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[StarCraft] Troubleshooting IPX problems
(Click here to view the original thread with full colors/images)
Posted by: OTS Staff
<font color="#FFFFCC"><b>TROUBLESHOOTING IPX PROBLEMS</b></font>
<font size="1">- compiled by <b>Ion Silverbolt</b></font>
- <a href=#f>What is an IPX Network</a>
- <a href=#a>Can't see IPX game</a>
- <a href=#b>Can't create game using the IPX option(Installing IPX)</a>
- <a href=#c>Error Initializing the IPX protocol</a>
- <a href=#d>Waiting for Players error</a>
- <a href=#e>Slow or Choppy IPX Connections</a>
- <a href=#f>AOL Issues</a>
<font color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name=f>What is an IPX Network</b></font>
IPX is a protocol used by a network to connect two or more computers.
To use an IPX network connection you must have a network card that supports the IPX protocol in each computer.
<font color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name=a>Can't see IPX game</a></b></font>
If your network uses Ethernet, you should verify that all computers are using the same settings.
To change the settings:- Click on the "Start Button"
- Select "Settings"
- Select "Control Panel"
- Double-click on the "Network" icon
- Find and select the section of your networking list that mentions IPX
- Click "Properties"
- Click "Advanced"
- Set "Frame Type" to 802.3
Note: If you have a network administrator, check with him/her for the correct frame type settings on your network.- Set "Max Connections" to 16
- Set "Max Sockets" to 32
It is also possible that IPX is either not configured correctly on all of the systems trying to play, or that IPX is configured for use on a different network device such as a Dial Up Adapter.
If you have a network administrator, you will want to contact him/her about properly configuring IPX.
You can check to see if IPX is set up for your network card by doing the following:- Click on the "Start Button"
- Click on "Settings"
- Select "Control Panel"
- Double-click on the "Network" icon
If IPX is setup for your network card,then one of the IPX entries should mention your network card (or NIC).
For example, it could say "IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol ? NE2000 compatible" (if the only IPX entries say something like "IPX dialup adapter" then IPX is not configured correctly).
If you don't currently have the IPX protocol installed under Windows, you will need to install it. Check the topic right below here for details.
<font color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name=b>I can't create a game using the IPX option</a></b></font>
The steps to install the IPX protocol manually for Windows 95,98,ME are:- Put your Windows CD into your CD-ROM drive
- Click on the Start button
- Select Settings
- Select Control Panel
- Double-click on the Network icon
- Click Add
- Select Protocol
- Click Add
- Select Microsoft from the list
- Select IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol
- Click OK
The system should now find the CD in the drive and copy some files onto your system. When it is done, you will be prompted to restart your system. Once your system has restarted, you will have IPX/SPX installed and operating on your system.
The steps to install the IPX protocol manually for Windows NT are:- Select The Start Button
- Select Settings
- Select Control Panel
- Select Network
- Select Protocol
- Make sure the NWLink IPX/SPX Compatible Transport is loaded.
- Select the NWLink IPX/SPX Compatible Transport and Select Properties, Make sure that the Frame Type is set to Ethernet 802.3.
Steps for Windows 2000 are:- Right click on "My Network Places"
- Select "properties"
- Right click on the proper Network card
- Select "Properties"
- Click on "Install"
- Select "Protocol"
- Click "add"
- Select "NWLink IPX/SPX Compatible Transport Protocol"
- Set the frame type to 802.3 if needed
<font color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name=c>Error Initializing the IPX protocol</a></b></font>
For whatever reason,your computers have stopped using the IPX Protocol. If you have a network administrator, you will want to contact him/her about properly configuring IPX.
One way to find the reason your computer has stopped using the IPX Protocol is to remove all protocols but IPX/SPX for your network card and see if you can still transfer files or access resources with other computers on the network.- Click on the "Start Button"
- Select "Settings"
- Select "Control Panel"
- Double-click on the "Network" icon
- Verify that you are using IPX for your Network Interface Card (NIC) on all computers.
- Remove Protocols one by one until only the IPX/SPX compatible protocol is left.
- Then click on "ok" and restart the computer.
If you are not able to transfer files or access resources chances are there is a problem with the NIC’s IPX drivers and you should contact the NIC manufacturer or your System Administrator.
<font color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name=d>Waiting for Players error</a></b></font>
For one reason or another some of the systems have stopped communicating with each other.
Usually if you wait a moment, the game will continue. However if it does not, there is probably a more serious problem.
Try disabling music on all of the systems. This should free CPU time and resources. This allows the game to devote more of its time to networking.
Adjust the Network Latency option.- To do so click on menu (or push 'F10')
- Click on Options (or push 'O')
- Click on Network (or push 'N')
Make sure that you have closed as many programs running in the background as possible. If your still having problems, click <a href=#a>here</a>.
<font color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name=#e>Slow or Choppy IPX Connections</a></b></font>
While this is rare, performance degradation is usually related to low memory conditions.
Try disabling music on all systems and make sure that you have closed all unneeded programs prior to running Starcraft. Hit CTRL+ALT+DEL and only have systray, explorer, and point32 if you have it. Also leave any other programs there that you may need.
If this does not help, try disabling sound. Also please take note that slower video cards can affect the network performance. This is due mostly to Starcraft trying to equalize the performance over the network connection.
If none of these solutions fix the problem, it is possible that you have some sort of hardware conflict either in your network or in one or more of the systems playing.
For information on checking the settings for your IPX network click <a href=#a>here</a>.
<font color="#FFFFFF"><b><a name=#f>AOL Issues</a></b></font>
AOL can sometimes conflict with the IPX protocol. Try uninstalling AOL and then try the IPX game over the LAN. If it works, try re-installing AOL and it shouldn't conflict anymore.
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