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vyoletkyss's avatar
vyoletkyss
10 years ago

Blank Server Screen, Out of Ideas.

I've read everything I can in the forums and I've exhausted Tier2 Tech Support. I am hoping someone can help me here.

Tldr: Blank server screen unless I re-download the whole game.

I have a clean install of Windows10 Home directly from Microsoft on my computer. I have Windows Defender as my Antivirus and Windows Firewall as my firewall - both via Windows10 Home. I am running this on a Lenovo Flex-2-15-D Laptop. The only program I've installed post-clean install of Windows10 Home, is SWTOR.

I have updated all of my drivers via Lenovo's website.

I am hard-lined into the modem/router. Ports 80, 8995, 12000-12999, and  20000-30000 are open.

I have used McAfee and Norton's Antivirus Program removal software to ensure they are not on my machine in any way, shape, or form.

I have ensured that SWTOR Client, SWTOR Launcher, and BitRaider are all allowed through Windows Firewall; I've also removed them and re-added them.

I have reset my computer's clock.

I have flushed my DNS.

I have run both Tacert and Pathping, neither show anything that raised any flags with SWTOR Tech Support, Tier2. Same goes for the Launcher Diagnostic File.

I have repaired the launcher.

I have gone through the selective start up instructions with tech support as well as the safe boot method. 

I've disabled BitRaider and downloaded the non-streaming Launcher and performed all prior attempts to resolve this issue

Ultimately, the only way I've ever been able to play SWTOR is if I re-download the entire game. Otherwise, I get a blank server screen.

If I log in on my husband's laptop, I can log right into the character select screen (all my characters are on a single server).

I've tried switching out my cat6 cord and port for his but it doesn't change anything.

I've exhausted Tier2 Tech support (total time spent with the helpful gents there = 8+ hours).

I've run out of ideas myself. I'm hoping someone here might have an idea.

Thank you.

40 Replies

  • proxos666's avatar
    proxos666
    Hero+
    10 years ago

    @vyoletkyss

    Probably the first thing to check that can also be a cause of no server list is compatibility modes

    Go to launcher.exe located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\BioWare\Star Wars-The Old Republic

    right mouse click and go properties and then go to the compatibility tab , ensure there is no compatibility ticked on this tab, but do tick run as administrator, but everything else unticked.

    then do the exactly the same for swtor.exe located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\BioWare\Star Wars-The Old Republic\swtor\retailclient 

    Then do the same for the desktop shortcut if there is one.

    If a compatibility mode is not identical on both exe files , no server list is one by product, hence if a compatibility is used they need to be all identical , but for me on Win 10 I use none.

  • vyoletkyss's avatar
    vyoletkyss
    10 years ago
    We tried that. We also tried running both launchers with Windows 7 compatibility and the result was still the blank server screen. ☹️

    I'm seriously wondering if this is a Lenovo laptop issue. I saw another post on the forums with this same issue on a Lenovo; no solution was posted though.
  • proxos666's avatar
    proxos666
    Hero+
    10 years ago

    @vyoletkyss

    Windows key + R , in the popup type services.msc

    scroll down to DNS Client service , is it enabled and running ?

    Ensure this is set to Automatic as well

  • proxos666's avatar
    proxos666
    Hero+
    10 years ago

    @vyoletkyss

    Ok can keep moving outwards, if they have got you to do steps already let me know

    press the windows key and type cmd , you should see command prompt listed , right mouse click on it and select run as administrator

    type in the black box

    netsh winsock reset

    press enter then type

    netsh int ipv4 reset

    press enter

    It is worthwhile if you want to return windows firewall to defaults and re-enter the rules for launcher.exe and swtor.exe ( no server list is related to swtor.exe )

    to do so type

    netsh advfirewall reset

    press enter and restart the computer

  • vyoletkyss's avatar
    vyoletkyss
    10 years ago
    We did not try this!

    I tried it twice, running the launcher as administrator, directly from the folder, and not from a short cut.

    However, both attempts I made resulted in blank server screen.

    I am still using the non-streaming launcher, do you think this makes a difference?
  • proxos666's avatar
    proxos666
    Hero+
    10 years ago

    @vyoletkyss

    I find non streaming is best , its what I use here too. double check again that there is no compatibility being used at present. 

    You mentioned ports on the modem firewall ? if there is any manual port forwards for these ports for swtor , remove them, at this stage test with uPnP enabled in the modem.

    This will open and close ports as needed by any applications on the computers in the local network.

  • proxos666's avatar
    proxos666
    Hero+
    10 years ago

    @vyoletkyss

    One other thing that would be handy is if you can run a report with this , if you can send this to me in a PM would be great.

  • vyoletkyss's avatar
    vyoletkyss
    10 years ago

    I am not sure I understand all the steps for this set of instructions. This is what I did:

    Checked that uPnP is enabled  in my network settings.

    I have no ports forwarded on my machine. 

    The router is still set with the ports SWTOR T2 CS requested be set open.

    I double checked compatibility and administrator rights again on both the launcher and swtor.exe - both matched in having no compatibility selected, and administrator rights were checked.

    I rebooted to clean boot and tried to launch again as administrator from the launcher program, still came up as a blank screen.

    I also ran speccy and sent you the report via PM.

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