possible fix for punbuster b handshaking falure

[bloodthirsty_viking]

NM, it dosent work no more=(

[Cassius]

lol at you . My "fix" is to de and reinstall it every time before I start up BF2.

[Salmik]

As we are in the subject I have one way to fix PnkBstrB.exe handshake failure (atleast it works for me don't know for others). Here's what you should try: everytime you are about to play PR, push ctrl + alt + delete, then choose running processes and quit PnkBstrA.exe and then start PR (Must be done again everytime you change server). This might seem like a terrible solution to fix it but when PR starts, running punkbusterA starts running again and for some reason it no more kicks me for PnkBstrB.exe handshaking failed (MD5tool is another thing then). I'd like to hear if it works for anyone if you decide to try. (And also recommended to reinstall pbsvc before quitting punkbusterA).

[BluDragon]

i have been suffering from this handshaking failure and connections loses for a few days now, i have tried unistalling, reinstalling PB, allow access to net for the 2nd PnkBstrB.exe and the PnkBstrK.sys in the main/pb dir. connecting directly to the modem and no router, reinstalling 1.41, done the pb_sleep 500 thing, and anything else i find when i google that people says helps.

i'll try this and post back with a result if it works.

EDIT: no go, stopping the PnkBstrA.exe process before i play doesn't appear to help me. Any other ideas? Im sick of getting d/c everytime i try to join a server. Odd thing is every so often i can get at least 15-30 minutes in just fine, most other times it the same old d/c after d/c soon as the 'join game' button should be appearing.

[Darkpowder]

Just try exiting the game, check your ports on your firewall, then update all the /pb and pb/htm files, from the punkbuster website (get all files that are rated against your OS, not just the latest one - replace any that are already in place.

[Salmik]

Okay here's exactly what I always do to make it work:
1. Uninstall pbsvc
2. Reinstall pbsvc
3. Check if it's "all green"
4. Press ctrl+alt+delete
5. Select running processes from the upper left corner (don't know for sure whether it's called "processes" because my windows isn't in english)
6. There find PnkBstrA.exe and quit it
7. Start PR and play

I noticed that when I join a server, pnkbstrA automatically starts and works for that server.Of course this is propably just be my solution to handshaking failure because after reading many threads about this problem, it seems that everyone has a different and personal fix for it and it doesn't work for others. I just think I should post my solution for others to try if it should happen to work.

Other thing I did (fixed MD5tool errors) was changing my firewall to AVG ( AVG Free - Download antivirus and antispyware software for Windows XP and Vista ). If you decide to change firewall, when installed, go to AVG Resident Shield ----> Manage exceptions and choose path:
C/WINDOWS/system32.

If these doesn't work, there's nothing else I can tell you to help that hasn't already been posted here on the forums, and you're going to have to try something to work it out yourself

[apollo]

Same for me, PR 0.75 was working fine and without warning I have this Punkbuster (pain in the) B handshaking failure.

I did everything suggested in the official board (uninstalling Punkbuster, reinstalling, Using PB setup) and it did not change anything. Some server were stable, other not at all (kick straight at starts).

Last trend : now I have the Punkbuster (pain in the) B handshaking failure systematicaly, I have to try several servers and when it works for one, it works for all. With a 2mn access time each try, oh yeah !

I hope the PR team will do something about it, because it's frustrating and a complete waste of time, unfortunatelt the community must be losing many players because of it.

[Salmik]

Originally Posted by apollo

I hope the PR team will do something about it, because it's frustrating and a complete waste of time, unfortunatelt the community must be losing many players because of it.

Ummm I don't think the PR team is responsible for these problems, therefore they can't do anything but give you advice to solve them.

[iownnoneandicantwin]

Are you running Vista? If yes please follow these steps carefully.
1.You got to delete the pb folders from your Battlefield 2 folders (Normally it should be in C : Program Files : EA Games : Battlefield 2).
2.Update your Battlefield to version 1.41 (Downloadable at Battlefield 2 Patch: Download - Dedicated 100 mbit Fast Files Hosting Servers).
3.Download pbsetup and pbsvc from Pb website.
4.Run pbsvc and click on test services when its open.
5.Keep doing that until all are green.
6.After that you click on next.
7.Click next again when you finished step 2/3.
8.Click on finish when the step 3/3 is finished.
9.Run pbsetup.
10.Click on add game when pbsetup is open.
11.Follow the instruction from pb website(PunkBuster Online Countermeasures).
12.Click on check for updates, when you're finished with add a game.
13.When you finished with that run BF2 and try to play in the servers.

[DudeofDeath]

^ After following step 1 above, reboot your computer. then continue following additional steps as needed.


I tried the above but it didn't work until I rebooted after deleting Punkbuster files, and before reinstalling them.