Punkbuster and Windows 7

[Darkpowder]

Windows 7 Build 7100.

Only thing installed Creative X-Fi drivers and latest nvidia drivers for win 7 8800GTX 185.85 international.

Install BF2 - I didn't install pb during install.
Install SF if appropriate.
Install 1.41 patch.


- Install Pb services - http://www.evenbalance.com/downloads/pbsvc/pbsvc.exe
- Install and then use the test button..
- Manage My computer - and ensure the two punkbuster services can interact with the desktop.


- Start a and b punkbuster services if they aren't started.
- I then installed pbsetup onto my C: drive where the game is installed. and added BF2 and updated as usual.
PunkBuster Online Countermeasures

- Check your console that pb is making contact.

I was then able to play BF2 for over an hour with no problems on a PB enabled server.w
- I will do some more testing on other servers - and then get PR installed to see if that all works fine with PB too.

[space]

I was going to post this earlier - plenty of people on the EA forum are saying that they can run BF2+PB on Win7 with no problems as well. Unfortunately some of them are saying they're having problems with the new BF2 1.5 Beta2+PB on Win7, but since Beta2 has only just been released, it could just be their set-up.

[Robbi]

Sounds like theyve started supporting it with the new RC.

About time

Time for a re download me thinks

[Darkpowder]

Errors still reported with PR:
Unknown Windows API function 131133 - (this is is with almost vanilla win7 install).
Packetflow errors reported.
I have a ticket open with evenbalance so i will update as i get some answers.

--

From EVENBALANCE:-
Note #2: This is due to PunkBuster not supporting Windows 7, and we will not support Windows 7 until it is released to the general public for purchase. I'm sorry, but we do not support beta or release candidate operating systems.

--

I would personally log a ticket with them just so they understand the interest, but this is their answer.

[=BTB= LoftyB]

Damn, was lookin forward to puttin RC1 on my comp. Thanks for testing, lets hope something gets sorted cos im sick of Vista, and didnt like XP.

[space]

Windows 7 & BF2 - Electronic Arts UK Community

There's one person on that thread who explains how he got it to work. I've read several other comments dotted around the EA forum, where other people have managed it too.

EDIT : Just seen someone post this link somewhere else on the EA forum :

Battlefield 2 Under WINDOWS 7 FIXED!!!

Also the DICE guy has said hes talking to evenbalance about Win7. To be fair, I can understand evenbalance not releasing fixes for beta OS's, but now that the current Win7 release is probably going to be final, Im sure they'll offer official support before the release date ( which is going to be October apparently )

[Darkpowder]

That solution does not work on 7100 build x64.

32 bit users have reported no problems with punkbuster so long as reasonable admin privs are set.

Solved Punkbuster - Page 16 - Windows 7 Forums

Have a look at this thread (be careful with any solution posted).

Main conclusion so far is:

No problems when connecting to a Windows 7 server running the application:

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Each fingerprint is compared with a list of signatures on PB server.
If the fingerprint does not match, a kick is issued for the player along with the infamous

"UNKNOWN WINDOWS API FUNCTION [131xxx]"

message.
Depending on PB server/client versions and game, this specific check might be executed immediately upon join or several minutes thereafter.
There have been rare occurrences where this specific check was never executed thus letting the player remain on server without being kicked.

---

More information on the core of the problem:-
--
credit to: http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/572-p ... er-21.html
The cause is simple. Its the services. Pnkbstr A Says fulltime and always remains ticked for "Allow to interact with desktop"

Pnkbstr B however is the cuplrit. Pnkbstr B Dissappears when you close a game and appears when yous start one so the only way to work with it is to run a punkbuster game and make it come out of its little shell.

The problem is that it updates and refreshes ever eh...3 minutes or so. not a big deal for it but when it has to be seen by the server when the server goes around checking punkbuster API codes, Yours is going to fail because it has refreshed and that TICK mark has dissappeared.

Is there a way we can edit Pnkbstr B to make it so that the Tick stays there? or is like unremoveable? I think that's going to be our ticket item
---

[Robbi]

If you edit Punkbuster B then you will probably end up with a global ban on your hands to be fair...

[Darkpowder]

Problem also being discussed on technet:

Punkbuster doesnt work with Win 7 64bit

Punkbuster Support for Windows 7 Petition

While we are still monitoring the forums and researching why it doesn't work, don't forget to sign the petition people.

[space]

Looks like it will work now guys:

Evenbalance pushed out an update for PB and Battlefield 2. They say it should work fine now for Windows 7 32 bit and maybe 64 bit but they are still working on the 64 bit OS.

Windows 7 & BF2 - Page 2 - Electronic Arts UK Community

[smee]

would be nice to know when they sort the 64bit version out. Not bothering till then with windows 7

[=BTB= LoftyB]

Ive tested on a few servers. apart from a couple of graphical glitches (that were fixed by setting compatibilty), I have found no problems. Not been kicked yet. so all seems to be going well.

[Darkpowder]

thanks for the heads up on that, nicely discovered.

I can confirm that today after a bit of a run around Kashan, i had no problems connecting to the test server at least.
There was no client-side update from pbsetup today, i presume it was server side.
If a server admin can confirm this i would be greatful.

Otherwise i would presume EB's rules now ignore the API error reported from windows 7.

After 30 mins or so i got:

Punkbuster client: Master query sent... blah blah messages.

Without any disconnect, and that yesterday evening i was getting disconnects at that time.

If i can get some other folks to try the following.

64bit XP clean install with BF2 and current PR.
64bit Win7 clean install with BF2 and current PR.
Please also check with pbservices installed and not installed. i.e. only with pbsetup

Test team to do their bit with the same OS too, and report on the Tester forums.

[Robbi]

Getting now, my last download failed....

[=BTB= LoftyB]

I think it was a server side update. I've played most of the day on the =BTB= server with no problems. No kicks or anything. So i think Win7 x32 now has the Green Light

[space]

64bit XP clean install with BF2 and current PR works fine.

[Robbi]

Where you getting kicked on yours before lofty?

[=BTB= LoftyB]

yeah, i tried it when RC1 was released to the public, kept gettin kicked, so i went back to Vista. then I saw posts on a few different forums saying that it worked so i tried it again today and it works fine on the 6 or 7 servers ive been on to test it. The only problem I had was Graphical Glitches where the was no Road/Floor. So I set program compatibility to Vista SP1 (tried XP SP3, but still glitches on some maps) and its worked perfectly since.

[Robbi]

Cool, I'll keep an eye on it

[Darkpowder]

yeah, i tried it when RC1 was released to the public, kept gettin kicked, so i went back to Vista. then I saw posts on a few different forums saying that it worked so i tried it again today and it works fine on the 6 or 7 servers ive been on to test it. The only problem I had was Graphical Glitches where the was no Road/Floor. So I set program compatibility to Vista SP1 (tried XP SP3, but still glitches on some maps) and its worked perfectly since.

Yeah i had those glitches too, i'm sure the mapping fanatics can explain why. Clearly seen on Kashan and other similar maps.

You should be fine now mate, you shouldn't need any compatibility mode changes anymore for RC Build 7100 of win7, at least in terms of Punkbuster. Graphics wise, i'll give that a look.

The changes have been made literally overnight i think, considering the sh%tstorm the gaming community has stirred up, looks like someone got EB to release what was obviously a fix they had unofficially into live. Thats my theory.

Just heads up driver wise for compatibility i am using.

Windows 7 Build 7100 RC x64
185.85 intl forceware. 8800GTX
15.35 chipset drivers (newer ones are available for newer chipset) (from guru3d)
X-Fi beta win7 drivers for Xtreme Gamer F4tal1ty
pbsetup and pbservices installed