Electronic Arts

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 06/04/2009 06:38:51

PB troubleshooting instructions: http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/221883.page
Just replace 2142 with bf2.

Q: I'm using Windows Vista and keep getting kicked by Punkbuster with the message

"You have been kicked via PunkBuster (for 0 minutes)...
RESTRICTION: Inadequate O/S Privileges"

A: To run PunkBuster under Windows Vista, you may need to run the game as an administrator. To do this, right click the icon you use to launch the game. Select "Properties", then the "Compatability" tab. From that tab, check the box labled "Run this program as an Administrator" and click ok.

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Q: Why do I get kicked for a "Service Communications Failure: PnkBstrA.exe or PnkBstrB.exe"?

A: The issue is a communication failure, which means a security application is blocking the A service from talking to the B process or blocking the services communication with Even Balance. Please make sure you add the A and all B locations to your firewalls.

The A service is called from your "C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrA.exe"
There is also a copy of the B executable in "C:\WINDOWS\system32\PnkBstrB.exe" this probably should be granted access as well as any games copy which will be found in the PB folder inside the games root folder. i.e. BF2 default path is "C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Battlefield 2\pb\PnkBstrB.exe"

If granting access to these via your firewall doesn't fix the issue. Try reinstalling the services with the PBSVC installer found http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=pbsvcfaq.php

Run it as "Administrator" every time you run it by right clicking and choosing Run As.

Do the same with the PBSetup program found
http://www.evenbalance.com/index.php?page=pbsetup.php

If that doesn't work, then you'll need to open a Support Ticket with Even Balance. http://evenbalance.com/troubleticket/new_ticket.php?game=bf2

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Q: I keep getting kicked by PunkBuster for "Blocked O/S Privileges"?

A: Please temporarily disable other security type programs you have running such as anti-virus, process guard, SDProtector, etc. to find out which of them is blocking PB's access to resources on your computer. You either need to run PB without the blocking program(s) or play on non-PB servers.

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Q: I keep getting kicked by PunkBuster for "Insufficient O/S Privileges"?

A: Download and run this file from any location, it will check for adware that stops you from being able to play on PB servers. The VX2 adware edits your user rights when it infects your computer, and many programs do not repair this when they remove it.

http://www.greyknight17.com/spy/VX2Finder(126).exe

Click the "Find VX2.betterinternet info" button to make sure that you don't have this adware. If there are no files listed, go on to the last step. If you find the adware files, (it is usually 3 random named dll files) Select all the files found.

Press 'Delete These Files'. The program will delete all files but one that will be deleted on reboot. Allow program to reboot. Once Restarted:

Press 'Guardian.reg'.
Press 'User Agent'.
Press 'Restore Policy'.

Clicking on "find vx2.BetterInternet info" again should show all fields blank.
If you have no adware files, just click on the "Restore Policy" Button

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Q: I keep getting kicked for "Losing Key Packets"

A: If you Right click on "My Computer" > Manage > Services & Applications > Services > (look for 2 services PnkBstrA & PnkBstrB) Make sure they are NOT disabled and are started.

If one or both of those are missing, you can download this program: http://www.evenbalance.com/downloads/pbsvc/pbsvc.exe
It will reinstall both services and fix the problem.

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*** PLEASE NOTE ***

These are just a few commonly asked questions about PunkBuster kicks. If you're getting kicked by PunkBuster and the solution isn't listed above, please look through the pages of our other PunkBuster thread, located here, or open a support ticket with PunkBuster through the link below.

http://evenbalance.com/troubleticket/new_ticket.php?game=bf2

i cant find PnkBustrA.exe in there and im running vista wtf??? you who said all this i know you know the solition (sry my english im from sweden)

ahh sry i dideent readd it ´correctly

Hi,

After reading your post i think you can help me..as soon as i hit the start button, on the starter page, the game launches..even before i get to choose a class it immediately says "punkbuster has kicked you," and what not, and im taken back to the starting menu...PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!this has been goin on for months and i cant play online!!!!!

What does it say exactly when it kicks you?

Thanks, I was having the same problem. Turns out both of my BF2 and BF2142 needed updates.

I was wondering why on BF 2 I have to keep the Disk in to play the game (Online and Offline)? I've tried taking it out to play and it keeps telling me to put it back.
Is this normal for this Game? I know on Call of Duty 4 I don't need to insert the disk once it's was loaded onto my PC. Just asking.

Thanks in advance

Hey, I need some help! about 2-3 minutes into multiplayer game I play, I get kicked and the punkbuster notice reads: Kicked for (COMSFAIL), or something resulting in a COMSFAIL. What is a COMSFAIL and how do I fix it?

*NOTE: This isn't my first PB issue, earlier I had the O/S privelages error, and after that was fixed I have the communcations failue, which, too, has been resolved.

That's a new one to me, you should contact Evenbalance, (click here), to get that figured out.

Eh, that's just great... I hope evenbalance knows what it is. Well thanks anyway

This punkbuster is nothing but problems!!! I need help, evertime I join a server in multiplayer mode it lets me play for about 20 seconds. Then it kicks me out of the server and says "PunkBuster" and gives me a button to click that says "okay" and thats it. All it says is punkbuster. Any help???

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 06/12/2008 10:59:54

If it's not giving you a reason for the kick, then you'll have to contact Evenbalance, (click here), to get it figured out.

Hay I've been geting kicked latly by PunkBuster, it says the reason is: PunkBuster kicked player 'my account' (for 0 minutes) ... PB Client Not Responding. So what do I do to shut this PunkBuster up and be able to move on and play the game without worry of being kicked????? its happened like 5 times now.

Try updating your version of Punkbuster.

http://evenbalance.com/index.php?page=pbsetup.php

PnkBstrB handshake issue does not get resolved simply by running pbsvc/pbset up and enabling all the relevant firewall rules. It may work for some but not for all. This is the very same issue that happened when Evenbalance released a version in August 2007. It was all over the forums then.
Somebody identified the culprit as being pb\pbns.dat (hence why when you speak to Evenbalance they insist on deleting the pb folder before running pbsvc). That file needed to be deleted before login in to the game. Hence, by creating a .BAT file that deletes the pbns.dat and loads BF2 that was doing the trick; no need to run pbsvc every single time.
Now, a couple of weeks ago, a new PB version was introduced and it looks like pbns.dat was replaced by pbns_c.dat. So I started having problems after installing the latest PB version around July 10: "PnkBstrB.exe handshaking failed"; I have now changed my .BAT to delete the relevant file and no issue.

No doubt the initial steps must be carried out:
delete pb folder
un-install using pbsvc
re-install pbsvc
reboot
run pbsetup and download latest version

above only needs doing once

THEN
create a .BAT file using notepad in your BF2 folder including the following

Del "pb\pbns_c.dat"
Start "Battlefield 2 Launcher" "BF2.exe"
Exit

run the BAT file to login rather than you BF2.exe shortcut. Et voila!

NOTE: this is still a work around. Evenbalance have yet to acknowledge there is an issue with that file and fix it. Also, be aware that if you disconnect from a server, that pbns_c file is left behind, so login to another server without re-running the BAT (i.e. not exiting BF2) will lead to the same isue: "PnkBstrB.exe handshaking failed". Not a problem if you stick to your regular server all the time.
Good games!

Electronic Arts

Electronic Arts

Highlighted Game

Battlefield 2™