IC Won't Start (EZPad Problems)

[stargamer_nick]

I think I'm having a connection problem when I try to run the IC Stress test program.

I start the application and I have a message saying:
" You are about to be connected to the Internet to run this application. The connection will only last a few seconds, but you may choose not to be connected. If you refuse the connection you will not be able to run the application."

So I click on 'Yes" at the bottom of the message box and nothing happen.

I'm using a high-speed connection service and a broadband modem.

I've tried to start IC stress test while already being connected to the internet. Still, I had no success.

Anyone can help me solve this problem ?

Nick

[ÜberJumper]

Do you have a firewall (software or hardware)?

[stargamer_nick]

I don't have a Firewall.

[ÜberJumper]

What happens if you click "No" on that dialog box?

[stargamer_nick]

The same thing that happen when I'm clicking Yes, the box closes and nothing happen.

[ÜberJumper]

Can you post some more info about your system specs?

Operating System and DirectX version to start.

What highspeed service provider are you using?

[stargamer_nick]

System is Win98, CPU is Celeron 600Mhz, 190MB RAM.
Video Card is Hercule 4000XT.
DirectX version is DirectX 8.2
I'm using Sympatico High Speed connection service.
I have about 900MB of Hard disk space left.

[ÜberJumper]

What happens if you go into the \program files\netquartz directory and run the EZPad.exe?

[stargamer_nick]

Nothing. I know the program start because I get the "wait" mouse icon but it quickly turns back into the regular arrow icon.

[ÜberJumper]

Have you tried to uninstall and re-install (note that you will have to uninstall the Netquartz EZ Pad from the Control Panel in add remove programs)?

[stargamer_nick]

I uninstalled and reinstalled and I still have the same problem.

[ÜberJumper]

Can you see if you can open this site?

http://212.157.245.4

[stargamer_nick]

Yes. It brings me to a page where it says:
"Welcome to ez platform 1.8
Please enter the URL provided on your installation document to access to :
STRATEGY MANAGER or EZ REPORTING "

[ÜberJumper]

Nick:

I *think* The problem is in the EZ Play software... obviously it's not starting up to get the rest of the information it needs to login. The problem may be a conflict with some other application that is in your startup group, or a problem with different files on your system.

What I'd suggest doing, is going into Start>Programs>Accessories>System Tools>System Information... in system information, find the tools menu, and locate the startup options. In there, try removing everything from the startup that you can see (you can go back in here later and re-add it). Your system should boot, but not load anything aside from windows. Try running the IC Demo after that.

If that does not work, please come back and report the status again.

Thanks for your patience;

[stargamer_nick]

Actually, I don't have the startup options in the system information program but I can access it manually from my windows system directory. I've remove everything I could and I've even remove almost everything in my Close Program panel (Ctrl-Alt-Del). I think that the problem might be related to my ISP or the fact I have the DirectX SDK install on my computer (although I've set it in Retail Install).

[ÜberJumper]

You have no other problems playing Multiplayer games? Can you uninstall the DX SDK and Install DX8.2 (not clear on what you mean when you've set it in Retail Install)?

Your Sympatico hook up... can you play other games on it? What province are you in?

[stargamer_nick]

DirectX 8 and above allows programmer to use the Debug or the Retail library. The debug library take longer to compile and all program run slower. The retail library is similar to the DirectX library ship with all games.

As for me Sympatico, I've never had any specific problem with games. The problem is with IE where a box pop-up asking if I want to stay offline or Try again when I start IE even thou I'm already connected. However, when I click Try again, it works fine.

As for me, I live in Quebec.

[Jennifer Hawke]

what version of IE?

[stargamer_nick]

IE version is 6.0.26

[Randomambusher]

-After installing I never got the option to register online, so I just restarted as it asked.
-At first the game started and I got to play the first couple of tutorials, but I shut down the computer.
-Now when I click on the Desktop Icon, I get a Window that says "Unable to connect to NSM. Do you want to chekc youu internet settings?".
-If I press cancel, nothing happens.
-If I pres sokay, I get an internet settings window, I've used all the setting sin this window.
-I've unstalled, reinstalled, installed over, express, normal, everything.
- Simple won't connect, and yes, I have broadband.

[ÜberJumper]

Ok, do you see the spinning gears? Do you get the Web Browser? Does IC Start at all?

[Randomambusher]

Yeah, I see the spinning gears. And IC shows up in my task manager for like a millisecond. No webpage launches though.

[sauce]

Please post the text from your 'warnings.log' file located in the directory the MP beta was installed into. This is likely in ?:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Impossible Creatures .... you get the idea. This will help us see what's going wrong.

[ÜberJumper]

So the Gears go away, then nothing? No Error? Nothing?

What's in the warnings.log file in your Impossible Creatures Directory?

Hmmm can you post more details about your system? OS, DX Version etc?

[ÜberJumper]

haha double team

[sauce]

I have to beat you sometimes. :)

[ÜberJumper]

Yeah but are you on IC Online and helping people at the same time? :-D

Wait... on second thought... don't answer that... you're probably coding fixes, browsing the forums, and playing online games of IC at the same time.

Man you are GOOD.

[Randomambusher]

After the gears spin, it brings up the Cannot connect to NSM thing.

Windows 98SE
Directx 8.2
P3 @ 1 gig
256mb RAM
Geforce 2 MX 400

WARNINGS:
IC started at 2002-11-22 11:09
OS NT 5.1, 512MB Physical Memory
COMMAND-LINE "C:\Documents and Settings\jgoetz\Desktop\Disk1\IC.exe"
WORKING-DIR C:\Documents and Settings\jgoetz\Desktop\Disk1

SOUND -- created destination [ Miles Streaming ], handle [ 3 ] with [ 6 ] channels created
SOUND -- created destination [ Miles 2D ], handle [ 2 ] with [ 8 ] channels created
GAME -- Impossible Creatures, 1.0, Build 1796
MATHBOX -- Version=5, Cpu=AMD ATHLON, Mode=SSE
SPOOGE - Driver[Dx8 : Hardware TnL] version[3,31]
SPDX8 -- Driver Name = nv4_disp.dll Desc = NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
SPDX8 -- Driver Vendor = 0x10DE Device = 0x0201 SubSys = 0x2861107D Rev = 0x00A3
SPDX8 -- Driver Version Product = 0x0006 Version = 0x000D SubVersion = 0x000A Build = 0x0C0A (3082)
SPDX8 -- Driver GUID = {D7B71E3E-4141-11CF-C77F-6B0801C2CB35}
SPDX8 -- Driver Name = nv4_disp.dll Desc = NVIDIA GeForce3 Ti 200
SPDX8 -- Driver Vendor = 0x10DE Device = 0x0201 SubSys = 0x2861107D Rev = 0x00A3
SPDX8 -- Driver Version Product = 0x0006 Version = 0x000D SubVersion = 0x000A Build = 0x0C0A (3082)
SPDX8 -- Driver GUID = {D7B71E3E-4141-11CF-C77F-6B0801C2CB35}
GAME -- Defaulting to 'IC' Mod.
MOD -- (mod manager) IC, 1.0
GAME -- Using player profile Player0
GAME -- Beginning FE
GAME -- Using player profile Player0
GAME -- Ending FE
MOD -- (mod manager) shutting down

Application closed without errors

WARNINGS1:
IC started at 2002-11-26 19:41
OS Win 4.10, 255MB Physical Memory
COMMAND-LINE "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Microsoft Impossible Creatures Multiplayer Beta\IC.exe"
WORKING-DIR C:\PROGRAM FILES\MICROSOFT GAMES\MICROSOFT IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES MULTIPLAYER BETA

PLATFORM -- Duplicate instance of app

Application closed with error code 2

[ÜberJumper]

Yeah that's not you.... well.. the warnings1.log might be.

But that warnings.log is from the re-install.... that's from one of the systems of one of the guys that packed it and uploaded it the MP Stress Test. Which means that the warnings log is not updated. Which means the IC.exe is not executing to actually get to the chunk of code that writes the warnings.log...

[ÜberJumper]

Idea!

Ok... go to Start>Run... Type Regedit and hit enter*

Browse down to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\netquartz ez-platform\ez-pad\profile and double click on the IsOffline ... it should be 0... change it to 1. Then close the registry, and double click on IC.

What this does is reset EZ Pad a bit, and get you to update your registration info. Let me know what it says when you try that... oh, and don't click any of the "Don't show this again" boxes.

Thanks!

*as you are editing the registry, I cannot take any responsibility for any damage you do. If you are not confident doing this, don't.

[Randomambusher]

Well, now it skips the gears and cannot connect message and goes straight to internet settings, ok does nothing, cancel the same.

[ÜberJumper]

Wait... when you say it goes straight to the internet settings, what do you mean? What options do you have on that screen?

What operating System?

[Randomambusher]

OS: Windows 98SE

Situation: When I start IC, it processes for a sec thne brings upa window entitled "Internet Settings" with the Ezpad logo. Then it lets me use a proxy or Internet Explorer settings.

[ÜberJumper]

What version IE?

If you go into IE, into Tools>Internet Options... to the Security tab... what's it set too? On the Connections tab, do you have anything filled in? What about in the LAN settings button?

[Randomambusher]

Version 6. somethingorother

Security is set to: Medium-Low
Connections: None
LAN Settings: Absolutely Nothing Checked

[ÜberJumper]

Can you try setting it to medium and try again please?

[Randomambusher]

Still no luck

[ÜberJumper]

K... nother Idea... back into Registry again *

Drill down to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\... locate the Net Quartz EZ-platform2 key... right click on it and choose Rename. Add -BAD on the end.

Do the same thing to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software... rename the netQuartz EZ-platform by appending -BAD to it.

Then I want you to try to Uninstall, and Re-install EZ pad.

This should be done by removing it from the control panel in add/remove programs, then installing it from the extracted Demo installer file... look in the EZ Pad directory (ask if you need more directions here).

When that's done, try Running IC and let me know what happens.

Thanks!

*as you are editing the registry, I cannot take any responsibility for any damage you do. If you are not confident doing this, don't.

[Herr Gott]

Originally posted by Randomambusher


PLATFORM -- Duplicate instance of app



Did you have two copies of the game running at the same time? (ie perhaps you alt-tabbed out of a demo and left it running)? The game does a check to make sure it's the only copy running on your machine, which this message suggests.

[ÜberJumper]

George... I think that's from the Warnings1.log file... which the second instance would have created yes?

His current warnings.log file looks like it's the default one that comes with the download right? If that's the case, I don't even think IC's firing up properly and getting past the EZ Pad... stuff.

[Randomambusher]

Nothing has changed...
I tried 3 variations on your instructions, plus the exact way you told me (twice) and still no change at all.
Seriously, what is wrong with this...

[ÜberJumper]

Random... I would like if you went through all the tabs in your Internet Options and reset all the defaults and Reset Web Settings (On the Programs Tab). It looks like EZ pad is having problems with your net settings (as per the EZ Pad homepage).

Also, please ensure you have the latest IE installed.

Please let us know how it goes.

[Randomambusher]

No change at all.

[ÜberJumper]

Nick:

Can you go through IE and reset all defaults and reset the web settings please?

Looking at Random Ambusher's thread (http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7380), I think they're both related. As soon as you reply here, I'll merge the two threads.

Note that both problem threads are Win98/IE 6 SP1. I believe the problem is related to EZ Pad getting connection to the net.

[ÜberJumper]

Damnit... I think this thread (http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7334) is related as well. (I'm going to merge the two threads when Nick replies in his).

I'm almost 100% convinced it's the EZ Pad ... stuff... causing problems. Hopefully we'll be able to figure out what it is.

I suggest, if you're willing, to try uninstalling IE and re-installing it.

[Martian]

I have exactly the same problem.
Win98 and IE5.

[Randomambusher]

Well, I got it to work...
But I had to uninstall Age of Mythology, IC, and Ezpad to do it.
Then purge my registry of anything related to Microsoft Games, or three in any way.
Then reinstall, after I restarted my comp for the second time, it was back to the connect error.
So if I want it to work, I have to purge my comp every second time I start it up.
Is there any better solutions?

[Martian]

I updated to IE 6 SP 1 as Uber asked me on IRC.
IE now no longer asks me if I want to stay offline or retry when I'm already connected, but IC still won't start...

[stargamer_nick]

I've reset all my settings (both web and IE) to default. I still have the same problem.

[ÜberJumper]

Martian, Stargamer, can you try what Randomambusher indicated, or at least confirm what other MS Games you have installed?

[Randomambusher]

I used to have Age of Mythology, but no it's gone, including the registry settings for it. I also used to have the Asheron's Call 2 Beta, but now that's been fully purged, including the registry. Now, I have absolutely no Microsoft Games.

[Randomambusher]

MASSIVE DISCOVERY!
It'll work!
But...
There's a number of programs that start with my comp that I usually close via Taskman. When I tried this time, I didn't close any of those programs, and it worked. Then I tried restarting a couple of times (with close the programs and without). I've got the vital program(s) narrowed down to this list: Gmt, Cmesys, Cmmpu, Ptsnoop.
Perhaps you could tell me which one is the important one...

[ÜberJumper]

Can you do a Search/find for those applications and tell us what directory you find them in and a bit about what they are? I can't find any of them on my system.

Martian, Nick, do you have any of those files on your system? Any of those running processes? Random, where are they starting from? Startup? Registry? Something else?

[Martian]

None of these files are running here.

The IE asking to connect thingie started when I installed my router. Other MS game i have (and used to play online) is MW4. Same problem there: since I have the router, MW4 can still see servers, but cannot connect to them. It's still installed btw.

No other games have this problem.

I will try the registery things you mentioned now.


edit: no luck...

[ÜberJumper]

Martian:

Did you configure your router to allow outgoing connections as per the firewall guide (http://www.relicnews.com/index.php?f_area=article&f_id=29)?

Chances are probably not, as you haven't gotten to the EZ Pad browser yet.

[Randomambusher]

Okay, the vital program is Cmesys. It's directory is C:\Program Files\Common Files\CMEII. I'm not sure what it is. I know it runs on startup though. Mind you, I think the solution to my problem will likely not help Nick or Martian. I'm using Win98SE...

[stargamer_nick]

I've just checked on the site of Answer that works (http://www.answersthatwork.com/ ), they have a list of Task program there (about CmeSys).

CmeSys is associated with Spyware (and usually Kazaa).

As for MS Games, I use to have Close Combat and Dungeon Siege, I've remove both of them and clean my Registry, I'm reinstalling IC but I don't think that in my case this will solve the problem.

I'm gonna get back here after reinstalling IC.


Nick

EDIT: I've reinstall it and I keep having the same problem. My theory is that for some reason EZ pad doesn't detect the connection or how I connect and doesn't give any error message about the error. :(

[FoX]

Ruh roh.....

Well....I've now run into this problem as well (with definately different results).

I installed the demo the day it came out and hadn't had any problem with getting it to boot up. Today when I tried to load it up I got the error everyone else is getting:


Unable to connect to NSM. Do you want to check you internet settings?

Now, I know my internet connection was fine as MIRC was up and running along with trillian. I decided to click "OK" to see what it was going to check anyways. My "Use IE internet settings" was checked so I kept it as is.

I closed that down and decided to retry IC. The sprockets came up again but instead of the error, the normal browser window popped up and loaded up the IC page. Great! I thought I was in the clear....but then nothing happened. It sat there. No IC. Hmmm....so I wondered if IC loaded up at all and sure enough...it was there in the "Process" tab in the Task Manager:


IC.exe 1888 00 0:00:00 6,316K.

Sot it was up but had used none of the cpu. I then began to wonder if I somehow had 2 instances running so I logged out and back in. Everything seemed to be clear so I tried IC again. Once again it loaded the EZPad Web Browser but no IC. I then went to go check on the warning log to see if there was anything in there. Unfortunately all it had was the data from the previous game I had played (2 days ago).

After all of this I dropped by here to take a look around and post my error (leaving IC "run" in the background). After about 5-10 minutes of it running in the background (while typing this up) a new window pops up.


VM Error:
RunCode: VM Remote Error

My only option at this point is to click the "Close" button on the dialog window. Upon doing that, IC closes out from the Task Manager Process list.

I have *no* idea what I did between then and now. I dont recall doing any installations or removing of files. If there are any other ways for me to get you info, by all means, let me know.

System Specs:

OS Name Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
Version 5.0.2195 Service Pack 2 Build 2195
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 7 Stepping 3 GenuineIntel ~550 Mhz
GeForce4 TI 4200
Creative SB Live!

[FoX]

Huh....just tried to fire up IC again (as it was closed when I clicked the "Close" button on the last error screen posted above). Instead of the same errors...I got something new this time.


Init Strategy:
Unable to initialize the strategy

Once again, my only option is a "Close button".

This time though this new error loaded a bit differently. When I clicked to open IC, the ezpad sprockets came on my screen but never went away. I didnt get the Web Browser window to load up or anything. After about 5 minutes of the sprockets spinning, the above error popped up.

IC.exe is once again in the Processes list. Upon hitting the "Close" button on the error window, both IC.exe and ezpad.exe drop from the Proceses list.

[warlock1111]

Fox im getting this exact same error. as far as i knew VM stood for viurtual memory, may be different here.

if i keep trying over and over, eventually i can get into the game, but its hell just to get to that point.

i hope a fix comes soon, as i really miss the game already.

[Imperial]

Im getting the same error
At first I thought the multiplayer stress test was over but it seems like thats not the case

[Alpha_1]

Can it be, perhaps, just maybe, quiet possibly? That IC online is down? I don't think IC will start at all as an activ3 program til the authentication happens. If IC online is down there would be no way to authenticate and thus IC would not start. Seems to me a way to ensure the beta is stricktly controled.

[Jennifer Hawke]

a couple of us had the same error over here... it seems to be remedied now and we're assuming it had something to do with EZ Pad.

we'll be sure to update you as we get new information.

thanks.

[Jennifer Hawke]

looks like the servers were harboring malicious attacks.

try again today and let us know how it goes.

thanks for everyone's patience! :)

[warlock1111]

all servers seem normal, and im seeing friends again

[stargamer_nick]

I'm wondering Is there going to be a new version of EZ pad available soon or are the new version related only to IC ?

[ÜberJumper]

So far the new versions are for IC only. There's been no new EZ Pad release.

I will see what I can find out today, no promises though.

[Chucky]

OK.. I click on the IC icon and nothign happens. I get a momentary hourglass and thats it. I checkd Task Manage and nothing. Tried your regedit tricks and nothing as well.

I have been playing for three days without a problem at all. I am seriously hooked.

What happened was in the middle of a game.. a player locked up and I was asked to boot him. I booted him and ended up locking IC and my whole computer.

I rebooted and tryed to join had the problem ever sense.

I am going to uninstall everything again, then into regedit, delete all MS and EZPad game software references, and reinstall. Will update here.

Windows XP Professional SP1
Athlon 900 - Asus MB
384 MG of RAM (PC100)
Asus V7700 Geforce GTS2
No firewall installed ever (I hate them)
ADSL - Earthlink

[Chucky]

Aftre trying to uninstall and reinstall and do the FEW Regedit fixes you mentioned. I did this:

I uninstalled EZPaad and then IC

I deleted all folders related to IC or EZPad

I went into Regedit and deleted every single entry I could find.

I searched under :

impossible
netquartz
ez
icmulti

Each brought up different keys

I deleted all the keys I found that were relevant. I.E. with ez some were not and some were.. so be careful.

Well after that I rebooted. I reinstalled and all works fine again.

If you have a hard crash it would seem EZPad or IC thinks you still have a game open and no amount of uninstalls or re-installs will fix it. Obviously it was a stuck key.

Hope this helps you all.

Charles

[ÜberJumper]

Awesome update, thanks!

[Bezerker]

stargamer, I have the same problem as you. Have you found a solution yet?

[ÜberJumper]

Bezerker.... try some of the other suggestions in this thread, in particular, Chucky's suggestions.

[Bezerker]

Thanks.
Tried all steps above.

Click the shortcut, internet connection box comes up, click yes, hourglass for 1 sec, then back to desktop. No apps. or processes running to do with EZ or IC. No warning log.

AMD Athalon 1.3, 512 MB RAM, Radeon 8500, SB Live!, XP Home, DirectX 9.0

[ÜberJumper]

Do you have a firewall? What type of internet connection?

[Bezerker]

Firewall turned off, cable connection.

[ÜberJumper]

What other software do you have running? Any virus scanners? What's in the registry entry under RUN? What's in your startup folder?

[Bezerker]

Other programs are NAV (disabled for install), ATI desktop manager, Logitech desktop manager. Startup has the above plus MS office.

Run in the registry:

C:\Program Files\ATI Technologies\ATI Control Panel\atiptaxx.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Logitech\MOUSEW~1\SYSTEM\EM_EXEC.EXE
"C:\Program Files\Creative\SBLive\PROGRAM\ADGJDet.exe"
C:\WINDOWS\system32\NeroCheck.exe
C:\Program Files\Navnt\POPROXY.EXE stem32\NeroCheck.exe
C:\PROGRA~1\Navnt\npscheck.exe
SysTray.Exe
"C:\Program Files\Common Files\Real\Update_OB\realsched.exe" -osboot
C:\WINDOWS\UpdReg.EXE
CTHELPER.EXE
C:\Program Files\Logitech\iTouch\iTouch.exe

I could probably get rid of some of that junk.
Anything stand out?

[ÜberJumper]

Try leaving NAV shut down completely and try to run it... as well... the NeroCheck.