Net Play Connection Troubleshooter

PROBLEM:

When connecting as the Visiting player, NetLink opens then immediately closes. Often times the game on the Home team's computer will close as well.

SOLUTION:

  1. Look above "Shutdown" on your "Start" menu. If the Log On icon is there (a gold key with a Windows tag attached), then you have the required Network Client installed - go to Step 2. If the Log On icon does not appear then you do not have the required Network Client installed - go to "Installing a Network Client".

  2. Look at the description next to the Log On icon on your Start Menu. If it says "Log On", then go to "Logging On". If it says "Log Off (username)", then go to Step 3.

  3. Look at the description next to the Log On icon on your Start Menu. If it says "Log Off (username)", then you are already logged on - see "User Profiles Log On.

    4. Installing a Network Client:

    1. From the 'Start' menu, choose 'Settings', then 'Control Panel'.

    2. In 'Control Panel', double-click the 'Network' icon to open the 'Network Properties' dialog box.

    3. From the 'Configuration' tab, click the 'Add' button.

    4. From 'Select Network Component' box, highlight 'Client' and click the 'Add' button.

    5. From 'Select Network Client', under 'Manufaturers' highlight 'Microsoft'. Under 'Network Clients', highlight 'Client for Microsoft Networks', and click 'OK'.

    6. If prompted, insert your Windows CD, and wait for Windows to build a Driver Database.

    7. Click 'OK' to exit 'Network'.

    8. If asked if you'd like to restart your computer, click 'Yes'.

    9. When prompted with the 'Log On' dialog box, after re-booting, click 'OK'. Windows will then continue to load.

      10. NOTE: If you do not get the Log On dialog box after re-booting, or the Log On icon does not appear between "Shutdown" and "Run" on your Start menu, then you must complete the following additional steps:

      1. Click 'Start', highlight 'Settings', then click 'Control Panel' to open your Control Panel.

      2. Double-click the 'Network' icon to open "Network" dialog box.

      3. You should see 3 tabs in the "Network" dialog box: Configuration, Identification, and Access Control. Choose the "Configuration" tab, if not alread active, and choose "Client for Microsoft Networks" in the "Primary Network Log On:" drop down box.

      4. Click the "Indetification" tab and enter a name for your computer in the "Computer name:" box, and a workgroup name in the "Workgroup:" box. (You can enter anything you like for these, but I'm not sure about spaces or special characters, so don't use them).

      5. Click 'OK', and restart your computer.

      6. When prompted with the 'Log On' dialog box, after re-booting, click 'OK'. Windows will then continue to load.

      Logging On:

      1. Restart your computer.

      2. When the "Log On" dialog box appears click 'OK' (DO NOT enter a Password or click 'Cancel'). Windows will load normally.

      3. Check the Start Menu. It should now say "Log Off (username)" next to the yellow key icon above 'Shutdown'.

      4. If you still experience the "Visitor Connect" problem, then you have User Profiles enabled - go to "User Profiles Log On".

      User Profiles Log On:

      1. Restart your computer.

      2. When the "Log On" dialog box appears enter the Password for the listed User Name, or enter your User Name and the corresponding Password, and click 'OK'. Windows will load normally.

      3. Check the Start Menu. It should now say "Log Off (username)" next to the yellow key icon above 'Shutdown'.

    PROBLEM:

    The Visiting player receives an "Unable to Connect" message after attempting to connect to the Home team's game.

    SOLUTION:

    1. The Home team player may have lost his Internet connection. Wait for your opponent to re-connect to the Internet and try again.

    2. The Home team player's may be behind an ISP Firewall. Nothing you can do about this one. Time for your opponent to find a new ISP.

    3. The Home team player may have his own Firewall software running on his computer. Have the Home team player shut down any Firewall software running on his computer and try again.

    4. The Home team player may have his own Proxy Server software running on his computer. Have the Home team player shut down any Proxy Server software running on his computer and try again.

    5. If #'s 1-4 have not solved the problem, then your opponent's server may not be able to resolve the Host Name associated with your opponent's IP address. Nothing you can do about this one. This is a temporary problem with your opponent's ISP server.
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