Steam problem

[S164]

Bassically I have had Steam for a couple/few years with nearly every Steam game on my account, last October it stopped working, it displayed the error:



So I went to the Steampowered.com forums and asked around and contacted the tech support, went through alot of things with them and they can't seem to assist me further, I also got help from a few forum members but they can't seem to assist me further either as they do not know what is wrong, and they stated its a generic error, meaning it could be anything, just to add tech support managed to log into my account on their computer so im really stuck, now for the things I have tried:

. Created a MSINFO32 report and sent to tech support, they say they find nothing wrong.
.Booted computer in safe mode
.Booted computer in safe mode + networking
.Checked router DMZ appears to be off
.Turned Windows Firewall off, both computer and connection
.Have a combo (firewall,AV,antispy etc PCGUARD) opened ports in the firewall, also turned it off and tried did not work.
.Tried Hijack this and other anti-spy and anti-virus programs such as house call.
.Tried a LSP fix
.Connection is fine works on other games online as well
.Checked ports on router, opened ones needed for Steam but it didn't make a difference open or not

Tried a few other things as well, but it made no difference no idea why it decided to stop working did not change anything on my computer, but just to add I did a scan with dslreports and it came up with certain things closed and UDP is used by Steam?



I just want this fixed its been long enough and I have got nowhere, im not the only one in the world with this problem, their are others but some just magically got it fixed others just gave up and unninstalled. If Valve would just research it that would be a big help, just to identify the source of the problem, but im left guessing and messing with things I don't want to mess with like the network as im not an expert on networking or routers.

So if anyone can help me thanks.

Also I have tried alot of things, so many things actually. Since Steam support is no use, im really at a loss on what to do.

how long have you had this problem? how about trying a system restore till before it happened? Or maybe reinstall all your steam stuff

[S164]

Had this problem since last October so nearly 8 months?

Anyway re-installed Steam stuff but nothing, deleted clientregistry.blob etc.

System Restore doesn't have a point made all the way back to before October so it wouldn't really have an effect would it?

[kronas]

have you tried to log on to your account from another computer ? i know its obvious but worth asking ?

[S164]

Originally Posted by kronas

have you tried to log on to your account from another computer ? i know its obvious but worth asking ?

Yeah it works on a friends computer, but not on ANY computer on my network, which suggests it is the network since I did try safemode + networking and it still didn't work. My account works fine for another point since the person of the Valve tech support tried it and could log in fine.

[kronas]

the only other thing i can suggest is eliminating the router off the network and trying a direct connection to your pc, if it works then its your router...

[S164]

Originally Posted by kronas

the only other thing i can suggest is eliminating the router off the network and trying a direct connection to your pc, if it works then its your router...

The router is located in another room, would there be any way of doing this without taking the PC to that other room? also which cable is it that has to be removed and plugged directly into the PC. The router has 1 socket at the top then followed by 4, the top socket has a metal ended type cable in it, I need to remove this and put it into my machine yes?

[kronas]

Originally Posted by S164

The router is located in another room, would there be any way of doing this without taking the PC to that other room? also which cable is it that has to be removed and plugged directly into the PC. The router has 1 socket at the top then followed by 4, the top socket has a metal ended type cable in it, I need to remove this and put it into my machine yes?

nope, you have take the cable out (usally marked WAN on your router) switch off your modem for a minute attach the cable thats going from your modem to the back of your pc and switch the modem back on, give it a few mins and everything should be running on your pc.

you may have to restart your computer for your internet connection to work so best turn it off first.

then test your steam account, once your sure your on the internet.

[S164]

Alright I'll try that, but even if it does work then would that mean I can't do anything? because I can't get rid of the router.

Also it makes no sense why it would suddenly just not work, I mean nothings been changed. And all other online games such as Battlefield 2 work perfect no lag or disconnection etc, and everything else works. So what im pending over is could it be the router or could it be the computer software. For instance every computer on the network has PC GUARD. So either way I'd have to reformat or remove the router which I can't do...

[Stuart]

No, what kronas is trying to do is find out WHAT exactly is at fault. Generally, the easiest way to do this is unplug everything, then start plugging things in until it fails. If the connection works without the router, we know the router is at fault (maybe it's blocking a port it shouldn't for instance).

[S164]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

No, what kronas is trying to do is find out WHAT exactly is at fault. Generally, the easiest way to do this is unplug everything, then start plugging things in until it fails. If the connection works without the router, we know the router is at fault (maybe it's blocking a port it shouldn't for instance).

I forwarded the correct Steam ports on firewall and router, also there is no DMZ on. The problem is generic, so there is no fullproof solution, I would format but I have everything working fine but this, but if a format is what it takes to get Steam to work then so be it, since I have over £100 worth of games on the account. I have the discs and cd-keys here but I can't use a product I pay for because of a stupid program tshh, what makes it worse is Valve don't even have a number to call for a helpline and tech support take like a week or two to reply back.

But since this problem occurs on other computers on my network, wouldn't that suggest a reformat is not needed? It's just im trying to avoid directly connecting as the cable isn't long enough and theres no free sockets in the room with the router, so im trying to avoid it yeah, but if theres no other options then it would look like im stuck with that.

But what is really got my head buzzing is the PCGUARD, since every other computer on my network has it including myself, and Steam doesn't work on the other computers, would that not suggest that PCGUARD could possibly be blocking it even though I allowed Steam on the PCGUARD firewall? and I was told even if I was to remove PCGUARD (unninstall it) then it still could block things.

ive reinstalled steam stuff before its all on your account and if you dont have the discs you just download it . You could try setting DMZ up this basically means nothing is stopped to the ip you select

[S164]

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

ive reinstalled steam stuff before its all on your account and if you dont have the discs you just download it . You could try setting DMZ up this basically means nothing is stopped to the ip you select

Nope tried doing this before and didn't work. I do have all the discs and game cases, serial keys. But the stupid thing is I have them bought and paid for but I can't play them because im not allowed to due to Steam.

[kronas]

Originally Posted by S164

But since this problem occurs on other computers on my network, wouldn't that suggest a reformat is not needed? It's just im trying to avoid directly connecting as the cable isn't long enough and theres no free sockets in the room with the router, so im trying to avoid it yeah, but if theres no other options then it would look like im stuck with that.

that would suggest its the router, if the same happens even when its a direct connection then try a diffarent ethernet cable...

[Gareth]

I was gonna suggest a command that makes Steam perform a self analysis, but I see that you've already tried it on another forum several months ago...

http://forums.techguy.org/games/454377-steam.html