Corrupted packet flow? Wtf?

[Sophisticated Savage]

I keep getting kicked, over and over again due to Punkbuster claiming I have a corrupted packet flow. What the hell is that? What steps do I take to get it fixed? Any help will be greatly appreciated as I spent all day downloading PR.

This has never happened to me before, in BF2 or any other mods.

(Mind you I just installed PR, and haven't played BF2 in 2 years...)

EDIT: Not sure if this it the right section for this topic... but I couldn't find anything else more suitable.

[Makee]

Update manually your PB using pbsetup.exe (you have to download it first from here).

More on PB issues here.

[Sophisticated Savage]

Yeah I saw that topic but didn't read anything about the packet flow issue. Either way, thanks.

Just tried it again and was able to play a pretty fun game on the TG server. Then the server restarted and I tried to join another and now I am getting the handshaking crap. Going to download the updates...

Will post here if I have success.

[thepalerider]

Corrupted packet flow error will pop up when your packets(game data to the server) are consistently getting delayed or dropped. There is some tolerance on the server, light packet loss will make your game jumpy due to your not getting on time game data. Too much packet loss and your dropped.

Some routers with 'packet inspection' turned on can also trigger a disconnect when game data or voip traffic triggers a false "ping flood"attack and the router shuts down needed ports cutting off packet flow to protect your network,.
So try turning packet inspection off to see if that helps.
If you have a busy network you can also get dropped if your packets are consistently getting delayed due to high traffic.( your ping jumps way up from time to time)
You can check your ping with a free tool like Plotter Freeware 1.1
Always download from sites you know and trust.
Always scan new download be for you run then as well.
If your running Xp you can tune up your internet connection with TCP Optimizer to maximize throughput.
check out speed guides web site
click here to use their TCP/IP Analyzer
results will show if you can improve throughput.

Having a router like D-links gamers lounge, that can prioritize traffic( they call it GameFuel), can make a night and day difference.
This GameFuel improves your online gaming experience by ensuring that your game traffic is prioritized over other network traffic, such as FTP or Web. This is of corse much more helpful on networks with more than one user, but if you like to download bit torret or other large files in the background while gaming you'll be glad you have one that can prioritize or 'shape' traffic.

So the question is where is the bottle neck? Is it inside the network (your PC to your router) or outside (modem to game server)
Inside a better router should help.
Outside improved throughput should help

Before you go online to join a server
you should:

1. Download pbsvc
2. Start pbsvc installer, you should see options for install, uninstall, test.
3. Run the Uninstaller
4. Restart your computer.
5. reinstall punk buster files with pbsvc( if your using Vista DO NOT set compatibility to XP, run as admin ok)
6. After pcsvc installs, click the "test" option to check the punk buster install you just did.
5. Make sure it comes back "all green"
6.Download pbsetup(pbsvc DOES NOT install pbsetup.
If your using Vista DO NOT set compatibility to XP, run as admin ok)
7.Create a pbsvc installer shortcut AND pbsetup program shortcut on your desktop.
8.Run pbsetup (from the shortcut on your desktop) add BF2 to the games list, then hit update."

(pbsvc installs the punk buster 'engines' or applications.
PBsetup installs the files/gas the 'engines run)


It is recommended that you restart your system after you install/uninstall programs
to ensure all installed components, files and registry entries are correctly installed or removed.
Many have posted just reinstalling with pbsvc
And updating pb with pbsetup,
Didn't fix their CTD ,"handshaking failed" or "Losing Key Packets" pb issues
In till they restarted before reinstalling

This is likely more of a Vista issue
because Vista was released after bf2
so pb is playing catch up with Vista.
That is why you're asked to first uninstall pb
The pb bf2 installs is an older version than doesn't work
well with Vista. Now It may be the older version works just fine with XP I don't know.
I do know I haven't read on PBs web site xp users don't need to upgrade.
But when you think about it It seams likely PB would want to develop one version that works for both.
The key here Is use pbsvc if your having problems.

Make sure your firewall has permission for:

BF2.EXE
PBSETUP.EXE
(search for your location)

PNKBSTRA.EXE
path:
C:\WINDOWS\SYSWOW64\PNKBSTRA.EXE
or (not 100% sure but for 32 bit O/S I think it's)C:\WINDOWS\SYSWOW32\PNKBSTRA.EXE
PnkBstrB.exe
path:
"C:\Users\"your user name here"\AppData\Roaming\PnkBstrB.exe"





I run Vista. I had a few 'handshaking and 'Corrupted Packet Flow' errors after installing v8.
I downloaded the newest pbsvc and automatically set compatibility to XP before running it.
BIG MISTAKE!
I started to CTD on map load!


Tried everything I could think of but nothing worked in till I thought "maybe pbsvc was written with Vista in mind so I tried unchecking compatibility to XP.
BINGO!!
CTD stopped!!!

The most common cause of 'Connection to server has been lost' seems to be caused by punk buster and firewall issues.
Remember it is recommended that you restart your system after you install/uninstall programs to ensure all installed components, files and registry entries are correctly installed or removed.
So it is key you restart after using pbsvc uninstall.

Hope you find this helpful,
Good luck

[Sophisticated Savage]

I don't get this... it was working fine for a few rounds and then all of a sudden I am getting that handshaking problem again. I'll start going through all the steps you listed until I find a solution.

Thanks again for the help!

[Sophisticated Savage]

Alright well I did all of the steps, and the game worked for a bit.

But now it is doing it again. I tried every one of the listed steps and I still am getting the handshaking problem - but the wierd thing is it is random. Sometimes it lets me play... while other times it kicks me immediately. Thoughts?

[thepalerider]

Now that you have to newest punk buster installed, I find quickly reinstalling it with pbsvc and skipping the reboot works sometimes. Also choosing a different server and let it load 15 to 50% then stop it. For some reason when you go back to the server you wanted in the first place, you don't get the handshake error.
Deadfast has posted several fixes that work for him, so check those out.

Good luck

[the_m01e]

I recently installed PR, and the first couple of rounds were cool. Then I got the Corrupt Packet Flow. I tried the Punkbuster reinstall but that didn't seem to help. Also, I've installed the maps, but they won't show up.

Any suggestions? Any idea if they're linked? Really would like the help.

[thepalerider]

You did install 'Core' and 'levels' right?
Check inside the 'levels' folder
Path running Vista:
C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\mods\pr\levels

You didn't try to start a single player game did you?

The Single Player element of the Project Reality mod (known as PRSP) is not incorporated within the mod's multiplayer files. Project Reality is primarily a multiplayer game, singleplayer is an add on that you have to download and install separately.

Check the PR SinglePlayer Download links for download links and installation instructions. Be sure to pay close attention to the install process.

If you've done everything right and still can't see any maps to make a local game, quit out of game.
Go to your BF2 folder inside your documents folder. back up the profile folder 001 or 002 which ever is higher or both if you want to play it safe. Once you have a backup(zip archive) trash everything inside the profile except the zip backup. Restart PR. You will have to link up your online account again. Once that's done go to deploy.
Create local
you should see the maps again.
Quit out, then go back to the profile folder and delete 001 and/or 002.
Replace them with the backup (it has all your custom key binds). That's it.
If it didn't work consider reinstalling 'levels' again.

Hope it helped

[warmonger89]

Originally Posted by Sophisticated Savage

I keep getting kicked, over and over again due to Punkbuster claiming I have a corrupted packet flow. What the hell is that? What steps do I take to get it fixed? Any help will be greatly appreciated as I spent all day downloading PR.

This has never happened to me before, in BF2 or any other mods.

(Mind you I just installed PR, and haven't played BF2 in 2 years...)

EDIT: Not sure if this it the right section for this topic... but I couldn't find anything else more suitable.

I'm having the same errors, I made a thread about it as well:

http://www.realitymod.com/forum/f27-...er-errors.html