X button again. You will be prompted to confirm system maintenance. Select Yes by pressing A.

2. Do you have the backwards compatability software you need to play the game on your 360? Check here for more info.

3. Erase everything from hard drive that is for Halo 2 and redownload it all again.

4. Make sure you have everything you need to play the game online, like updates, and all the map packs, everything is free now so get it.

5. Make sure you can connect to XBL, and/or that XBL is up and running. Check here for XBL status.

6.Make sure there is nothing wrong with your game disc, like cracks, scratches, etc.

7. Make sure family settings are not enabled, some people have had them turned on. For some unknown reason, probably the M rating for the game, it may not allow you to connect.

8. Download the maps, and updates, turn off your 360, remove the hard drive, turn on the console, and reconnect the hard drive.

9. PAL users: Unfortunately, the DLC program is not emulated correctly for VGA mode - you will end up with a blank screen. You have two options:

1) Use your normal SDTV cables to download the content.

2) Use component cables to download the content.

If none of this helps your best bet is going to be to call Xbox support at 1-800-4MY-XBOX. You can call from 6am to 10pm Pacific time/Bungie time. For support outside the US, go to Xbox.com and click support, each country has their own support numbers and hours of operation. If you live outside the US click here to pick your country or region, then click on the support tab, followed by contact support to find the number to call and the hours of operation for where you live, if you don't want to call and speak to someone there is also an ask Xbox feature, or support by email.


The DLC maps for Halo 2 have been put back online for download, no word on how long they will be up for so get them while you can.

If you go to Majornelson.com there is a timer on the left side of the screen that tells you when its gonna happen. Its on the left side under user functions.

[Edited on 04.13.2010 10:24 PM PDT]

  • 12.09.2008 11:15 PM PDT
Subject: If your having problems with being able to play Halo 2 online look ...

This is some good information thanks for posting it. Thanks for posting on how to clear the cache I needed this information and it was easy to do.

  • 12.10.2008 12:48 AM PDT

It just seemed like something that should be posted because a lot of the threads here are about people having problems with Halo 2. This way I don't have to keep typing and retyping things that may help them, it also cuts down on the repeat threads in the forum.

  • 12.10.2008 3:21 AM PDT

Posted by: DR WE1RD
It just seemed like something that should be posted because a lot of the threads here are about people having problems with Halo 2. This way I don't have to keep typing and retyping things that may help them, it also cuts down on the repeat threads in the forum.


Yeah I've seen 3 posts on this page alone with people having problems connecting to halo 2 so this should come in handy.

  • 12.10.2008 7:28 AM PDT

Tried everything you said, though I was in doubt it would make any difference. Same error "Could not connect to Xbox Live"

360 is set to auto sign in, network settings are fine. I get the same error message on the original Xbox too.

It's an internal problem on their servers.

  • 12.10.2008 10:19 AM PDT

New update:

New accounts work with Halo 2 online (I've tested this myself), but if you change your name or are forced to change your name (my case), it will not connect to Halo 2 online for some reason. It doesn't even try, it just gives you the start troubleshoot option right off the bat.

Here's the troubleshooting I've done myself, and do not work:

- I've cleared my cache on my Xbox.
- I've deleted all maps on my Xbox, as well as the whole save directory
- I've even recovered my gamertag on my old Xbox, and it still gives me the same error
- I've re-downloaded the backwards compatability update like mentioned above.

It's like changing your name for some reason bans you from Halo 2? I'm not sure. What's also weird about this is, after deleting the Halo 2 from your 360, it will download the 1.5 patch perfectly fine, and then after restarting tell you can't connect.




[Edited on 12.10.2008 11:56 AM PST]

  • 12.10.2008 11:53 AM PDT

im new to it and i still cant play online. i havent changed my name.

  • 12.10.2008 5:36 PM PDT

Has anyone called Microsoft to see if they can solve the problem?

  • 12.10.2008 9:32 PM PDT




I changed my name last january from regalgs231 to m16fpsvelocity and it still lets me play. You might have an isolated situation on your hands. Wish the best of luck to you in resolving your problems.

Posted by: CrazyNakedMan
New update:

New accounts work with Halo 2 online (I've tested this myself), but if you change your name or are forced to change your name (my case), it will not connect to Halo 2 online for some reason. It doesn't even try, it just gives you the start troubleshoot option right off the bat.

Here's the troubleshooting I've done myself, and do not work:

- I've cleared my cache on my Xbox.
- I've deleted all maps on my Xbox, as well as the whole save directory
- I've even recovered my gamertag on my old Xbox, and it still gives me the same error
- I've re-downloaded the backwards compatability update like mentioned above.

It's like changing your name for some reason bans you from Halo 2? I'm not sure. What's also weird about this is, after deleting the Halo 2 from your 360, it will download the 1.5 patch perfectly fine, and then after restarting tell you can't connect.


  • 12.12.2008 6:40 AM PDT

My theory is that getting a name change AFTER the NXE update causes this error, but I'm not 100% sure.

  • 12.12.2008 10:39 AM PDT

Posted by: CrazyNakedMan
My theory is that getting a name change AFTER the NXE update causes this error, but I'm not 100% sure.


I really hope this doesn't happen to me, because I was going to change my name again. Maybe someone who knows something about this could chime in right now. I love playing halo 2 and if changing my name will make it so I can't play it, I won't change my name.

  • 12.12.2008 7:32 PM PDT

Campiagn Kill Count :31,745. And growing.

The Revisionaries- One of the greatest screenshot groups on B.net. With 250 members and growing.

I have no idea how to fix the name problem, but sometimes people can't connect because they have original Xbox games unallowed under the Family settings. All you have to do is change it to "Allow" or "Enable" or something like that and you're good to go.

  • 12.15.2008 6:45 PM PDT

That's a different error though, which tells you that you have an important message from Xbox Live. Out of curiousity, I tried blocking original Xbox Live games via family settings, and it gave me that error. I changed it back to allow, and it just gave me the same stupid error, telling me it could not connect to Xbox Live and to start the trouble shooter (which as my above posts state, connects perfectly fine).

I can even sign in with a test account I made with a month free of XBL. I went to download maps, and instead of signing in on the test account I signed in on my actual account, which let me download all the maps perfectly fine (which it better, because at one point I paid for them...)

I'm running out of ideas, and Xbox customer support is clueless.

[Edited on 12.16.2008 7:53 AM PST]

  • 12.16.2008 7:51 AM PDT

well i tried clearing the cache and deleted the maps and everything. I had my account made on my friends 360 when he got xbl about a few months after the 360 came out. I was able to play H2 on his 360. I recovered my account onto my xbox about a year and a half ago when i got one. My account was stolen at the end summer. I made a new tag, and haven't been able to play since i had made it. It was made a few months before the NXE. The only thing i haven't tried was call xbl so i guess that is m last hope.

  • 12.16.2008 9:54 AM PDT

Campiagn Kill Count :31,745. And growing.

The Revisionaries- One of the greatest screenshot groups on B.net. With 250 members and growing.

Posted by: CrazyNakedMan
That's a different error though, which tells you that you have an important message from Xbox Live. Out of curiousity, I tried blocking original Xbox Live games via family settings, and it gave me that error. I changed it back to allow, and it just gave me the same stupid error, telling me it could not connect to Xbox Live and to start the trouble shooter (which as my above posts state, connects perfectly fine).

I can even sign in with a test account I made with a month free of XBL. I went to download maps, and instead of signing in on the test account I signed in on my actual account, which let me download all the maps perfectly fine (which it better, because at one point I paid for them...)

I'm running out of ideas, and Xbox customer support is clueless.


That's really weird.. I have no idea what to suggest.

You could just keep calling customer support, there's got to be at least someone who can help a little bit. I know you're not the only one with that problem, I've heard it before.

  • 12.16.2008 7:03 PM PDT

When I cleared the cache, it just keeps making me do updates. Is ti supposed to do that.

  • 12.18.2008 11:21 AM PDT

Yes clearing the cache will erase all the updates for the game, it does that so you can redownload them, because there is a chance that they may be corrupt. Clearing and redownloading updates makes sure they are not.

  • 12.18.2008 12:58 PM PDT

To those who are clearing their cache, unless you delete the Map Pack, clearing the cache may do nothing. Delete any Map Packs and then clear the cache. Just for clarity, clearing the cache only gets rid of updates, not any saved items.

On another note, for the people who are changing profiles and cannot sign-on, I've talked to several people who wound up deleting old profiles so that the new profile will show itself. Try deleting the profile used just before the problem began.

  • 12.18.2008 2:28 PM PDT

Alt+F4=secret weapon in Halo PC!

Somewhat ironically, i haven't been able to play Halo 2 since Halo 3 came out.

Fortunately, I have Halo 3.

  • 12.18.2008 3:58 PM PDT

[quote]Posted by: DR WE1RD
3. Erase everything from hard drive that is for Halo 2 and redownload it all again.[quote]No need to erase saved games, just get rid of the Map Packs and redown.

This thread (or one just like it) should be at the top of the locked topics (on the right). jmo

  • 12.21.2008 11:24 AM PDT

If anyone wants an update, I made a thread about this problem on the official Xbox forums in the technical issues section. Here's the link:

http://forums.xbox.com/24733830/ShowPost.aspx

These are not isolated problems as I assumed, and it affects ALL original Xbox games. A customer support representative has been looking into these problems. I would suggest everyone that has this issue to make a post in that thread saying you have the problem.

  • 12.29.2008 12:58 AM PDT

Cant Wait Until Halo Reach Beta
http://Suddoth.net

help i cannot connect to xbl in halo 2 on my 360
ive called xbox 360 support they are clueless
it worked on christmas now it says start troubleshooter
after my membership expired on 12/27/08 i added 4 three months to my account and now it dont work

its funny because it works fine on my brothers account

  • 12.31.2008 8:09 PM PDT

Huh that is strange. Let me do some digging and get back to you on that one, give me a couple days. In the mean time you could try the stuff listed in the first post of this topic.

[Edited on 01.01.2009 12:40 AM PST]

  • 01.01.2009 12:40 AM PDT

I have defied gods and demons.
I am your shield. I am your sword.
I know you. Your past; your future.
This is the way the world ends.

not with a bang, but a whimper.

I had a similar problem a few months back. i tried 'recover gamertag' and everything worked ok after that. this happened before NXE. hope this helps

~Gunny~

  • 01.01.2009 8:04 AM PDT

Yep, mine does this too. I have deleted everything and all it does is download the update again and then won't connect. The only thing I can think of is when it worked before, my subscription was going through my credit card. I received a 12 month prepaid subscription and added it to my account and Halo 2 no longer works. I wonder if it is because my gold subscription is a prepaid. How many of you who are having problems are on a prepaid subscription?

  • 01.02.2009 8:17 PM PDT