Thread: I need HELP!!!!

Okay so I installed BF2 on my rig. I have the complete collection DVD, installed it, updated to 1.5 and everything works fine. Now I also have an old copy of BF2 (the original CD version) so I thought it would be cool to install it on my GF's comp and we could play together. We have pretty much identical systems but for some reason when I install and update on her's, once I get into a game it works for maybe 10 seconds then the screen goes off. It will either come back and the game will freeze then disconnect me or it will just disconnect me right away. The error I am receiving is something to this effect: Service Communication Error: Problem with PnkbstrA.exe or something close to that. I have tried everything I could find on the net and nothing is working. I have uninstalled PB using PBsvc.exe and reinstalled it. I have uninstalled PB and run PBsetup.exe, added BF2 as a game and updated, and even used my copy of BF2 (the DVD) and updated from 1.41. Her drivers are all up to date, I am running AVG but have disabled it and still it will not work. The Windows firewall is not on. I have no clue whats going on as it runs fine on my computer. I recently installed Windows 7 on both our comps so they are quite fresh and she doesn't spend a whole lot of time on the comp so I know she hasn't downloaded anything that would be blocking PnkbstrA from communicating with PnkbstrB. I'm at a loss here. Has anyone had this issue before, maybe you could point me in the right direction. Thanks!

Two things, Sometime just installing it leads to problems. Try a reinstall?
Second, make sure you are running BF2 as an Admin (Right click > Run as admin).

Okay so instead of uninstalling I just reinstalled and that kind of worked. I am no longer getting the PnkbstrA error however the game is still locking up every 10 seconds or so, screen goes black, comes back and I'm able to play for another 10 seconds then it repeats. Any ideas on that one? Oh and I am running as Admin.

Well... I still say reinstall, but you could also try updating video drivers...

I would also recommend making sure that the program is not running in compatibility mode for XP service pack 2

Okay so I will try installing Special Forces on her rig but I only have one CD-Key for that. Does that matter? That's what I did on my system and everything works fine so I'm thinking the 1.1 patch has something to do with it because that's the variable being left out on her comp. I'll try this and let you know what happens.

If, all the advice given above fails.... Try installing BF2 in safe mode with networking.... If you are using XP just restart you're computer and press F8 multiply times when it starts up and it should give you an option on what mode to start it in. If you are using Vista use this link below and follow the steps...

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...r-in-safe-mode

Well after trying a million thinks I finally fixed the issue. It turned out I needed to lower her video cards clock speed. It's a factory OC'd Radeon HD3650 and I guess it was running to high. I had the same issue on her computer when we were playing Warhammer Online and thankfully I thought of that and was able to get this sorted out. Thanks for all the help and suggestions anyway guys!