So to start off. I cant seem to get any help on this subject on the Blizzard forums. So I came here, because from what I can tell (and have read in threads) you all seem very helpful.
So here's my issue. My wife and I both play WoW. Her on her laptop, me on my desktop. However, we are unable to get to game to play "properly" on her laptop. I dont have her laptops specifications on hand at the moment, but I can tell you that the game seems to run just fine, if only a little slow at moments (in the cities).
However, I severely doubt that the issue we are having has anything to do with system resources, etc.
You see, whenever we are logged in (either of our accounts) the game will run just fine for 5-10 minutes (sometimes longer, sometimes shorter) at which point the game will abrutly disconnect from the server, sending us to the log in screen with the error: "Disconnected from Server".
When we try to log back in for the next few minutes, we get the general error: "A character with that name already logged in".
After a few more minutes we can log in again. However, we then rinse, and repeat.
I've done some internet searches for a list of WoW errors in hopes of finding something similar to this. But no dice.
If any of you have had this happen, or know someone who's had this happen to them. I would LOVE to figure out how you worked around it. It feels stupid to be paying for two accounts, but only being able to use one at once.
Thanks in advance,
Ken
Issues w/ my game
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captbananas
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captbananas
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:22 am
- Location: Tacoma, WA, USA
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Only happening on the laptop. Unfortunatly, I wish that were the case, cause that would be easy enough to resolve. However there are never any issues with the connectivity using other programs, such as IM or Browsing.
We have high speed with awireless router, and wireless cards on both computers, so of course, you do lose packets every now and then, but it shouldnt be on such a high scale as to disc. from the server every ten or so minutes.
And if that were the case, then it should be happening to the desktop too, not only the laptop.
*sigh*
Thx for the suggestion so far! Keep 'em coming!
We have high speed with awireless router, and wireless cards on both computers, so of course, you do lose packets every now and then, but it shouldnt be on such a high scale as to disc. from the server every ten or so minutes.
And if that were the case, then it should be happening to the desktop too, not only the laptop.
*sigh*
Thx for the suggestion so far! Keep 'em coming!
Hmmm, since you're using wireless I would be curious as to where the laptop is placed and if it works better if placed someplace else, as you say normally interference should only cause a few packets to be lost here and there but I've seen some very strange interference patterns in my years doing support...
As for one machine getting kicked off and not the other that's not as uncommon as you might think, there can be a number of reasons.
- Using different network cards (even different revisions of the same card)
- Different driver versions
- Various thing with ports and cabling when not using wireless
- Location when using wireless
- interference on a software level (by other drivers)
- Murphys law...
As you have issues with just the laptop the easiest thing to check after location is to look into using a different driver revision for the network card, checking some tech boards or manufacturers faq may in some cases yield a registry change or two or a beta driver that makes the card work better for online games (NIC manufacturing techs play WoW too...)
Wife's and my computer sometimes disconnect when the other stays online, constantly logging the connection I have noticed that they seem to have be able to handle different problems in very different ways, if this is an issues with NIC, driver or NIC/router compatibility for different actions I have no clue though and actually putting in the kind of time needed to figure that out simply isn't worth it. I just mentioned that so you know you're not alone in having these kind of issues, in fact it seems to be rather common.
As for one machine getting kicked off and not the other that's not as uncommon as you might think, there can be a number of reasons.
- Using different network cards (even different revisions of the same card)
- Different driver versions
- Various thing with ports and cabling when not using wireless
- Location when using wireless
- interference on a software level (by other drivers)
- Murphys law...
As you have issues with just the laptop the easiest thing to check after location is to look into using a different driver revision for the network card, checking some tech boards or manufacturers faq may in some cases yield a registry change or two or a beta driver that makes the card work better for online games (NIC manufacturing techs play WoW too...)
Wife's and my computer sometimes disconnect when the other stays online, constantly logging the connection I have noticed that they seem to have be able to handle different problems in very different ways, if this is an issues with NIC, driver or NIC/router compatibility for different actions I have no clue though and actually putting in the kind of time needed to figure that out simply isn't worth it. I just mentioned that so you know you're not alone in having these kind of issues, in fact it seems to be rather common.
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captbananas
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:22 am
- Location: Tacoma, WA, USA
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Hum... because her laptop came set with wireless network accesibility (I cant think of what they are calling that off the top of my head, but most laptops come with it now) I didnt even bother to install the software that came with the cards/router that I bought simply because there were no issues with her laptop connecting out of box.
Maybe I will try that. I use a Belkin 2.4ghz 802.11g wireless router and the same kinds of card (of course) on my desktop. But the card that came with the laptop is still in there, and it works for everything else (without interuption).
Thats what I find is strange, is that it seems like its a game issue, despite the fact that it doesnt act like a game issue.
Maybe I will try that. I use a Belkin 2.4ghz 802.11g wireless router and the same kinds of card (of course) on my desktop. But the card that came with the laptop is still in there, and it works for everything else (without interuption).
Thats what I find is strange, is that it seems like its a game issue, despite the fact that it doesnt act like a game issue.
It may very well be related to how Blizzard handle sessions on their end but unfortunately they won't delve into that so you are up to your own devices.
More likely though is that you do have interruptions in other service as well but they are simply a lot more robust and you will never notice. Web browsing and file transfers in general do an awful lot of retries before they drop the connection, even things like encrypted connections for private networks, streaming sound and video and suchlike are more robust in their design than a regular game client. There are several reasons for this but the bottom line is that online games of this kind require a pretty solid connection compared to most other software.
Do you have any network tools running that gives any info on the laptop when it loses connection? Even a simple continous ping of some IP out on the net would let you know if she loses connection completely or if it's severe packet loss and your network card simply handles recovery a lot better.
More likely though is that you do have interruptions in other service as well but they are simply a lot more robust and you will never notice. Web browsing and file transfers in general do an awful lot of retries before they drop the connection, even things like encrypted connections for private networks, streaming sound and video and suchlike are more robust in their design than a regular game client. There are several reasons for this but the bottom line is that online games of this kind require a pretty solid connection compared to most other software.
Do you have any network tools running that gives any info on the laptop when it loses connection? Even a simple continous ping of some IP out on the net would let you know if she loses connection completely or if it's severe packet loss and your network card simply handles recovery a lot better.
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captbananas
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:22 am
- Location: Tacoma, WA, USA
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Are there any Network Connection tools you would recommend? I used to PingPlotter when I was having problems with my old ISP (before I dropped them for shoddy service), but I dont know if that would work in this situatuion since (to the best of my knowledge) it only pings a specific IP for a variable amount of time, as opposed to constanly watching the connection.
Also, to the other poster, I dont beleive she has any of the built in Firewalls up on her laptop, simply because it seems like when they are up, when patches become available, they take absolutely forever to download. So I beleive they are constantly down now.
Also, to the other poster, I dont beleive she has any of the built in Firewalls up on her laptop, simply because it seems like when they are up, when patches become available, they take absolutely forever to download. So I beleive they are constantly down now.