LAN problem

[BlorkTheImpaler]

when i bought a second copy of MTW, I installed it on my computer and gave the old copy to the second computer. But when i try to start a game on the two computers it wont let me play. Right when i join on the other computer it tells me that the latency is to high and goes back to the starting screen of LAN menu.I think this problem is do to that i could not change my CD key on my computer when i installed the new copy of MTW and that the second computer has the same key. help will be appreciated.

[MidnitePiper]

Latency has nothing to do with the CD-Key or the game itself. Latanecy is a networking issue - it's saying that the computers are incapable of working together because your network won't send info between them fast enough for the game to run properly.

Any particular network device has a minimum time that it requires to deliver data, a time that you can never beat no matter how small the amount of data being sent between computers. That's called the latency of the device. Higher quality network devices have a lower latency, lower-quality equipment has a higher latency. Latency can also be caused by bad cables, extremely long cables, or one badly configured computer that simply won't accept and send off data to its partner at a reasonable rate.

[BlorkTheImpaler]

How can i fix this networking problem?

[MidnitePiper]

Figure out which of the things I explained above is causing it - if the cables are long, shorten them; if they are bad quality, buy better cables; if the nwtrowk hub and network cards are cheap, buy better ones; if one computer needs more RAM or a better graphics card or processor to keep up with the faster one, get it...

[EatYerGreens]

Blork,

you describe your setup as a LAN but there are a number of ways of linking pairs of computers and you didn't specify which one you are using. The word LAN conjures up certain preconceptions about the linking method. Generally, item 3 listed below.

1) Serial connection using nullmodem cable between the RS232 ports on both machines.
2) USB to USB connection.
3) 10/100Mb Ethernet port to Ethernet port.

1) is positively archaic these days and will probably give you unacceptably high latency
2) is capable of up to 1Mb/sec and may also be too slow. USB2 is faster but not up to Ethernet bandwidth by any means.
3) is what I assume you are using, which makes the high latency all the more puzzling. Perhaps it's configured incorrectly or a particular communication protocol, which the game requires or expects to be present, has not been installed. TCP/IP protocol may be the culprit. You will have all the required files buried somewhere on both PCs, it's just a matter of re-doing the network setup routine and specifiying that you want this activated. I've vague recollection of it being listed as "not recommended", as it has certain security implications but a router or decent firewall guarding the PC which runs the shared internet connection should cover you in that reagrd.

I should add that I'm only dropping a few, hopefully useful, hints and I am not a networking expert. I've yet to attempt a dual-install, play over LAN setup like the one you are trying to achieve for myself. Best of luck and let us know if you work out what was causing the problem, or if any of this was helpful.

[BlorkTheImpaler]

i have no experience with setting up any network and all the things your are saying i know are intended to help me but i just do not apprehend these instructions. If you could in any possibility to try to dumn them down for a uneducated fellow like me. Your help will be appreciated.