I am running the disconnect glitch!

[kingrey]

However, I do not want to be - can anyone help?

The problem: My system has worked flawlessly for the last 2 years. Since I got Madden 05 I have had only two disconnects. Once when my double controller extenders got loose when playing a buddy and once I don't know what happened. But only two out of what has to be 150+ games. Then, about 2 weeks ago I start having a problem. Now its up to 8 straight games where I have disconnected over the past 2 weeks or so.

Essentially everything works fine until usually the 2nd quarter. Then the screen freezes, and it says my opponent has disconnected. I have the option to continue vs. the CPU. This morning, for example, I played this dude:

http://www.easports.com/games/madden2005/onlineplay/statbook/home.jsp?platform=ps2&playername=Hogzmild&server=madden2005

So you can see - he got the loss at 10-0, but I was able to continue the game. However, being as this has happened 8 straight times the problem HAS to be me.

OK, here is what I have figured out. I am on cable modem - usually behind a router. The router runs to a switch - my PS2 is connected to the switch with 2 PCs. I bypassed the switch and disco'd again, which means it is not the PCs or the switch.

Today, I ran a line direct to the cable modem from the PS2, and disco'd again. So, its not the router or anything involved with the internal system.

I believe I am left with the following potential culprits:
- game disk
- memory card
- PS2
- Network adapter
- Cable Modem
- Comcast
- EA server
- Other outside influence?

I actually have an extra copy of the game somebody gave me, and I am going to go buy a new memory card today at lunch to see if swapping those out helps.

Does anyone have any suggestions for how to fix/troubleshoot the problem? Anyone seen this before?

Does the game access the memory card for info once you are online?

I am really frustrated, so if you have any ideas shoot 'em over. Sorry if this iis not 'madden strategy' but I didn't know where else to post this, and most of the traffic is here anyway.

Thanks for any help. Cheers, Ken

[JPar]

Well, I can tell you it's probably not your memory card, as it doesn't access it in-game. It MAY be the disc, but that would normally give YOU the loss.

As for troubleshooting, try the new game and memory card. And try getting a new CAt-5 cable (or Cat-6, if you want to spend the money). If it keeps happening, contact Comcast and have them replace your cable modem.

[d_neum80]

The same thing has been happening to me since yesterday. I was playing a league game yesterday and twice in the 1st quarter it just froze up and disco'd, after the rest of the game had been lag-free. So we decided we would try again today and I went to find another game. Same thing happened, I got disco'd in the 1st quarter and he was able to finish the game and he won, giving me a loss. So then, I switched from PS2 to the XBOX to see if that would work and the exact same thing happened. After that I gave up and just played on my 'chise. I had no idea what was happening, maybe it was something with the servers though, because after the game on XBOX, it wouldn't let me back online.

[jerseyjay14]

Well, I can tell you it's probably not your memory card, as it doesn't access it in-game. It MAY be the disc, but that would normally give YOU the loss.

As for troubleshooting, try the new game and memory card. And try getting a new CAt-5 cable (or Cat-6, if you want to spend the money). If it keeps happening, contact Comcast and have them replace your cable modem.

i wouldnt think it is his cable modem since he is not losing a connecting, his oppenent is

[matt308]

Were the disconnects vs. friends or people that live close to you? I ask because I played a friend twice when I first got hooked up and the exact same thing happened to me. It was early in the 2nd quarter too, just like you. Since then, I haven't had a problem. I haven't played my friend since then though. It sounds impossible, but hey you never know.

[kingrey]

Its not the Cat5 cable. When I ran the PS2 direct to modem I used a totally different cable. (My modem is over 100 feet from my PS2 so I had to get a special cord to do it).

The disconnects have been against guys I know (SOB guys) and random guys from one of the online rooms. I have no way of knowing where the random guys are physically - though against the SOB guys it has happened against a guy in Ohio and 2 guys in Canada...

Good feedback.

DNeum - have you been having any problems with your memory card at startup? My system started to not load my profile properly at startup recently. It says it can't find my profile and hit X. Then it loads everything including my profile and settings.

Thanks for the help. Cheers, Ken

[lynchmob]

Its not the Cat5 cable. When I ran the PS2 direct to modem I used a totally different cable. (My modem is over 100 feet from my PS2 so I had to get a special cord to do it).

The disconnects have been against guys I know (SOB guys) and random guys from one of the online rooms. I have no way of knowing where the random guys are physically - though against the SOB guys it has happened against a guy in Ohio and 2 guys in Canada...

Good feedback.

DNeum - have you been having any problems with your memory card at startup? My system started to not load my profile properly at startup recently. It says it can't find my profile and hit X. Then it loads everything including my profile and settings.

Thanks for the help. Cheers, KenI have the same problem at startup it wont load my profile till i hit load again.

What edition of game do you have i have CE

[kingrey]

I actually have both editions. I have never unwrapped the classic one as I went out and bought the 'cheap' version on day one. The classic version was a gift - I didn't want to switch versions because I thought you had to re-do all of your settings. However, I will be trying out the classic version tomorrow. Anyone want a disconnect loss? Thankfully most of these disco's have come in unranked games so I am not pooping on guys too badly.

Cheers, Ken

[Lucky Jackson]

that was me dneum was playing when the disc. occured twice. very strange.

never had this happen before ... so the only thing i can think of is that the EA server is having a little trouble these days.

[nikP]

The Collectors Edition definitely has problems.... I think i saw someone else post this long ago but just last week found it to be true...in Franchise i CANNOT create- a- player, so Marc Bulgers job is safe and little Nik will not be QBing the rams damnit,,,,,it locks up and freezes everytime i choose the option. Theres also a lot of 'shakiness' is the best i can put it, in the cut scenes and such when playing offline. Luckily it works smoothly for me online but i have been getting the disc read error a lot lately and sometimes have to reboot 2 or 3 times to get the game to load...........

[TNT713]

Kingrey,

Call your ISP and have them check your connection... Might be something external that you don't have control over.

Later

[kingrey]

Hurray - I actually played and got a full game in this morning !!! One in a row is a STREAK!!! Unfortunately, the game a got was with a cheater that ran the damn punt block glitch on me. BACKDATAZUP was his name, btw. (I should have known better - never play ANYONE that has 'a s s' referenced in their screen name is a cardinal rule...)

OK, here's what I did - I got a new memory card, but the PS2 would not find it. I put the old one back in and put the new one in as card 2 (not sure if I am going to keep it or not). BUT I went through the files on the memory card and there was a corrupted file on there that I deleted. Maybe that was my old profile that I was getting a load error on?

Anyway, I cleaned up the memory card, and then put in the Madden Classic edition that I had not yet opened. I logged on as normal today and played all the way through with no drops or disco's!!

I have no idea if this is going to stay fixed at this point but one good in a row is a whole stinking lot better than 8 bad ones.

Thanks for all of the advice here - I really appreciate it! I guess if you REALLY want to learn the disconnect glitch you somehow have to corrupt your memory card and game CD. I can lend you a screwdriver if you want a shot at it... ;)

Cheers, Ken

[kingrey]

Ok, after that one game that went OK, I am back on the disco train with about 5 or 6 straight dumps. The consistent things are that it seems to happen in the 2nd quarter (sometimes early 3rd) and it almost always happens on a change of possession.

For example, I just scored on a guy, he received the kick and once he was tackled, it froze as the screen changed from the field to the play calling screen.

Things I have eliminated as the problem: My game CD (unless I now have 2 bad ones), memory card, PS2 machine, network adapter, my internal network (router, etc.), and the connection cables.

I called Comcast and they said in looking at my modem that my system performance looked OK. So it is probably not them. BTW, Comcast help line has had somebody pick up on the 2nd ring both times I called. Did you hear that Directv?

Things that it still could be: The cable modem, or EA server (or some way the EA server does not like me).

If anyone has ideas or similar experiences, I would love to know. If anyone knows how to contact EA to get help, that would be good too. Later today, I am going to start looking through the EA website...

Enjoy the football today. Cheers, Ken

[kingrey]

Guys, if any of you are having serious disconnect issues, please let me know via here or PM.

OK, I went nuclear today, and I still am having the same problem. I went out at lunch and bought a NEW PSTwo, and connected it here at work on a T1 line. So now I have a new ISP, new modem, new IP address, new console, new controller, new network adaptor and I still disconnected.

I was using the same memory card, so I got my new one out deleted all the files on it, made an entirely new account and new profile, and STILL disconnected. I am going to try tomorrow using a new game disc, creating a new account. But geez...

The disconnect always happens a certain amount of time into the game - usually in the 2nd quarter. It is almost always after I score, kickoff and the return is done. Then, when the screen is switching from the field to the playcalling screen it freezes. At that moment, my OPPONENT gets disconnected and I can continue with the game. If I am playing ranked - he gets the L and I get the result of the game.

The EA guys are totally mystified too. If anyone has any ideas, please PLEASE let me know. I am at wits end. Thanks for your help. My Madden addition needs you.

Cheers, Ken

[kingrey]

Sorry if I am annoying you guys with this, but I am continuing to post this stuff a) so if anyone runs into a similar problem you have an idea what to do, and b) to see if there is any common experiences out there.

OK, here is where I am at, and I just MIGHT be circling in on the problem finally. My current theory is that my old game CD went bad somehow, and that when it creates my profiles they are somehow not working with EA online. So, this morning at home on old PS2, I deleted all of my files off my old memory card and put my classic edition game cd in. SO, it wrote all new profiles for me. I then logged on to my old account and played a FULL game with no disconnect.

FINALLY making progress - at least I hope! Does anyone know how and when the online game accesses your profiles during play?

Thanks for all the help and advice - I really appreciate it.

Cheers, Ken

[kingrey]

I now think my problem is NOT Comcast since I had the same thing happen here at work on a different provider... I am in SF area, California.

If you think its your ISP or modem, you can try calling Comcast: 888-266-2278. They can tell you whether you have service problems, packet drop or if your modem has been offline. You should also ask them whether they are blocking ports:

UDP 6000
UDP 3658
TCP 13505
TCP 20000 through 20099

They should not be, but you never know. Comcast is trying to be big brother on usage now - blocking bittorent ports etc.

Second, look at your memory card - are there corrupted files there? If so, delete them.

Third, you can try deleting all of your profiles including your EA login. Really, the only thing you will miss is that you have to re-set your offline audibles. I deleted everything on the card except my network settings and registration data. Note, I would not do this unless you are having SERIOUS problems... My EA sports Bio is gone now, etc...

Let me know what you find out. Cheers, Ken

[kingrey]

umm.. sorry. TruBlu - don't delete your profiles - that was a one game improvement. I am back on the disco train. This is unbelievable.

I will stop posting to this until it is truly fixed now. Sorry.

Cheers, Ken

[McMadden]

umm.. sorry. TruBlu - don't delete your profiles - that was a one game improvement. I am back on the disco train. This is unbelievable.

I will stop posting to this until it is truly fixed now. Sorry.

Cheers, Ken Well I am having simular problems, just wondering if you are still getting disconnects?

[thejuice]

did u guys figure out how to fix this problem yet? i deleted my profile for one game and then i didn't have the disconnect problem, but in the following game it came back again. The other player gets a disconnect and a L (with a DNF) and I either finish the game with the cpu or i just quit and don't get it counted.

What happens:
usually 2nd quarter
right after a score by my team
after a kickoff and just as the playbook comes up
screen freezes with the playbook

How i'm set up:
new ps2
dsl cable
always play as packers w/ sherman pb and 4-6 defense

so should i be deleting every madden thing in my memory card or something? hit me back...

p.s. anyone interested in a slightly used ford bronco?