Microsoft KB Archive/190770

IGZ: Lost Connection or “Cannot Connect to Game Server” Message

PSS ID Number: Q190770 Article last modified on 08-03-1998

WINDOWS:4.0

WINDOWS

================================================================ ==

The information in this article applies to:

 == Microsoft Internet Gaming Zone, version 4.0 == 

= SYMPTOMS =

When you use the Internet Gaming Zone, you may lose your connection to the Zone, or you may receive the following error message:

Cannot connect to game server. = CAUSE =

This behavior can occur if you have a slow or unreliable connection to the Internet Gaming Zone.

= RESOLUTION =

To resolve this issue, use the following methods in the order in which they appear. If the issue continues to occur when you finish a method, proceed to the next method.

Close Other Internet Programs
Before you play a game on the Internet Gaming Zone, quit any programs that frequently send and receive data over the Internet, such as chat or e-mail programs.

Join a Low-Latency Host or a Smaller Game
To avoid losing your connection when you join a game hosted by another player, find a host with a good connection to the Zone. To check the quality of a host’s connection, enter a game room, point to a game, and then check the latency indicator for the game’s host. To interpret the latency indicator, use the following table:

Indicator Color Latency Connection —————————————————

4 bars Bright Green Very low Excellent 3 bars Green Low Good 2 bars Yellow Medium Marginal 1 bars Red High Poor 0 bars Blank Calculating Unknown

To increase the speed and reliability of your connection, reduce the amount of data that needs to be transferred between players. To do so, join a game with fewer players.

Restart Your Connection to the Internet and the Zone
To restart your connection to the Internet and the Zone, follow these steps:


 * 1) Quit your Web browser and any other programs that are running.
 * 2) Right-click the Internet Gaming Zone icon on the taskbar, and then click Close.
 * 3) Log off from the Internet.
 * 4) Log on to the Internet.
 * 5) Connect to the Zone, and then sign in.

If the issue continues to occur, try to connect to the Zone at a later time.

= MORE INFORMATION =

When you play a game on the Zone, you establish a continuous two-way connection between your computer and the Zone or the game’s host. This bi-directional link is more sensitive to Internet latency and line noise than other Internet activities like browsing the Web or downloading files.

When you connect to the Zone, your connection travels through many different networks before it reaches the Zone. It travels first through your Internet service provider (ISP), and then through the various routers, switches, and servers that make up the Internet before it reaches the Zone. Your connection can break or slow down anywhere along the route because of line noise, heavy Internet traffic, or routing problems.

If the issue continues to occur when you finish all of the methods described in the Resolution section, contact your ISP to determine the cause of the issue. Be sure to include the following information:


 * Tracert test results
 * Date and time(s) you were disconnected
 * Which room(s) you were in
 * Your IP address
 * Your adapter address

To gather the required information, follow these steps:

  Start Notepad.   Type the date and time you were disconnected, and then press ENTER.   Type the name of the game room you were in when you were disconnected, and then press ENTER.   Run a Trace Route test. Trace Route is an Internet diagnostic tool that you can use to trace the route of your connection to a remote computer and determine where the connection breaks or slows down. To run a Trace Route test, follow these steps:   Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.   At the command prompt, type “tracert 131.107.34.3” (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER. </li>  On the toolbar, click Mark. </li>  Use your mouse to select the Tracert text output, and then click Copy on the toolbar. </li>  At the command prompt, type “exit” (without quotation marks), and then press ENTER. </li>  On the Edit menu in Notepad, click Paste, and then press ENTER. </li></ol> </li>  Determine your IP address and your adapter address. To do so, follow these steps: <ol style="list-style-type: lower-alpha;">  Click Start, and then click Run. </li>  In the Open box, type “winipcfg” (without quotation marks), and then click OK. </li>  Click More Info. </li>  Note the values for IP Address and for Adapter Address. On the Control menu, click Copy. </li>  Click OK. </li>  On the Edit menu in Notepad, click Paste. </li></ol> </li>  On the File menu, click Save. </li>  In the File Name box, type “igztest.txt” (without quotation marks), and then click OK. </li>  Send an e-mail message describing the issue to your ISP, and attach the Igztest.txt file. </li></ol>

If you determine that the issue is not caused by your Internet connection when you discuss the issue with your ISP, send an e-mail message describing the issue to the following address, and attach the Igztest.txt file:

zmaster@microsoft.com

= Additional query words: 4.00 msgame igz z4 =

Keywords : igz kbimu msgame z4 kberrmsg kbfaq Version : WINDOWS:4.0 Platform : WINDOWS Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1998.