Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: Not your every day LAG problem HELP!!!!
  • Subject: Not your every day LAG problem HELP!!!!
  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2
Subject: Not your every day LAG problem HELP!!!!
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I had been running 1.07 for some (since it was first released) with *no* serious LAG problem (the usual occasional lag from a distant server, but always attributed to a large ping on my part or an excessively high ping of one of the players, compared to mine)

Then, about 3 weeks ago, I installed a bunch of MS-security patches and my problems (with Halo on PC *only*) have been difficult since.

First I lost my chat information and fixed it (see See Microsoft Knowledgebase Article: 838993 "Chat and text display issues in Halo: Combat Evolved")

Now experience *SEVERE* lag almost all the time.

a. I've tried upgrading, downgrading my ATI Radeon 9600XT drivers

b. I've tried running with *no* MS services

c. I've tried upgrading DirectX to 9.0c

d. I have many many times tested my cable modem through put and am getting as good as, if not better bandwidth than always.

e. I've tried futzing with *all* of the video settings from the ATI driver level as well as within the Halo Settings for video, sound, etc.

I'm about to forget about Halo for PC altogether...


HELP!!!!!!

The following are my system details....

=========== System info ==================
Operating System: Windows 2000 Professional (5.0, Build 2195) Service Pack 4
System: Dell Computer Corporation/OptiPlex GX260
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.00GHz, ~2.0GHz
Memory: 510MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Card name: RADEON 9600 SERIES (9600XT)
Chip type: ATI RADEON 9600 Series AGP (0x4152)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
======================================

- The following windows updates:
======= Windows 2000 update ====================
. 814078: Security Update (Microsoft Jscript version 5.6, Windows 2000, Windows XP)
. Q329115: Security Update (Windows 2000)
. Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (KB891861)
. Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB833989)
. Cumulative Security Update for Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (KB883939)
. Cumulative Security Update for Outlook Express 6 Service Pack 1 (KB897715)
. ATI Technologies Inc. display software update released on February 22 2005.
. Update Rollup 1 for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 (KB891861)
. Security Update for Windows 2000 (KB901214)
. Security Update for JView Profiler (KB903235)

  • 08.07.2005 9:17 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I was about to start a thread on this problem myself....

I've been multiplayering in Halo PC for 6 months or so. About two weeks ago I suddenly started lagging and I can't figure out why. This -might- have been when v1.07 came out.

I'm having this problem in Halo only. I have no such problem in Counterstrike, where I can often get pings under 20 msec with no lagging.

My system is a Pentium4, 2.8 GHz, 1GB RAM.

I've tried the following:
* checked for spyware, repeatedly checked all running processes with Task Manager
* checked for viruses
* clean restart (with unessential processes not run). This worked for 15 minutes or so, then I started having redraw problems.
* updated nVidia driver
* reinstalled DirectX9
* installed SP2, then made appropriate firewall settings
* confirmed that my router has the latest firmware
* confirmed connection speed
* bypassed my router and connected directly to the cable modem

  • 08.07.2005 9:52 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

there are two kinds of lag in halo, both are common because gearbox fudged:

low framerate... you know what that is like

internet latency.

the latter is sometimes complicated. it could be caused by a low framerate, but with your computer, that shouldnt be a problem. it can also be caused by high ping, bandwidth congestion, the fact that cable lines are shared...

anyway, what i am saying is that if you are going to ask about "lagging", please specify what symptoms you are showing. i.e. warping, low framerate, high ping, etc.


in the case of a low framerate, blame gearbox, lower the settings, and keep playing.

in the case of warping and high ping, blame gearbox for a horrible netcode, perhaps investigate to make sure you arent congesting bandwidth, and if not, find a better server.

if your problem is that you are having to lead your shots to ridiculous amounts... then thats normal.



also, lag isnt as bad in halo CE...... just a fyi. if your still playing halo pc... maybe it will help to get ce lol...idk

good luck with your problem, but knowing halo, you may not be able to fix it

  • 08.08.2005 12:40 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

(2nd poster again)
The problem is in multiplayer only. The problem is [I guess what you are calling] "warping"--my movements/position are discontinuous. I even move suddenly from place to place when my hands are off the keyboard. My ping always shows normal. The "bad connection" icon in the lower right corner flashes on occasionally.

Is a "hotfix" the same thing as a version update? How do I uninstall a hotfix? I thought the updates were automatic and that everyone has to be using the same version?

  • 08.08.2005 10:29 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

[original poster]
I said most of this, but here's the deal.

- This is multi-player only
- Warping, internet based lag (*not* framerate based lag)
Other players start complaining that it is affecting them
- Great ping as shown within halo multiplayer
Only picking lower ping servers
- Great internet response time outside halo
tested with various down/upload testers
- I've uninstalled, reinstalled Halo many times
with upgrade to 1.07
- I've gone down to bare bones Halo settings (low low low low low)
- I've started a naked system (no extra Win2K Services running)
- Spyware clean
- Virus clean

  • 08.09.2005 8:50 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

(2nd poster again)
Well, Wolly, it sounds like we have exactly the same symptoms. My machine is pretty different from yours, though. I do have a P4 (2.8GHz), but I am running Windows XP Home SP2 and have an nVidia GeForce 5700 Ultra video card, Audigy 2 sound card.

Another symptom that's been happening in the last 2-3 days is, only while in Halo multiplayer, my screen will suddenly change to an array of large blocks of various colors, and my computer is unresponsive.

I'm wondering if I have a hardware problem, perhaps with my RAM or video card. I'm trying to figure out how to update the motherboard BIOS, whatever that means.

  • 08.09.2005 1:24 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

(Me again). Today, after my screen went blocky and my computer froze, a box popped up with this message: "A problem occured initializing Direct 3D. Hardware acceleration may be disabled; please run dxdiag." I ran dxdiag and did the test; it failed, without giving a reason. I did NOT try disabling Direct 3D, figuring that was pointless. I re-re-installed DirectX 9.0c, yet was still very laggy in Halo again afterward.

I talked to a friend, and he suggested wiping my hard drive and reinstalling everything from scratch. Guess I'll do that....sigh.

Going out of town tomorrow for a few days, so I probably won't finish reinstallation until Sunday.

Good luck, Wolly, and keep me posted. I assume no one else is reading this thread.

  • 08.09.2005 7:51 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Neuron
(Me again). Today, after my screen went blocky and my computer froze, a box popped up with this message: "A problem occured initializing Direct 3D. Hardware acceleration may be disabled; please run dxdiag." I ran dxdiag and did the test; it failed, without giving a reason. I did NOT try disabling Direct 3D, figuring that was pointless. I re-re-installed DirectX 9.0c, yet was still very laggy in Halo again afterward.

I talked to a friend, and he suggested wiping my hard drive and reinstalling everything from scratch. Guess I'll do that....sigh.

Going out of town tomorrow for a few days, so I probably won't finish reinstallation until Sunday.

Good luck, Wolly, and keep me posted. I assume no one else is reading this thread.

that kind of solution should be used only as a last resort. have you tried simpler things, such as a reboot? Update your drivers, and all drivers. I'm talking motherboard BIOS, Graphics card, anything that just needs a downloadable update.

If your graphics card has a temperature monitor, use it to see if it's overheating. If you can use the latest Catalyst Control Center, you may be able to do something.

Do a scandisk check, defragment, windows update.

go to www.pcpitstop.com, and run the full system test. I use it regularly. People that use the internet speed test on pcpitstop have noticed lower throughput than usual, but everything else is ok.

[Edited on 8/9/2005]

  • 08.09.2005 7:58 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

do you warp on every server? or just a few of them. if they are servers on other peoples computers, you could have a nice ping, but the server could be having lag based on the computer. when that happens, it lags everyone connected. if this happens on dedicated servers, and you have a ping below like 200, then i really cant help you... because ive never experienced anything like that

  • 08.10.2005 10:56 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Unistall and then Install Halo

DO NOT REINSTALL!

  • 08.11.2005 12:16 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The whole problem came with the 1.07 update. I wish that update had never come about. Now when hosting a game, suddenly without warning, all of the pings will skyrocket to about 1000 and stay there. The pings eventually come down, but not until everyone leaves the game. This is not just a normal high ping situation. This never happened before the 1.07 update. I almost want to believe that someone is mad that not enough people are playing Halo 2 online. So they came up with this 1.07 "patch" which randomly causes this problem, hoping that people will get so pissed off at Halo PC that they will start playing Halo 2 online. This way they will get even more money from people from them having to pay for X-Box Live. No way am I ever going to pay extra!!! I already pay over $50.00 a month for my ISP as it is!!!!!

  • 08.11.2005 7:26 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: meathacker
The whole problem came with the 1.07 update. I wish that update had never come about. Now when hosting a game, suddenly without warning, all of the pings will skyrocket to about 1000 and stay there. The pings eventually come down, but not until everyone leaves the game. This is not just a normal high ping situation. This never happened before the 1.07 update. I almost want to believe that someone is mad that not enough people are playing Halo 2 online. So they came up with this 1.07 "patch" which randomly causes this problem, hoping that people will get so pissed off at Halo PC that they will start playing Halo 2 online. This way they will get even more money from people from them having to pay for X-Box Live. No way am I ever going to pay extra!!! I already pay over $50.00 a month for my ISP as it is!!!!!

if you are so pissed about that, y don't u sue microsoft?

  • 08.12.2005 1:02 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

my ping is always insane, but my 256MB video card and slow as hell internet don't work that well together. A good game for me with ping is like 250-300, which is normal.

  • 08.12.2005 1:18 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

gah maybe its a bump but i've the EXACT same problem i just found this by googling my problem and its getting frustrating
there must be a solution!!
i need help!
its exactly the same problem as the dude who made the topic

  • 08.27.2005 3:19 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I would say just run sytem restore and restore your pc to before the problem occured. That always works for me when I get a serious problem I cant fix.

  • 08.27.2005 4:46 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

hmm well ye i tried it but it didnt werk
i'll try a fresh install once i find my cd key >_> gah
i really wanna play :(
Must...fix...problem

Any more suggestions?

  • 08.27.2005 4:56 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Mad Mav
hmm well ye i tried it but it didnt werk
i'll try a fresh install once i find my cd key >_> gah
i really wanna play :(
Must...fix...problem

Any more suggestions?

You can always trash your pc and get a new one. Not only is it a bit easier to start over, you can prepare for the future technologies too.

[Edited on 8/28/2005]

  • 08.28.2005 12:38 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

hehe but my pc is fine :|
its just halo

  • 08.28.2005 5:30 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

anyone at all :|
i'm kinda gettin desperate for help

is therea certain hotfix that i can uninstall?
anything?

  • 09.04.2005 7:18 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Let me ask the first guy who started the topic this question:

Were the MS hot-fixes/patches downloaded through Windows Update or did you just find them off microsoft.com?

Edit: I'm not blaming you guys, but please read what the MS patches/hot-fixes are supposed to fix before you download them. I saw one that just fixed an error that comes up if you watch "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves". I'm probably not going to do that, so why should I bother downloading that patch? Basically, read and think before you act.

If you downloaded patches off of microsoft's website rather than windows update, uninstall those that came from off the website if you can still remember which ones, unless it's a serious patch that you know you need for something that you use to work properly.

Unfortunately, for those who do not have an authentic copy of windows, microsoft is using a different updating system called "Microsoft Update", and probably won't continue to use "Windows Update". The new updating system requires you to download something that tells microsoft if your copy of windows is authentic or not. I don't think the FBI will come to your door if it says you have a copied version, but it won't let you get most updates.

[Edited on 9/4/2005]

  • 09.04.2005 11:52 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Same exact problem as described above. Computer and connection are perfect and I've gone through all the troubleshooting routes.

What I would like to add though is... it seems that my download rate is unharmed, as all the action around me (all the other players) continue playing while I get the "connection error" graphic.

I would describe the symptom as choppy, but NOT due to poor framerate. It's like... a minor warp in any one direction occurs every 1.5 to 2 seconds. I get the connection error graphic in the lower-right corner as well.

If I'm at a standstill, the game will not "Close down" but after attempting to play a little, I will always get "The game has closed down." (Which it actually has not.)

This problem does not occur with LAN games.

I am running the latest updates for just about ALL my software, including Windows.

  • 09.24.2005 5:41 PM PDT

Join the MAW Clan
X-fire username:Iggwilv
My Real Avatar

Has anyone tried going into the Add/Remove Programs and removing the hotfixes one by one starting with the most recent? We have four confirmations that the problem began with Microsoft hotfixes. I don't think it's impossible they had a bug in one of them that affected whatever applet Halo might be using. (shouts from the crowd) Outragous!! Blasphemy!! Crucify the Infidel!!

If one of you have tried that let us know its obviously going to happen to more people.

  • 09.25.2005 3:51 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

I might just try uninstalling a bunch of hot fixes sometime later...

  • 09.30.2005 11:24 AM PDT

  • Pages:
  • 1
  • 2
  • of 2