Parsing Game Info

Puissance · April 2005

<div class="IPBDescription">Until Connection Times Out</div> Hi,

My old computer always crashed because it overheats when gaming, but now my new computer is unable to play NS at all.

I have installed Half-Life through Steam and ran it once (Training). Then I installed NS. When I ran it, it works until I try to join a server. It gets near the end of the progress bar where it says Parsing Game Info. Unfortunately, it stays at that until my connection to the server times out. It happens on all the servers that I've tried so far.

Computer Specs:
Windows XP Pro
Intel P4-530J 3.0Ghz
MSI 915G Combo-FR
MSI (RX600) Radeon x600XT 128mb

I doubt it's a hardware issue, but I can't be certain.

Thanks for your help!

theclam · April 2005

What kind of internet connection and network setup do you have?

The_Ranger · April 2005

Check your "rate" in console. Set it to "rate 20000" if it's not already.

Puissance · April 2005

I have a Cable connection with a wireless router. Downloads up to 300kb/s at peak times and upload is at 45kb/s.

I have checked the rate and it is at "20000".

The_Ranger · April 2005

Might be the router then. What kind is it? A few seem to have problems with steam. Is it just NS or all steam games?

Kerotan · April 2005

i have this problem too but someone told me to type fs_lazy_preacach 1 in the console and now i joined servers instantly... but you have to do this every time you reload the game

Puissance · April 2005

It shouldn't be the router because I am able to play with my other computers that connect to the same router. Apparently, Half-Life parses Game Info forever, too.

BlueNovember · April 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Puissance @ Apr 26 2005, 08:06 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Apparently, Half-Life parses Game Info forever, too.  </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
Please explain.
--

Additional querries:
Do any other games hang?
Do any other Steam games hang? (Do you have any installed?)
(These questions have been asked and youve avoided them. <img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' />)
What is the router make and firmware version?

The fact that the other PCs connect does not mean it's not a router issue. Especially as it's a wireless router.

Software firewall? Including WinXP one?

TIA.

Puissance · April 2005

Here are the games I have installed on Steam (on new computer):
Half-Life 2
Counter-Strike: Source
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch
Half-Life
Natural Selection

For Half-Life multiplayer, I also see Parsing Game Info until I time out.

B]Do any other games hang?[/B]
All single player works. Multiplayer does not work for all Steam games. I haven't tested Half-Life 2: Deathmatch a lot, but I've tried it with two servers and they do not connect. Same thing with the Parsing Game Info leading to a time out. I have not tested Counter-Strike: Source yet.
The game doesn't freeze the computer, I am still able to minimize or cancel the connection.

<b>Do any other Steam games hang? (Do you have any installed?)</b>
Yes. Refer to answer above.

<b>What is the router make and firmware version?</b>
Microsoft MN-500 Router
Version: V1.11.017

<b>The fact that the other PCs connect does not mean it's not a router issue. Especially as it's a wireless router.</b>
I have put my new computer where my old one used to be. I also pulled out the wireless card from my old to put into my new.

<b>Software firewall? Including WinXP one?</b>
Software firewall is Agnitum Outpost 2.6 (same as old computer).
Windows XP Built-in firewall is disabled.

Thanks for your time.

Kerotan · April 2005

try what i said works for me
cosole>>fs_lazy_precach 1
Not sure i if spelt right, but it should pop up with right spelling.

The_Ranger · April 2005

Firewall? Ports open? Did you go though the check list at steampowered.com ?

BlueNovember · April 2005

</div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Puissance @ Apr 27 2005, 12:09 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> B]Do any other games hang?[/B]
All single player works. Multiplayer does not work for all Steam games. I haven't tested Half-Life 2: Deathmatch a lot, but I've tried it with two servers and they do not connect. Same thing with the Parsing Game Info leading to a time out. I have not tested Counter-Strike: Source yet.
The game doesn't freeze the computer, I am still able to minimize or cancel the connection.
 </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> 
What about non-steam games?
I'm trying to determine if it is a half-life issue (most likely) or merely something relating to the connection.

The SteamPowered firewall/connection checklist is a good suggestion. I'd link to it for you, but it's filtered from here... mutter mutter.

I've not heard of fs_lazy_precach, and it even looks made up. Precache? Precache? :\ Anyone know what it actually does?
Google also has not heard of it. Still, if it works, great.

Thanks for the info. I'll keep thinking of possible solutions.

Puissance · April 2005

I have no multiplayer non-steam games at the moment.
I have opened up all the ports in router and software firewall listed at steampowered.com support.

I tried "fs_lazy_precache 1" but no luck.

But one time, I joined a 3.0.3 server with a few bots running around and it worked. But that was once without using fs_lazy_precache. It stood still at Parsing Game Info for a while, but it went into the server at least and I could play with a few bots, haha. Other 3.0.3 servers did not work.

Thanks for the support.

Kerotan · April 2005

hmm dunno what else to surgest, works for me,
make sure you type it in every time you reset the game, jus incase you didnt know lol

Puissance · April 2005

I think that command speeds up the caching, but it still stays at Parsing Game Info until time out. Is there a command to speed up parsing?

Kerotan · April 2005

i dunno the exact command but theres others too like parsing i think,
try typing fs_lazy or jus fs and look at the list and find it... iam sure there is one

Puissance · April 2005

Well, using fs, there aren't anymore commands relating to parsing. However, if I keep trying to connect, it will eventually work, haha. Changing cl_timeout doesn't seem to work, but I just have to connect and reconnect and reconnect....
But sometimes, it goes in fast for different maps.

Kerotan · April 2005

when i didnt know bout the fs command this happened too me, i liked timed out twice then i could get in

Parsing Game Info

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