Hi. I'm Trying to setup a LAN server here at the office in the technical center for some of us to enjoy some good ol' Freelancer, as our usual FPS's are getting quite boring.

Thing is, I'm getting the message "The requested operation is taking to long to respond" Message whenever a client tries to connect to the server.

I googled a bit and came across quite a number of people having this issue, so gathering from what was told to them on various forums and sites, this is what I have done to try and rectify the issue.

Firstly, the Windows XP machine I want to make the server.
After getting the above mentioned message, I proceeded to do this:
Uninstall Freelancer from machine
Clean out Registry of all entries
Reboot machine
Check Windows firewall
Uninstall ALL Antivirus and or Security software ( It's a machine I built specially to run a Freelancer Server so it doesn't need AV protection really)
Reinstall Freelancer.
Ran Freelancer in Windows 2000 Compatibility mode
Installed patch 1.1 (also installed 1.4 after we installed 1.1 and it wasn't working)
Ran the Freelancer Global server list workaround (which I found strange that it was even mentioned as I want to LAN the game, but did it anycase)
Tried Various mods like Discovery, TNG etc.
Tried the Direct IP Connect

None of the above worked, so I tried running Freelancer server on a Windows 7 based computer, also did all of the above, to no avail.

I even went as far as eventhough my windows firewall is off, configured ports for the Game, aswell as on my router, still nothing.

I also made a Crossover cable running directly between 2 Windows XP based machines, which means no Hub/Switch/Router, straight cable between 2 PC's. Both NO AV / security software, Firewalls off, both 100% reachable from the other, and other games work beautifully (UT3,UT2004,Quake3,Counterstrike etc) But still getting the issue with Freelancer. Look it shows up in the LAN list, you can see the name, enter the password etc, but as soon as you try and join it it gives you the "The requested operation is taking to long to respond" Message. I tried joining some internet servers just to see and they connect fine, no issues there.

So I'm quite stumped, I've ruled out Antivirus, Security software, Firewalling, tried 1.1 patch, tried 1.4 patch, tried the global server list workarounds, used a crossover cable between 2 pc's alone, tried the setups on WinXP and Win7, Tried stock and with various mods, Compatibility modes, Direct IP connect modes, the works.

I'm Really stumped as I have litterally tried just about everything, and its the first time I have ever gone through such effort just to LAN a game. CCNA Certified Person 0, Freelancer 1 .

Any help would be appreciated.

Hello!!

Well you did perhaps everything, lot of work.

This problem usually has one or more of 3 causes, assuming that you have already installed the GLS workaround patch (not sure if it is needed for LANs though).

It is possible that you undid one fix when doing another, I've done that more than once in troubleshooting complex problems!

1: Freelancer.exe, FLServer.exe or DirectXPlay8 Server not being passed (by firewall, but yours is off?). If you want it on just allow exceptions and make these exceptions. The difficulty is Windows doesn't always open the warning window to let you unblock them, it may take several reboots and retries.

2. MS Security Essentials (Win7) or some antivirus programs including Symantec and MacAfee. Avast and Antivir and AVG are usually OK but can cause lag. (yours is disabled?)

3. IPv6 on XP machines. Switch to IPv4 if yours are IPv6.

Have you tried running both FLServer.exe and Freelancer.exe on the same machine? You need to have a working network connection to do it, XP needs to see a hub or router. Win 98 did not care but XP does, and I think 98SE also wanted to see a hub or router, can't remember for sure what I was running though (whether I went from 98SE to XP or from 98 to 98SE, it was some years ago).

There's a thought - remove the x-over cable and connect through a hub with a normal patch cable.

I no longer have a hub, but my machine needs to have our wireless router connected to work.

And let us know if you manage to fix it?

Good luck.

Glad to hear you finally got it working, congrats. GOod to know too, I'll keep an eye out for this issue in the future.

Great!

Glad it wasn't a new and more difficult problem.