I have been playing Asheron's Call off and on for about 7 years now. I have been lucky in that I have never had any serious problems... Until about 5 weeks ago.


Here's what is happening:


About 8 out of 10 times that I log in, I get this error - "Failed to enter chat room". It happens on every character, on every server, regardless of time of day. The result is that my General and Trade channels don't work.


The only way to fix it is to log out and back in repeatedly and hope I don't get the error. No big deal, right? Well, it probably wouldn't be, but every 2nd or 3rd time I try to log back in, ACClient crashes which means having to re-launch the game and keep trying.


I have been in continuous contact with Turbine for about a month now, and we can't seem to pin down a cause. We are at the point now where they are examining my system information files, thinking maybe it's a program on my machine that is causing this.


We have tried the following so far: verified that ports 9000-9013 are open for AC. Verified that ports 2900-2913 are open for Turbine chat services. Clean boots. Selective start-ups. Disabling all background applications and system services. Virus scans. Spyware scans. Safe mode. Modified the userpreference.ini file. Obviously, we tried with and without Decal Verified that the modem/gateway is using the NAT protocol. Bypassed the gateway. Tried a different modem. Turbine took control of my account to try and duplicate the error on their machines, and couldn't. Verified that my ISP is not using packet shaping or a Fair Usage policy. Ran PingPlotter in background to trace the route during connection to server. Un-installed, downloaded and re-installed AC several times. Un-installed, downloaded and re-installed Decal and each individual plug-in. Ran all of the common sense Network connection, HD and System diagnostics.


So now I turn to you folks for your valued opinions. If you have any ideas, please don't hesitate to share. I am very anxious to fix this and I am open to trying anything at this point.


I must say though, that I really don't believe it's something specific to my machine. Like I said, I have been running AC on this machine for about 7 years with no problems. The only changes to the system during that time were a RAM increase (last year) and a new Video card (about 2 or 3 years ago), so those shouldn't be an issue. I have also talked to several people in game who report that they have had this problem too, so that makes me doubt even more that the problem is on my end.


Again, if you have any input/suggestions, please share I am providing a Decal export because I know somebody will ask for it Below the export is my userpreference.ini file.


I thank all of you in advance for your opinions.


Decal (DenAgent.exe) version: 2.9.6.0


type, enabled, name, version, clsid

Plugins, 1, Radar Add-on, 1.2.0.49, {CA23F8D7-7E71-423A-A928-BC5CDD8FBD96}

Plugins, 1, GoArrow, 1.2.0.1, {46BBF551-8578-4A59-B2FB-B5D9F4C719FA}

Plugins, 1, Decal Hotkey System, 2.9.6.0, {6B6B9FA8-37DE-4FA3-8C60-52BD6A2F9855}

Plugins, 1, AmmoGimp, 1.4.1.0, {ED2A6D06-C27F-4A37-8043-D7E3B827F878}

Plugins, 1, SkunkVision, 1.0.0.7, {B8B64AFD-3D96-490D-A70B-CE962227148A}

Plugins, 1, MiniMap, 1.1.0.104, {92C09018-E815-4C22-987B-8E553154146E}

Plugins, 0, Make It!, 5.9.7.0, {70DD2CC6-E638-4F43-9F15-C84A0FC7DC76}

Plugins, 1, AgentZ, 1.0.0.0, {359E547B-5302-4134-80F2-3BE5C31EC828}

Plugins, 1, LifeTank X, 11.9.0.7, {910C0F8E-827A-4E35-A980-50D57D0B1296}

Plugins, 1, Mule Trade It!, 0.0.0.368, {9D762D6E-6444-485A-B242-C50386013763}

Plugins, 1, Quest Timer, 2.4.0.2, {BB51962C-2EEE-4E67-A032-EEC1F11E66C8}

Network Filters, 1, Echo Filter 2, 2.9.6.0, {34239EAD-6317-4C40-A405-193BA5232DD8}

Network Filters, 1, Character Stats Filter, 2.9.6.0, {4540C969-08D1-46BF-97AD-6B19D3C10BEE}

Network Filters, 1, World Object Filter, 2.9.6.0, {53092D1B-F0B0-46FF-BF11-8F031EC9B137}

Network Filters, 1, Decal FileService, 2.9.6.0, {5E9B2FC3-C251-4589-8CE3-2BCA542B98B6}

Network Filters, 1, Identify Queue Filter, 2.9.6.0, {B0C05A9A-273D-4BC4-B7BA-E27CF94C8EF4}

Network Filters, 1, SpellFilter, 2.9.6.0, {C2D43735-BE7E-4829-AF73-F2E7E820EB16}

Network Filters, 1, Darkside Filter, 11.9.0.7, {F93FD48F-BA68-4BF5-A7B3-7908D1634331}

Services, 1, Decal .NET Lifetime Service, 2.9.6.0, {71A69713-6593-47EC-0001-0000000DECA1}

Services, 1, Decal Dat Service, 2.9.6.0, {37B083F0-276E-43AD-8D26-3F7449B519DC}

Services, 1, Decal Render Service, 2.9.6.0, {FB3C8286-88ED-4B4D-B413-94B40F346239}

Services, 1, Decal Inject Gateway Service, 2.9.6.0, {FEFE5CAB-10E4-404F-AD4D-184BCB506099}

Services, 1, Decal Input Service, 2.9.6.0, {B33307BA-706D-474A-80B9-70BB8D13EF3E}

Services, 1, Decal Networking Service, 2.9.6.0, {C8C406F8-BA2E-4964-8B04-FF38394A8E0E}

Services, 1, Decal D3DService, 2.9.6.0, {F0CC07A0-2C89-4FA4-9356-714665BC2F8B}

Surrogates, 1, Decal.Adapter Surrogate, 2.9.6.0, {71A69713-6593-47EC-0002-0000000DECA1}

Surrogates, 1, Prefilter Network Filter Surrogate, 2.9.6.0, {443D4A68-5422-4E0C-9460-973F8FBDB190}

Surrogates, 1, ActiveX Plugin Surrogate, 2.9.6.0, {7559F22F-C56F-4621-AE08-9C354D799D4B}

Surrogates, -1, Version 1 Plugin Surrogate, 2.9.6.0, {3D837F6E-B5CA-4604-885F-7AB45FCFA62A}

Input Actions, 1, Delay Input Action, 2.9.6.0, {324D76B8-D8C7-4A81-B867-E4E1F874E488}

Input Actions, 1, Mouse Move Input Action, 2.9.6.0, {57D18578-0BF0-4DE5-A0A9-E7CB531C0429}

Input Actions, 1, Restore Input Action, 2.9.6.0, {6EE2F682-7129-44BE-84B9-787BAE35EC1C}

Input Actions, 1, Polled Delay Input Action, 2.9.6.0, {762335B2-2274-4BB4-8B1F-F7286C949FF7}

Input Actions, 1, Typing Input Action, 2.9.6.0, {9CDCEEDC-F8AC-42D5-9A05-52B9346D00A4}

Input Actions, 1, Event Input Action, 2.9.6.0, {D6E4BD19-4900-4515-BCE2-A9EA4AAE2699}


Operating System:

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (Build 2600)


[Protected Storage Service] : Automatic


Decal Settings

: Timer (Default)

[Portal Path] : C:\Program Files\Turbine\Asheron's Call - Throne of Destiny[Launcher App] : acclient.exe

: http://update.decaldev.com

[memlocs.xml] : 24536 bytes, Version 0.0.12.2110

[messages.xml] : 54173 bytes, Version 2008.04.15.1

[Video Memory] : 392101824


D3DX Libraries (Only d3dx9_30 is required)

[d3dx9_24.dll] : Installed (9.5.132.0)

[d3dx9_25.dll] : Installed (9.6.168.0)

[d3dx9_26.dll] : Installed (9.7.239.0)

[d3dx9_27.dll] : Installed (9.8.299.0)

[d3dx9_28.dll] : Installed (9.10.455.0)

[d3dx9_29.dll] : Installed (9.11.519.0)

[d3dx9_30.dll] : Installed (9.12.589.0)


---Support Libraries ---

Note: The following libraries are not necessary for Decal to function and are only provided to be of use to plugin developers.


.NET Frameworks

[v1.0.3705] (1.0 Final) : Not Installed

[v1.1.4322] (1.1 Final) : Not Installed

[v2.0.50215] (2.0 Beta 2) : Not Installed

[v2.0.50727] (2.0 Final) : Installed


C++ Libraries

[msvbvm60.dll] : Installed (6.0.98.2)

[atl70.dll] : Not Installed

[mfc70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)

[msvcr70.dll] : Installed (7.0.9466.0)

[msvcp70.dll] : Not Installed

[atl71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)

[mfc71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)

[msvcr71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3052.4)

[msvcp71.dll] : Installed (7.10.3077.0)


Microsoft XML Libraries

[msxml3.dll] : Installed (8.90.1101.0)

[msxml4.dll] : Installed (4.20.9848.0)


---Video Device Information---

[Device] : RADEON 9800 SERIES

[Device Name] : \\.\DISPLAY1

[KeyDeviceID] : Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_4E481FD3&REV_00

[KeyDeviceKey] : \Registry\Machine\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Video\{4C2A4857-76E7-4027-99F2-23FF688EA457}\0000

[Manufacturer] : ATI Technologies Inc.

[ChipType] : ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4E48)

[DACType] : Internal DAC(400MHz)

[Revision] :

[MemoryLocalised] : 256.0 MB

[MemoryEnglish] : 256.0 MB

[DisplayLocalised] : 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)

[DisplayEnglish] : 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)

[DisplayWidth] : 1280

[DisplayHeight] : 1024

[DisplayBpp] : 32

[RefreshRate] : 60

[MonitorName] : Philips 109B (109B2)

[MonitorMaxRes] : 1920,1440

[DriverName] : ati2dvag.dll

[DriverVersion] : 6.14.0010.6822

[DriverAttributes] : Final Retail

[DriverLangEnglish] : English

[DriverLangLocal] : English

[DriverDateEng] : 6/2/2008 23:21:06

[DriverDateLocal] : 6/2/2008 23:21:06

[DriverSize] : 306688

[MiniVdd] : ati2mtag.sys

[MiniVddDateEng] : 6/3/2008 02:20:54

[MiniVddDateLocal] : 6/3/2008 02:20:54

[MiniVddSize] : 3100160

[Vdd] : n/a

[RenderWindow] : Yes

: No

[Debug] : No

[Signed] : No

[SignValid] : No

: {D7B71EE2-0D08-11CF-C566-426EA1C2CB35}

[DDIVer] : 9

[DDIVerEng] : 9 (or higher)

[DDIVerLocal] : 9 (or higher)

: 0

[VendorID] : 0x1002

[DeviceID] : 0x4E48

[SubSystemID] : 0x4E481FD3

[RevisionID] : 0x0000

[WHQL Level] : 0

[NoHardware] : 0

[DDAccelEnabled] : Yes

[3DAccelExists] : Yes

[3DAccelEnabled] : Yes

[AGP Enabled] : Yes

[AGPExists] : Yes

[AGPExistsValid] : Yes


--------------------------------------------------------------------------


[Render]

FieldOfView=90.00

SceneryDrawDistance=Medium

DisplayAdapter=0

LandscapeDetailTextures=True

ScreenBrightness=0.36

AspectRatio=Normal

TextureFiltering=Sharp

LandscapeDrawDistance=High

GraphicsPerformance=0.00

AutomaticDegrades=True

DegradeDistance=50.00

TextureDetail=High

MultiPassAlpha=False

BuildingDetailTextures=False

[Net]

ComputeUniquePort=False

BindInterface=

UserSpecifiedPort=9000

ConnectionSpeed=0.00

[Sound]

SoundFeatures=Stereo

AmbientSoundVolume=1.00

PlaySoundOnlyWhenActive=False

SoundDisabled=False

InterfaceSoundVolume=1.00

AmbientSoundDisabled=False

InterfaceSoundDisabled=False

SoundVolume=1.00


InvertMouseLookYAxis=False

KeymapFile=acclient.keymap

MouseLookSmoothingAmount=0.00

MouseLookSensitivity=0.25

[Camera]

AdjustmentSpeed=40.00

Stiffness=0.45

AlignToSlope=True

[Misc]

TooltipDelay=0.25

TooltipEnable=True


ChatFontSize=Large

ChatFontFace=Tahoma

[Display]

RefreshRate=Auto

Resolution=1024x768

FullScreen=True

SyncToRefresh=False


UseIME=False

 

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hiya


I am not a computer expert and am running a little more recent machine

same operating system window xp pro.

one difference i see, i run sp2 and have not updated to sp3

I have seen some blogs and chat room comments that sp3 causes problems

I will look and see if i can find some of the urls, but right now cannot think of the sites.

good luck


ixtl

Try opening the old ports:


UDP 9000-9013

UDP 2008-2010

UDP 2100-2150

UDP 5001

UDP 5002

TCP 8081

I get that a lot too....and FYI..you don't have to relog to try and get them back in, just go to the char panel and uncheck the rooms...apply...recheck chat rooms...apply agian and it works


Why it happens I have no idea...but this is much easier than reloging.


Nia

 

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I also have that happen randomly... And the above poster is right, just uncheck/check them in your in game settings panel.

 

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Wow, thanks for the replies I'll go ahead and open all of the other ports listed here. I'll also try the un-check, re-check idea.


Thank you all.

 

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Well, neither of those things worked for me

 

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Did you uncheck, apply, then recheck, apply?

 

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The uncheck, apply, recheck, apply doesn't always work. I've had the same problem happen to me at times. Usually when switching between characters one right after another.

 

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Yes, I did un-check, apply, re-check, apply. Had to resort back to the log out, log in routine.

 

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