Can't start local server or explore - have reinstalled

Savant · March 2013

Title says it all. It's been this way for a couple patches now, and I was hoping this latest patch would fix it, but it hasn't. I have no mods, I don't even have a workshop directory, so that's not the issue. Video driver is up to date, and it's not like I haven't been able to get this to work, it used to work. In the beginning it didn't, then after a few patches it did, then a few patches later it was broken again and hasn't worked since.

Any ideas?

I've uninstalled NS2, deleted the Steam and appdata/roaming NS2 directories, and reinstalled. What more can be done?

Savant · March 2013

Still having issues starting games... Here are the logs:

Start local server

Date: 03/04/13
Time: 16:43:45
--------------------------------------------------------------
Build 240
Steam initialized
Render Device: ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series (8.17.10.1191)
Sound Device: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) stereo
Record Device: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
Main Menu Initialized at Version: 240
Steam Id: 3181934
Connected to Steam servers
Connecting to server 127.0.0.1:27015
Client connecting (192.168.1.64)
VAC Enabled
Loading config://ServerConfig.json
Loading config://ServerAdmin.json
Loading config://BannedPlayers.json
Loading config://MapCycle.json
Loading config://ConsistencyConfig.json
Hashed 1 game_setup.xml files for consistency
Hashed 681 *.lua files for consistency
Hashed 36 *.fx files for consistency
Hashed 15 *.screenfx files for consistency
Hashed 114 *.surface_shader files for consistency
Hashed 3 *.fxh files for consistency
Hashed 3 *.render_setup files for consistency
Hashed 2 *.shader_template files for consistency
Loading 'maps/ns2_summit.level'
Building pathing mesh for level maps/ns2_summit.level
Finished loading 'maps/ns2_summit.level'

Start explore mode

Date: 03/04/13
Time: 18:15:16
--------------------------------------------------------------
Build 240
Steam initialized
Render Device: ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series (8.17.10.1191)
Sound Device: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio) stereo
Record Device: Microphone (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Loading config://ConsoleBindings.json
Loading config://FavoriteServers.json
Main Menu Initialized at Version: 240
Steam Id: 3181934
Connected to Steam servers
Downloading mods
Finished downloading and installing mods
Mounting mod from C:/Steam/steamapps/common/Natural Selection 2/explore/
Connecting to server 127.0.0.1:27015
Client connecting (192.168.1.64)
VAC Enabled
Loading config://ServerConfig.json
Loading config://ServerAdmin.json
Loading config://BannedPlayers.json
Loading config://MapCycle.json
Loading config://ConsistencyConfig.json
Hashed 1 game_setup.xml files for consistency
Hashed 698 *.lua files for consistency
Hashed 36 *.fx files for consistency
Hashed 15 *.screenfx files for consistency
Hashed 114 *.surface_shader files for consistency
Hashed 3 *.fxh files for consistency
Hashed 3 *.render_setup files for consistency
Hashed 2 *.shader_template files for consistency
Loading 'maps/ns2_summit.level'
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Error: Failed to add an obstacle - no tile cache!
Building pathing mesh for level maps/ns2_summit.level
Finished loading 'maps/ns2_summit.level'
Hive not attached to tech point
Hive not attached to tech point
Hive not attached to tech point

Both logs are after lauching, and then the game hangs on the loading screen with the screenshot showing the increasing levels of infestation and the spinning circle in the lower right corner. After a few minutes I have to alt-tab out and kill the process to exit.

rws · March 2013

This is a long shot so I doubt it will work considering you have already reinstalled the game once. Try deleting the explore folder and then verify the game cache to let it re-download those files.

What processor are you running on?

Savant · March 2013

i7-2600K @ 4.4GHz, 8GB RAM and Radeon HD5850 (1GB).

Yeah deleting explore didn't help unfortunately. The explore mod loads fine in the log above. It's later, just before the game is supposed to kick-in that it seems to be hanging.

Could it be a NAT issue I wonder?

NotAgOat · March 2013

I am having a similar issue. I can actually start a listen server or a training game but once I spawn in the ready room I cant move. If I open console it looks like this:
(It is actually spamming text as you see in the .gif)

DC_Darkling · March 2013

I had some hive attach & obstacle errors but could load it up quite nicely, so I doubt that is related. (I also test in listenserver)

What happens exactly? Loads > freezes? crashes? closes ns2?

Savant · March 2013

In my case, let me list a line by line description of what occurs...

-Load NS2 #game loads fine, although like others it takes longer now
-Main menu appears #animation works fine, I see the robot moving around
-Click on training and then explore
-Once I click 'start' the game responds as expected
-I see an image of Atrium on the Summit map
-The wheel in the bottom right is spinning as it says "Starting Local Server"
-As I wait the images on-screen show increasing levels of infestation
-Wheel is still spinning, dots beside "Starting Local Server" still blinking
-After the final Summit infestation image, I am still waiting for game to start
-If I open the console I have the log you see displayed above.
-The game will not allow me to return to the main menu
-I have to kill the process to exit the game

The only thing not noted is that once the game has stopped responding, if I type "disconnect" in the console, the text that used to say "Starting Local Server" will change to "Loading" - although no additional lines are generated in the console and the game doesn't actually disconnect.

It should be noted the game is not locking up. I can still enter console commands and such - it's just the game will not start.

Starting a local (non-explore) server is pretty much the identical, except the console log is a bit different, as well as the loading images.

DC_Darkling · March 2013

hmmm.. hmm. That is very VERY weird.
do profiler an p_logall work? Does it hang on something according to those?

to exclude weird problems outside the ns2 code, so basicly on the files or registry keys or access rights, you could try to use process monitor (www.sysinternals.com).
Be sure to set the filter to "process name > contains > ns2.exe" and then clean the log and recap.

I can not even remotely imagine what would do that. hehe.

if you use the windows firewall.. it writes down 'blocked' messages in the event viewer. Might want to check that then.

IronHorse · March 2013

Ty for the info everyone, trying to reproduce now.

NotAgOat · March 2013

Mine doesn't crash/freeze or anything. I load into the waiting room and everything appears to be fine except I cant move and the console spamming the text.

Savant · March 2013

I'm still not able to start a server or explore in the build 242 beta.

SteveRock · March 2013

Try deleting the cache folder in %APPDATA%/natural selection 2? This will force shader recompile and also pathing stuff

ScardyBob · March 2013

Likely a mod issue. I've had this happen when playtesting (e.g. PT build 24X+1 vs Public build 24X) where it would load the public build when starting a local or explore server. Disable all your mods and try again.

Savant · March 2013

I've actually totally stripped the game out and re-installed about 6 times over the past couple months. I have no mods. Got rid of them a few re-installs ago. I just re-installed last night, given that this was a new build, and still no change.

Edit: I posted console logs above, and if I had mods they would show being loaded.

llamalaugh · July 2013

Having the same problem as Savant (exactly)
Just installed today, have rechecked cache, have deleted cache folder in APPDATA. No change.

Jekt · July 2013

edit: Oh you can't start a listen server either. Woops.

You wouldn't want to use it anyway, all of the information in it is wrong. Might be updated or replaced with a actual tutorial in the content update 3 months from now.

If you want to practice create a listen server. Here are some helpful console commands.

cheats 1
autobuild
alltech
debugspeed
tres
pres
fade
lerk
skulk

If you want to learn. Hmm. You're out of luck. Ask in public servers or watch some community tutorial videos. Most of them are outdated as well though. Don't watch any of the videos in the game. Outdated. Make sure you disable the hints in the game as well. Outdated.

Confused · July 2013

in previous cases this means that the hash value of a file on disk is not the same as the smae file in memory. Generally, a bad ram stick. It is considered wise to check your ram once you start to see errors like this.

However, you can disable the file consistancy check in the %appdata%/Natural Selection 2/ConsistancyConfig.json file by removing various things. but for your issue you will likely want to remove all the options and just leave [].

Note that this is pretty bad if you are actually trying to host a server as anyone can run anything on their client, but if you just want to run explore mode it should be okay.

wulf · July 2013

I thought it was common courtesy to put "location" and "res slots" (if available) in server name.

Tankren · December 2013

llamalaugh wrote: »

Having the same problem as Savant (exactly)
Just installed today, have rechecked cache, have deleted cache folder in APPDATA. No change.

Exact same issue here as well. Has anybody discovered the problem yet?

GhoulofGSG9 · December 2013

Tankren wrote: »

llamalaugh wrote: »

Having the same problem as Savant (exactly)
Just installed today, have rechecked cache, have deleted cache folder in APPDATA. No change.

Exact same issue here as well. Has anybody discovered the problem yet?

This is a pretty old thread it may be better to start a new one following the guidelines of this: http://forums.unknownworlds.com/discussion/131384/how-to-make-a-good-tech-support-post

Can't start local server or explore - have reinstalled

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