System Requirements:
32 megs of ram-minimum
50 megs of disk space-minimum 100 megs-ideal
800 x 600 resolution
Tracert (trace route)
Open MSDOS and type in "tracert www.iplay.net > trace.txt" (makes a .txt file to send)
If you get an * it means there is a bad router between you and IPlay
Ping
Open MSDOS and type in "ping www.iplay.net > ping.txt"
If it says destination host unreachable or unknown, it means a router is down somewhere.
Low Resource Errors
"Failure to load controls" --> runtime error 372 (canasta)
"out of memory" --> general runtime error 7 (this requires immediate reboot)
"overflow" --> runtime error 6
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-Reboot...when they come back, check resources
-Check resources--right click on "my computer"
--click "properties"
--"performance" tab (is system resources...a %)
--Remove unnecessary programs from startup
-Delete ICQ history
-Reboot again
Firewalls,
WinICS, NAT, Etc.
Get a Fatal Error when joining--"Socket is not connected at Sock Send"
-Ask about type of net connect (dial-up, DSL, cable, SAT) some have built in firewalls or routers with
NAT
-Ask if they are networked (are there more than one computers sharing the modem?) and if so,
find out if they are using WinICS.
-Have them click on
start, then on run.
-Have them type in
winipcfg (95, 98, and ME) or ipconfig (2k)
-When they get the
new window, have them look at the adapters in the drop
down box and list them to you.
-If you encounter
WinICS, or ICShare, those are incompatible with IPlay. Tell
them that for the time being they will not be able to host with that
software
on their computer. Tell them that they can still join and that we
plan to
make our games go server based in a few weeks and that then they
should be able to host, but until then they can still join and play.
-Ask if they have a router...get model and make from them and do a net search...the maker's website should have the info about whether or not the router has NAT.
-Ask if they have a firewall (Norton Internet Security, Black Ice Defender, McAffe firewall, Zone Alarm)
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-If they have NAT, they need to do port forwarding to the computer they want to host on...check for instruction manuel, or have them call the people who installed their router/ISP. (ports 4990-4999)
-If they have WinICS, they can't host...We are working on making the games server based...until then, they can still join games:)
-If they have Black Ice Defender, they need to set it to trusting.
-If they have Zone Alarm, they need to set it to medium.
-If they have Norton,
1. Open Norton Firewall
2. Click on Options and Internet Security
3. Click on Advanced Options
4. Click on the Firewall Tab
5. Remove all rules pertaining to iplay EXCEPT IPLAYNET.EXE TCP/UDP
6. Highlight that one rule and click on Modify
It should read:
Name: IPLAYNET.EXE TCP/UDP
Action: Permit
Direction: Either
Protocol: TCP or UDP
Category: Networked Games or whatever you put there
Application: Any application
Service: Any service
Address: Any address
7. Click OK
8. Click Apply
9. Click OK
-If they have another kind of firewall, they should disable it or open ports 4990-4999
Can't See Cards In Spades
If a player comes in and says they can not see their cards in spades, they need to turn down their hardware acceleration.
-Right-click on desktop
-Click on "properties"
-Click on the "settings" tab
-Click on the "advanced" button
-Click on the "performance" tab
-Turn it down 2 notches to the left
-Reboot
-Repeat as necessary (may turn all the way down if necessary)
"File is Write Protected"
IF a player says that they got an error saying that a file is write protected, they need to do the following:
-Find the file
-Right click on it and click on properties
-Uncheck "read only"
Can't Type In Game Room or Lobby
If someone can't type in the lobby or in a game, have them click on the chat line with their cursor and then hold down ctl-alt-shift. This should
un-stick the chat:)
Kernel Error
If a player gets an illegal operation and, when they click details, it says that it's a KERNEL error, that's okay. If they get a second or more KERNEL errors, then they need to reinstall or do an update install of Windows.
Runtime Error 5
If a player gets this error at login, it is a sign of a banner blocker. Have them disable the banner blocker and try again.
If a player gets it at any other time, the player needs to do a repair install of IPlay.
Reboot Cycle
If a player installs IPlay and gets a message that they have to reboot, then reboots and continues to get that message, they are stuck in the Reboot Cycle.
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-Have the player do a find on wininit.ini and delete it.
-Have the player do a find on needboot.dat and delete that also.
-Send the player your IPlayNet.exe and have them save to IPlayNet folder.
-Have them try again...that should fix it:)
NAT
NAT technology allows multiple computers to share one ISP assigned IP Address. This IP address is assigned to the router. The router then assigns an internal IP address to each of the computers connected to the router. These internal IP addresses are not visible to any other systems on the internet, so no one can connect to the IP address. This results in an inability to host in IPlay.
There are two IP address combos that indicate NAT: 192.168.xxx.xxx and 10.0.xxx.xxx
-The player needs to do port forwarding and forward ports 4990-4999 to the computer that they wish to host with. If they are unsure how to do this, they need to consult their router documentation or contact ISP.
Player Can't Join a Room
If a player says that they are unable to join a canasta game, check their resources. That is the most common cause for canasta.
If the player gets a socket error (socket is not connected, etc.), it is a sign of a hosting problem...Try to get the host of the game in the tech lobby to talk with them and then precede with the firewalls, network, NAT, etc section.
If the player gets a message that says "you have been disconnected from the host" then it is most likely that the door is locked. Find out what lobby this game is in and try for yourself.
To Snap a Screen Shot
-Hit "print screen" on keyboard (nothing appears to happen)
-Go to start/programs/accessories/paint
-In paint, go to edit then paste
-Say yes to enlarge
-Save
To find ip address (windows95 and windows 98 only)
-Go to start then run
-Type winipcfg in the blank, then click ok
-Read what it says in the IP address blank
You may need to look at more then one adaptor to get a good address.
To find ip address (win2k)
-Go to start, then run
-Type in the word command and click ok
-A prompt box will open. Type ipconfig and then press enter.
To register a file
-Go to start, then run
-Type "regsvr32 <then space and file name with ext. > (i.e. richtx32.ocx)" in the blank, then okay.
It will say succeeded or success when done
No Auto-Scroll
Most common fix is to get critical updates:
-Go to start
-Click on Windows Updates (near top). It will take them to a web site.
-On left side they will see product updates. Have them click on that.
-Have them click on critical updates.
-Have them click on download.
-They will need to reboot after the download.
Error 401
If a player gets an error 401, ask if they have content advisor turned on.
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-The player needs to open internet explorer.
-They need to go to tools, then internet options and click on the content tab.
-Click on disable under the "content advisor" section.
-Click "ok".
Do NOT adjust any settings.
No Sounds In IPlay
If they have NO sounds at all (after checking that they don't have it turned off or are not confused that they can only hear what they have installed) check path.
-Right click on the globe icon.
-Then click on properties
-Then click on the "shortcut" tab.
-Read what it says in "start in". It should say "c:\program
files\iplaynet" if it doesn't then let them know that that is a
known bug and we are working on a fix.
To get the version of a file
-Click on start, then find files or folders.
-Type in file name.
-Then right-click on the file and click on properties.
-Read what it says for file version.
Runtime Errors 53 and 62
Most commonly found in wordx, these errors can be fixed by sending them your ipwordx.dat.
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-Do a find on the file ipwordx.dat
-Have them delete it
-Have them host wordx again and let it update.
That should fix those errors.
Stuck lobby navs
-Have the player right click and select refresh on each side.
-If that doesn't work, have them press F5 while the lobby list is open.
Remember that each side of the lobby navs are independent of each other.
