login issues (running out of solutions)

[EQJunkie42]

Let me start by saying I've read the FAQ and searched the forums and have tried every possible solution I found (and can actually do something about).

That being said, here is my problem: It started with being kicked to the log in screen every time I tried to connect to a server from the list. I tried the following in an effort to resolve this.

1: I own a physical store bought copy of EQ Titanium.
2: I tried multiple servers.
3: I'm on a wifi connection, and have tried to access the router options to allow access to port 5998, though I'm not sure I did this correctly.
4: I turned off any program that might be using up my bandwith.
5: I turned off my firewall.
6: I have a dualcore processor, and installed Process Explorer to set the affinity as per this thread http://www.eqemulator.net/forums/showthread.php?t=25327
7: I made sure my resolutions matched in Windows and EQ as well as tried multiple resolutions.
8: I updated my video card drivers.
9: My sound card is working just fine.
10: I don't have access to the physical router, but I was able to reboot it remotely.
11:Uninstalled Titanium and deleted any files relating to EQ in order to clear any data left over from previously patching then reinstalling.

I also tried several of the fixes listed in the afformentioned thread on dual/quad cores including running it in every compatability listed and even 640x480 mode and disable visual themes and every combination there of.
I read one post regarding updating Directx so I tried that. Being that I'm using XP, I can't use Directx10 so I downloaded the latest version I could of 9 and this is where my new problem *twitch* arrives.
Now, whenever I log in, it just sits there on the "Loading the server, please wait..." window and never actually loads the server select screen or even gives me a timed out message. Also I was looking on the server list on EQEmu and it shows all the servers as being down, even though I called my friend who was playing just fine.

Here are my stats:
Windows XP Home Ed. SP3
Pentium Celeron Dual Core 2.4GHz
2G Ram
GeForce 9800 GT 1G

If anyone can think of something I missed I would appreciate it.

[KLS]

Have you ever connected to the servers?

Start your game, login to the login server. Try to login to a server and then when it dumps you exit out of the game and post your ./logs/dbg.txt file with anything you don't want posted redacted.

Make note of the server you try to login and make sure it's one of the more popular ones. The client has some *okay* logging of the initial login process and helps figure out where it went wrong.

[EQJunkie42]

My problem now is that I can't even get to the server screen, but here is the dbg file.

2010-03-08 23:15:41 Starting EverQuest (Build Oct 31 2005 10:33:37)
2010-03-08 23:15:41 Timezone: UTC-8h00m
2010-03-08 23:15:41 Loading graphics DLL.
2010-03-08 23:15:41 Parsing INI file .\eqclient.ini
2010-03-08 23:15:41 INI file .\eqclient.ini loaded.
2010-03-08 23:15:42 Initializing timers.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Checking critical files.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Initializing WinSock.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Enumerating 3D devices.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Found adapter #0 - NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT (6.14.11.9621)
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Adapter #0 - NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT :
2010-03-08 23:15:45 32Bit = 1, D32 = 0, D24 = 1, D16 = 1
2010-03-08 23:15:45 16Bit(565) = 1, D32 = 0, D24 = 1, D16 = 1
2010-03-08 23:15:45 16Bit(1555) = 0, D32 = 0, D24 = 0, D16 = 0
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Initializing keypress handler.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Parsing INI file .\defaults.ini
2010-03-08 23:15:45 INI file .\defaults.ini loaded.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Loading keyboard tables.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Creating window.
2010-03-08 23:15:45 Checking display driver version.
2010-03-08 23:15:46 Activating window.
2010-03-08 23:15:46 Picking a default resolution, desktop is 1280 x 1024, 32 bits
2010-03-08 23:15:46 Ratio is 1.25
2010-03-08 23:15:46 Resolution selected 1280 x 1024, 32 bits
2010-03-08 23:15:46 CRender::InitDevice: Using 32bit mode.
2010-03-08 23:15:46 CRender::InitDevice: Using vsync 0.
2010-03-08 23:15:46 CRender::InitDevice: Using 24bit depth buffer with 8 bit stencil.
2010-03-08 23:15:46 CRender::InitDevice: HardwareTnL Enabled.
2010-03-08 23:15:46 Using hardware vertex shaders.
2010-03-08 23:15:47 Initializing render system.
2010-03-08 23:15:47 Trilinear Mipmapping available.
2010-03-08 23:15:47 Vertex Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:15:47 Pixel Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:15:47 Initializing engine internals.
2010-03-08 23:15:47 CRender::InitDevice completed successfully.
2010-03-08 23:15:47 Parsing INI file ./eqlsUIConfig.ini
2010-03-08 23:15:47 INI file ./eqlsUIConfig.ini loaded.
2010-03-08 23:15:52 Trilinear Mipmapping available.
2010-03-08 23:15:52 Vertex Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:15:53 Pixel Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:15:59 Trilinear Mipmapping available.
2010-03-08 23:16:00 Vertex Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:16:00 Pixel Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:17:29 Trilinear Mipmapping available.
2010-03-08 23:17:29 Vertex Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:17:29 Pixel Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:17:31 Trilinear Mipmapping available.
2010-03-08 23:17:31 Vertex Shader Version: 3.0
2010-03-08 23:17:31 Pixel Shader Version: 3.0

[KLS]

hm, you get kicked back at the login screen? Any specific error? What is the contents of your eqhost.txt file in your EQ folder?

[trevius]

You said you don't have access to the physical router. Is that because you don't own or admin it? If you share a router, the owner of that router may have a proxy or may just be locking port 5998 or 9000. You may need to see if you can check the router config yourself or have the admin of it check it for you.

[EQJunkie42]

This is my eqhost.txt file:

[LoginServer]
Host=eqemulator.net:5998

It doesn't give me any error messages, just sits at the loading the servers screen forever.

And as for my router, I'm basically bumming wifi with their permission. (I have kind of a complicated living arrangement right now). I can get into the router settings as an admin and tried to open port 5998, although I'm only semi-literate at that kind of stuff. Do I need to know the IP Address for EQEmu or the specific server in order to open it?

[KLS]

Yeah it definitely sounds like a port is being blocked. Typically they block by port not by ip:port if you can change it.

[trevius]

Typically, unless something is specifically blocking port 5998 or 9000, there should be no problem. You really shouldn't have to port forward either of those ports in order to play. They just need to not be blocked or port forwarded to another IP on the LAN.

Have you tried disabling Windows Firewall? You mentioned turning off your firewall, but I don't know if you are referring to the Windows Firewall or if you also had an extra firewall software running as well.

Either way, considering your internet connection setup, it does seem most likely that you are being blocked by the owner of your wifi connection. If the connection is just through a neighbor's home router, then it shouldn't be an issue normally unless they have added special security stuff. But, if your connection is through some type of public wifi connection (like a McDonald's Public Access Point for example), then they almost certainly block the needed ports by using a proxy.

[EQJunkie42]

Ok well, I went ahead and forwarded ports 5998 and 9000 anyway (can't hurt right) and turned off my firewall and now I'm at least back where I started. getting booted back to log in from picking a server. I did get a message once while trying a different server that said Error 1017: cannot connect...check for updates...etc.

[trevius]

You said you remotely restarted the router, but if possible, it would be good if you could get the owner to power it off completely as well as their modem, power them back on (unplug and plug back in). The problem is that sometimes certain routers and modems can get some weird routing or port issues if left on for long periods of time and a power cycle can normally fix it if that is the problem. But, depending on the model of the router, it may happen again, in which case, I would suggest either removing all unrequired port forwards, or even better would be to restore the router defaults by holding down the reset button for like 15 seconds and setting the router back up again. This used to be a common issue for older linksys routers (like before Cisco bought them).

Other than port issues, client version issues (due to patching or whatever), and IP limiting, there aren't many more possible causes as far as I know for the symptoms you are seeing. Maybe try connecting to PEQ to see if you can connect there at all, so we at least know you are connecting to a perfectly functional server.

[EQJunkie42]

Alright, I'll give that a shot. Otherwise, I may just have to wait until I'm living somewhere where I can get a better internet setup. Thanks for all your help.