Cant Connect

SprayandPray

<div class="IPBDescription">Cant connect</div> Everytime i try to connect to a server it says either cl.dll error. Or map isnt that same as server, I updated the game usin the file on the NS website

typical_skeleton

Seems you may have used the wrong version.

Current client is 3.0 (not 3.03). Download the full client install.

Otherwise, if you use any hooks (cheats), well don't. Also, check for viruses, background security programs, malicious programs, or anything else that may have modified/corrupted/locked up required files.

Lt_Patch

I would say that you've still got old files left behind from when you "updated the game using the file on the NS website"

Solution:
Start->Control Panel-.Add/Remove Programs. Find all instances of "Natural Selection", and uninstall them.
Then go to your Steam install folder (C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\<yournamehere>\hl, by default), and baleet the "NS" folder.
Re-download a new copy of the game (or get it on this months' PCGamer DVD), and install it.

Reason:
When a new version of NS comes out, it isn't an upgrade installer, it's a fresh installer. You should always fully remove any old versions of NS BEFORE installing a newer version

typical_skeleton

Well, you can do what Patch says, but it's not neccesary.

A new install will automatically update/overwrite old required files (such as DLL files), but will prompt you about configuration.

Uninstalling NS entirely is likely to remove all user configuration. If you're like a lot of people who play NS, you probably have keys mapped out exactly as you like them, maybe a few aliases, and possibly other scripts going.

Losing all this due to bad advice is not recommended.

Download the full client install, and run it. This WILL update your DLL, map files, model files, etc, etc, as needed, without removing custom configuration files.

EDIT: I just want to make this clear. The only difference between a full client install and an "update" is that the "update" would only contain, obviously, the files that need to be updated.

So for example, if the skulk model wasn't updated, but the DLL was, the "update" patch would contain the new DLL, but not the skulk model itself.

Whereas a client install includes both.

There's no reason to think that a "full" install doesn't also "update" files, it does. It's just a bit of confusing terminology, but there's no reason to uninstall NS when you're having this particular problem. That should only be done for something much more serious.

Lt_Patch

Typical, it is not bad advice to avoid any possible conflictions with previous software. It is bad advice to get someone to ignore the fact that having an old version installed might just be the thing that is ****ing their life on the game up. That is bad advice.

Just because you don't think it necessary to take the long way round doing things, doesn't mean that taking the shortcut is right.

If NS was released via a series of updates, then the world would look like the state of NS3b4. You had to download 2, or 3 files, and apply them in the correct order for the game to even run. 3.0F was designed as a full install. All the community guides tell you to remove any previous versions. If you follow the instructions on the proper sites, and topics, then you are told to back up all configuration files BEFORE proceeding with the install, as you may lose them.

If the community is telling you to uninstall the old version, then install the new one, don't you think it's a good idea to listen to the people who are actually playing the game? Or do you want to do what TypicalSkeleton tells you, which sounds like exactly what you've done, and get yourself in the same position that you're stuck in now? The NS community wants new players, and for it's existing players to be able to use the new version of the game. Not the other way around. There is a lot of good advice given out on this forum, not just by meself, but by the other forumites, most notably the Dev team, who are the people responsible for making such a fine game. If it wasn't for the good advice handed out in the community install guides, on the forums, and by the Dev team, do you think that NS would have survived into it's 3rd version?

Before this turns into a flame war, this will be my final word on this matter. Flame wars belong in Off Topic, or in General. Not in Tech Support.

typical_skeleton

Flame war? Why would it?

Fact is, I have never uninstalled NS, not once. And have no problems. This particular problem is actually in the FAQ, and official solution is to install the latest version.

It's not necesary to uninstall NS before installing a new version. Yes, this is the best way to ensure your files are "current", but you will also lose files you may have wanted.

Uninstalling and reinstalling NS is something of a last resort. It's not some small bit of advice you toss around, it requires a lot of work (for newbies) and can lead to much bigger problems.

Furthermore, you made no mention of configuration files, and provided no warnings to backup files. I don't need to tell you that THAT is bad advice.

I never gave the "advice" that his old version is not causing conflicts, I merely said that uninstalling/reinstalling is not neccesarily what he needs to do. Please read my posts more clearly, Patch.

Again, stop telling people to uninstall NS when they don't neccesarily need to. This problem is very common for people who missed the fact that the client was updated.