PnkBstrB.exe Handshaking Failed

[SpareNickel]

This has been an error going around and it has effected my computer also. First it disconnects you randomly from play, usually upon entering gameplay, and then it gives you this error message:

Server Disconnected - has been kicked
Via PunkBuster (for 0 minutes)...
RESTRICTION: Service Communication
Failure: PnkBstrB.exe handshaking
failed

If anyone has any information on this error, please contact me or post here

[Pure]

The recent update requires the 2 system components from PB to be running.

Maybe something is not right there, you can install and check it automatically with this program:
http://www.evenbalance.com/downloads/pbsvc/pbsvc.exe

[Steelcurtn]

I have the same problem now. Worked fine thursday and then later friday night i started getting that message.....i don't have any answers yet either from anyone

[Pure]

You can always write your problem to the people of PunkBuster:
Even Balance Technical Support - New Trouble Ticket

[JimmyRice]

Started having the problem last night. Figured it was a firewall issue. I'm running NSW2007 right now. Under the "Norton Internet Security" tab, open "Settings" and click on "Internet Security and Firewall options". Click on "Program Control". Now, on MY system, there were 3 files that had the option "Custom" under the "Access" setting: BF2, PnkBstrA.exe and PnkBstrB.exe. I changed them from "Custom" to "Allow". Exited and immediately loaded BF2 (didn't restart) and it seemed to work fine with the few servers I tried. For other firewalls, I'm sure the solution will be along these lines... I'm puzzled, though, as to why this just started...and around the same time as everyone else I seemed to come across in various forums. Maybe NSW did a recent update? Not sure...

[Pure]

Punkbuster did do a recent update that requires PnkBstrA.exe and PnkBstrB.exe to run. So that might be something.

[martinsre]

I have had this problem several times before and it progressed slowly, first it just said pnkbstrb.exe handshaking has failed... Ok whatever, I just ignored it and soon it stopped, in one week it started again (my friend starts having it too)
first thing to do:
visit:
PunkBuster Online Countermeasures and download all the player files:

• PunkBuster (BF2) Security Files
  The following files are only needed if your PunkBuster doesn't update by itself. Right click the appropriate link below and choose "save as" to your "pb" folder - make sure the file you save is saved with the filename shown below.
• For Players Filename: pbsec.htm
• For Admins Filename: pbsecsv.htm

• PunkBuster (BF2) Player Client Files
  The following files are only needed if your PunkBuster doesn't update by itself. Right click the appropriate links below and choose "save as" to your "pb\htm" folder - make sure the file you save is saved with the filename shown below. Players only need the files that correspond to their Operating System, Server Admins need all six files.
• PB Client v1.735 for Win32 Filename: wc001735.htm
• PB ClientA v1392 for Win32 Filename: wa001392.htm
• PB Client v1.735 for Linux Filename: lc001735.htm
• PB ClientA v1392 for Linux Filename: la001392.htm
• PB Client v1.735 for Mac Filename: mc001735.htm
• PB ClientA v1392 for Mac Filename: ma001392.htm

THESE ARE ONLY SERVER NEEDED FILES!
<ul>PunkBuster (BF2) Server Files
The following binary builds are only needed if your PunkBuster Server doesn't update by itself. Right click the appropriate link below and choose "save as" to your home "pb" folder (note home is the overlayPath for dedicated servers) - make sure the file you save is saved with the filename shown below. Then issue a "pb_sv_restart" command to restart the PB Server with the new version. Players do not need any of these files, Server Admins only need the file that corresponds to their Operating System.
PB Server v1.300 for Win32 Filename: pbsvnew.dll - last updated 01/12/2007
PB Server v1.300 for Linux (32 bit) Filename: pbsvnew.so - last updated 08/10/2007

Versions of PunkBuster for Linux 64 bit prior to v1.120 do not have auto-update capability. Admins with old versions installed should manually download the following binary files into the server's pb subdirectory (game server restart required to make effective):
pbsv.so (Linux 64 bit)
pbcls.so (Linux 64 bit)

[martinsre]

This should solve your problems, but for me the circus soon started again, so i read some posts and it said some things about the fire wall that it blocks pnkbstr.exe To do this you must download the player files above. So go to Start>Settings>control pannel>fire wall (for windows xp) then go to the firewall list of programs which are allowed to have access on the internet, (i am not at home now so cant tell you precisly how to do it) but there will be a list of programs which can access your computer through the web. Ofcourse punk buster won't be there so press add or browse whatever way you have it and go to my computer>C: (or what you have)>program files>Ea games> Battlefield 2> pb>and there should be something called pnkbstrb.exe (or something similair!) IT WILL BE THERE
IF you downloaded the player files above!!!!

POST SOLVED!
HAPPY TO HELP BEST REGARDS, MARTIN (mre11)

[kaido100]

9/07/2007 08:39:20 - "Hendrik Thole"

Note #2: If you are being kicked for a "Communication Failure" it is likely that something on your computer is preventing the PnkBstr services from communicating with each other.

A common cause for this is a security or anti-virus program. McAfee and other popular security/firewall programs need to be told to allow the PnkBstrA and PnkBstrB services to run without restriction (even if you turn them off while playing). Until you locate and remove the restrictions on PnkBstrA and B, you will continue to be kicked for this.

If you've never manually installed the PunkBuster services, you might want to try that as well. Download the service installer from http://www.evenbalance.com/downloads/pbsvc/pbsvc.exe and run it. You might also want to reinstall the services using this tool.

Please make sure that both PnkBstrA.exe and PnkBstrB.exe services are set to start automatically every time your computer starts. Go to: Start menu, Settings, Control Panel, Administrative Tools, Services and change PnkBstrA and PnkBstrB to start automatically.

[Masterchief1105]

Originally Posted by martinsre

This should solve your problems, but for me the circus soon started again, so i read some posts and it said some things about the fire wall that it blocks pnkbstr.exe To do this you must download the player files above. So go to Start>Settings>control pannel>fire wall (for windows xp) then go to the firewall list of programs which are allowed to have access on the internet, (i am not at home now so cant tell you precisly how to do it) but there will be a list of programs which can access your computer through the web. Ofcourse punk buster won't be there so press add or browse whatever way you have it and go to my computer>C: (or what you have)>program files>Ea games> Battlefield 2> pb>and there should be something called pnkbstrb.exe (or something similair!) IT WILL BE THERE
IF you downloaded the player files above!!!!

POST SOLVED!
HAPPY TO HELP BEST REGARDS, MARTIN (mre11)

I did that except I have no settings or fire wall tab on the start menu, and I went to security and went to windows firewall and in exceptions it was already there and checked...idk why its still doing this, AVG might have something to do with it...