PnkBstrB.exe Handshaking Failed

[ColonelDracula]

Bring down the ingame console with the tilde ~ (top left of keyboard)
and just type it into the console like this while a game is running... if you can't get into a multiplayer game, you can do it in singleplayer, I think.

pb_sleep 500
pb_writecfg 1


You don't have to type a ' \ ' slash mark

[M][n][on]

alright thanks for the response ill give that a shot when i got a chance i hope it solves this extremely annoying issue we are all having.

Has anyonr tried this yet?

[Maximus183]

I have done everything u said and it doesnt work. However when i enter the list of programs with permission to access the internet there are already a PnkBstrA and B file and they are marked as exepcions so what the heck do i do know?

[Maximus183]

I tried this also and in the list there is a PnkBstrA file but no B so is there a way i can add it to the list and fix this crap?

[Matador]

I was having the same problem looks like i fixed it by uninstalling the punkbuster with pbsvc and then reinstalling it
While i was making the test with pbsvc i could see the PnkBstrA.exe and B on the Services list and before PnkbstrB.exe disapeared i initialized it and it didnt closed after that
I tried playing multiplayer and it worked fine without any kicks until now
( sorry for any english mistakes because i dont speak english very well)

Hope it works for you

[McSpank]

I managed to sort of fix the problem, what I did was the uninstall pb with pbsvc next I deleted the pb folder inside your bf2 folder. Then I installed pb again with pbsvc and used pbsetup to update bf2. Then I ran the test form pvsvc when it was done I went to Start>Control Panel>Administrative Tools>Services. Because before the test there was only PnkBstrA.exe. After the test PnkBstrB.exe apeared aswell, I activated it and played the game. It all worked fine. The next day I wanted to play again but I got the same handshaking error, I checked services again and found out that PnkBstrB.exe disapeared. I ran the test from pbsvc again and it apeared again and I activated again, the game worked fine again. But now every time I want to play I have to run the pbsvc test and activate PnkBstrB.exe. I don't mind doing that because it only takes 1 minute, but if someone knows a way to make it work without having to do this all the time, please let me know. Maybe this works for you guys too, and you might have to activate PnkBstrB.exe all time, you can play the game.

Good luck, McSpank

[bad_dog]

THIS IS THE SOLUTION!!!!!
This is the absolute cure for those who have windows vista. The problem is that you have to activate vista's "hidden administrator". it has nothing to do with re-installing or disabling punkbusters, or any security software.To do this you must follow the instructions exactly....

1. Logon to Vista using your normal username and password.
2. Click on the Start button
3. Click on Start Search.
4. Type,cmd.
5. Right-click cmd, select 'Run as administrator' from the shortcut menu.
6. In the black 'DOS box', type the following at the command line:
Net help user
7. The idea of the last command is just to observe the options for Net User. In particular, examine the syntax to set the password.
8. The next instruction is the crucial command. I have chosen password = p£ssworD, you may want to choose different characters.
9. Net user administrator p£ssw0rd
10. Net user administrator /active:yes

NOTE: There should be no space between the word 'active' and the colon.
/active :yes is wrong.
/active:yes is correct.

NOTE: You need a forward slash before /active
Net user administrator active:yes is wrong
Net user administrator /active:yes is correct

NOTE: Pay close attention to the command, it should be active, not activate.

11. Check the message : The command completed successfully
12. Switch User, or logoff
13. Logon as Administrator Password p£ssw0rD (Your password may be different!)
14. Now, go to windows/system32, and locate PnkBstrA.exe. Right click the mouse, and check the box marked "run as administrator". Hit apply. Do the same for PnkBstrB.exe, and pbsvc.exe.
15. Locate your game file you click to start playing, ( for example C:/Program files/Activision/Call of Duty 4/iw3mp.exe ) and right click with the mouse. Make sure it is run as administrator as well.
16. If you have disabled punkbusters, then re-install it.
17. Try playing the game. Have fun!!!!!!!!:lol:

I have not had a single problem since. Please let me know if it works for you or not.