Here's the current list of common problems that are covered in this topic. It's also, unavoidably long...
They'll all be posted in this first posting, with fixes being added to both the latest post, and this one...
I'll present them like so...
1. <Issue>...
<otherwise known as, usually specific errors when available>
<known causes>
<known fixes>
Please, make sure you check each section, and look at the "AKA"s for them all, as you problem may be listed as an "aka"
Ok? So here we go...
== List Section ==
1. Natural Selection installation issues (aka "Setup has not detected a valid Steam installation")
2. Natural Selection, and 64-Bit Operating Systems (aka "Your display does not support downloadable gamma", black HUD sprites, Green scoreboard text) THIS SECTION COVERS ALL VERSION OF VISTA, WINDOWS SERVER 2003, AND WINDOWS XP PROFESSION 64-BIT EDITION
3. Microphone not recording properly (aka "Dude, I can't hear you")
4. FPS Drops, and Mouse lag
5. Keypad binding issues
6. Natural Selection v3.2, and Custom Models
7. SteamID Ticket Problems (aka "Error verifying STEAM UserID ticket.")
8. Mismatched DLL file (aka "Your dll [cl_dlls/client.dll] differs from the server")
-List ends-
== Issues not covered by this post ==
1. Problem exiting NS, crashing at the menu when exiting.
Link: http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index....showtopic=99609
Reason: Problem was reported during the 3.2 beta, with no system information to back this up.
2. Maximising a windowed, non-fullscreen NS.
Link: http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index....howtopic=100413
Reason: Not really a problem, more of a niche thing, unrelated to NS specifically, aethestic issue
== Expansion Section ==
== 1. Natural Selection installation issues. ==
Also known as:
"Setup has not detected a valid Steam installation"
Causes:
1. Steam isn't installed on this PC in a detectable fashion
2. Half-Life isn't installed on this PC
Fixes:
1. Steam isn't installed on this PC in a detectable fashion
Download a fresh copy of Steam from http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?ar...amnow&cc=GB , and install as usual. Login to your Steam account, and download a fresh copy of the pre-requisite files for Natural Selection.
2. Half-Life isn't installed on this PC
You need to make sure of 2 things. 1, that you do have Half-Life properly bound to your account and 2, that you have actually downloaded the files for Half-Life, and played through the Training Course AS A BARE MINIMUM.
If you don't own Half-Life (the original version, NOT Half-Life: Source, or Half-Life 2), then you need to go out, and buy yourself a copy of it. It's carried by all good stores that stock video games, and is also carried by all major online retailers. You can also purchase it direct through Steam, using either a credit card (all of the world), or using a PayPal account (except in Germany, at the current moment).
If you do own Half-life, and have bound the CD-Key to your Steam account, then Steam will automatically download the files required to play the game.
== 2. Natural Selection, and 64-Bit Operating Systems. ==
Also known as:
"Your display does not support downloadable gamma"
Black sprites on the HUD
Green scoreboard text
Causes:
1. The Half-Life Gamma Ramp isn't compatible with your display drivers.
Fixes:
1. The Half-Life Gamma Ramp isn't compatible with your display drivers.
This problem is caused by the Gamma Ramp method being incompatible with the 64-bit display drivers. They handle gamma in a way which wasn't around when Half-Life was made, way back when. What you will need to do is twofold.
First of all, open up the command console (default key: ` or ~), and type the following:
CODE
cl_gammaramp 0
That will disable the gamma ramp, leaving you to set it yourself. Obviously, this will lower the gamma dramatically. Then, what you need to do is to find the display options (under Options -> Video), and adjust the gamma upwards (Gamma slider is at the bottom right of the video options page). Then click Ok, which will then restart NS. Connect to your usual servers, and play away, with the proper display methods being used
== 3. Microphone not recording correctly. ==
Also known as:
"Dude, I can't hear you"
Causes:
1. Microphone hardware issues
2. Soundcard issues
3. Windows Volume Control issues
4. Voice Transmit volume is too low
Fixes:
1. Microphone hardware issues.
Check all possible connections, ensuring that the physical connector is both plugged into the correct hole, and that the connection is clean, free from static influences, and fingerprints. Clean the microphone jack with a soft cloth, then tap the end on an unpainted part of your case, when it's plugged into the mains. This will both rule out the possibility of a dirty connector, and any possible static buildup. Also, ensure that your microphone is actually plugged into the right connection, which is usually coloured PINK.
2. Soundcard issues.
Ensure that all drivers are correctly installed, and that the problem is unique to NS. This can be tested by playing a different game, either another Half-Life mod, or a different engine altogether. If the problem isn't unique to NS, then try installing the newest drivers for your soundcard, downloadable from the manufacturer's website.
3. Windows Volume Control issues.
Ensure that the microphone volume isn't muted in the volume control, under Windows, accessible via Start -> Run -> "Sndvol32". Ensure that the microphone volume isn't at 0, and that it isn't muted.
4. Voice Transmit volume is too low.
Check the voice transmit volume in NS, via Options -> Voice. Ensure that there is a check in "Enable Voice communication in this game", and that the Voice Transmit slider is turned up. Finally, click on Test Microphone to ensure the settings are ok. You should hear your own voice, and the visual EQ bar will move to the right.
== 4. FPS Drops, and Mouse lag. ==
Also known as:
n/a
Causes:
1. October 25th 2006 Steam update
Fixes:
1. October 25th 2006 Steam update
A posting by a Steam forum moderator has pinpointed this issue to be rare at best, but prevailent nonetheless. An update to the GoldSrc engine (the underlying technology behind the Half-Life game) has apparently caused this issue. The suggested fix, is to lower the thread priority of hl.exe to "low". Full post can be found http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/show...ad.php?t=502112 .
== 5. Keypad binding issues. ==
Also known as:
n/a
Causes:
1. Manual binding via command console, or config.cfg/userconfig.cfg
Fixes:
1. Manual binding via command console, or confg.cfg/userconfig.cfg
The keypad command console binders are listed as kp_<secondary function>, as in what is written in the small print on the keys. For example, 0 on the number pad, becomes kp_ins, as "ins" is written on the key, usually in a smaller font to the 0. See this topic for a full listing of number pad, or keypad binds.
== 6. Natural Selection v3.2, and Custom Models ==
Also known as:
n/a
Causes:
1. Apparent changes to the model nomenclature.
Fixes:
1. Apparent changes to the model nomenclature.
In NS 3.2 the naming system for the models has apparently changed. This is unconfirmed, but the issue was reported during the beta, about high-poly models not working, apparently causing either a crash to desktop, or NS refusing to connect to any server. At the time of writing (March 3rd 2007) there are no known fixes, other than to wait for the custom model releasers to update their packs, with the new naming system. I will ask for an official confirmation/answer about this issue, and will update when I get it.
== 7. SteamID Ticket problems ==
Also known as:
Error verifying STEAM UserID ticket.
Causes:
1. Temporary Steam network issues
2. Damaged Steam files
Fixes:
These are to be done in the following order...
1. Temporary Steam network issues.
A general hiccup has happened on the Steam conenction, and is misreporting your SteamID credentials. When this happens, the Steam master server rejects your connection, and disconnects you from the server. This tends to happen more with VAC enabled servers (which covers nearly all of them), than it does with VAC insecure ones (about 0.01% of servers). Exit Steam, by right-clicking on the system tray icon, then clicking Exit. Reopen Steam, and try again.
2. Damaged Steam files.
If the above fix doesn't work, the 3 of the Steam files may have become corrupted. Close Steam fully, as above, then browse to the following directory (on a default installation) "C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\". Delete the following files, Steam.dll, SteamUI.dll, and clientregistry.blob, then reopen Steam. Steam will detect these files are missing, and will redownload them from the Steam network. This should then fix the problem, if not, then the Steam network itself may be down. Then you just need to wait until they repair the problem with the network.
== 8. Mismatched DLL File ==
Also known as:
Your dll [cl_dlls/client.dll] differs from the server
Causes:
1. Wrong version of Natural Selection
Fixes:
1. Wrong version of Natural Selection
This is common following a new client version, your regular servers will have updated to the new version, but you haven't yet. Check you're using the latest version of NS, by going here. The latest version at the time of writing is v.3.2. Close Steam, and follow the instructions for installing the new version. Restart Steam at the end of it, and play as normal. If you do come across a server that hasn't yet updated, then you will need for their server owner to update the serverside version that they run.
== End of Expansion Section ==
Hopefully, that will cover just about any problems caused. If there are any further issues, then please, post a new topic in this forum, with as much info about your issue as is humanly reasonable. One line problems are less likely to be solved, unless it's a common problem, which means it will be covered in this topic.
If someone could sticky this, it'd be great...
Have fun out there
please?
