Connection failed when tryin to play Links 2003 on Gameranger

[Sandy_Trapp]

For the last two weeks, I have not been able to play LInks on Gameranger.
First we use Teamspeak. I lose connection on Teamspeak, then get booted out of the game.
The last week, when the host starts the game, I get "connection" failed. It creates a log txt tile which I sent to "accounts@Gameranger.com" Haven't heard back from them. I have change nothing and can't use a restore function because the last one was for a Windows update about a week ago. There are no other restore points. I'm using Windows 11. Have not had problems prior to this. I even tried enabling the DMZ. I checked the Firewall and both teamspeak and gameranger are allowed.
Anyone else run into this?

[Adelade]

It sounds like a network issue rather than a computer or game issue, have you perhaps noticed your internet access in general being shaky lately?

[Sandy_Trapp]

nope.

[Sandy_Trapp]

Log Opened: Sat Jan 27 17:04:12 2024
Game: Links 2003
Path: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Links 2003\LinksMMIII.exe"
Compatibility Mode: "$ IgnoreFreeLibrary<nvd3du> DWM8And16BitMitigation"
Launch Type: Hosting
Game Description: ""
Players: 4/8
GameRanger Account: 323801
GameRanger Name: "Mel Henry"
Launch Error: 58
Windows Version: 6.2 (Build 9200) 64bit
CPU Type: 64bit
CPU Count: 16
LaunchHit: 0
LaunchCPErr: 0
RegChanged: 1
Check: 1,1,1,1
Check2: 0,0
Check3: 0,0
Check4: 0
Check5: 0, 0
DirectPlay Result: 00000000
dplay.dll Version: Not found
dplayx.dll Version: 10.0.22621.1
dpnet.dll Version: 10.0.22621.1
dpnwsock.dll Version: Not found
dpwsock.dll Version: Not found
dpwsockx.dll Version: 10.0.22621.1
dpnsvr.exe Version: 10.0.22621.1
dplaysvr.exe Version: 10.0.22621.1
2144591:M Reg before: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
2144591:M RegOpenKeyEx failed: 2
2144591:M Reg before: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
2144591:M RegOpenKeyEx failed: 2
2144592:M RegCreateKeyEx HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE failed with err: 5
2144592:M Reg after: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
2144592:M RegOpenKeyEx failed: 2
2144592:M Reg after: HKEY_CURRENT_USER
2144592:M Begin values:
2144592:M 1: CurrentDirectory: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Links 2003'
2144592:M 2: Path: 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Links 2003'
2144592:M 3: Guid: '{9853a461-efca-4d67-9d03-2b5d6e0d84fb}'
2144592:M 4: Launcher: 'LinksMMIII.exe'
2144592:M 5: File: 'LinksMMIII.exe'
2144592:M 6: CommandLine: '-lobby'
2144592:M End values:
2144592:M W: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\DirectPlay\Applications
2144592:M - Changed

[Daniel]

The only thing I can think of is to uninstall the update you got from Microsoft and see if that is the problem.

[Danny D]

Log Opened: Sat Jan 27 17:04:12 2024
Game: Links 2003
Path: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Games\Links 2003\LinksMMIII.exe"

GameRanger Account: 323801
GameRanger Name: "Mel Henry"
Launch Error: 58
Windows Version: 6.2 (Build 9200) 64bit

Hi Sandy.. If you open a browser and Google "What is launch error 58 in Gameranger", it will take you to a page of things you can try. Perhaps you might find something there.

Good luck

Dan

[Sandy_Trapp]

Ok, thanks.

[Pancho]

Found a solution that works for me! Finally. Since moving from Win 7 to Win 10, I have been unable to play Links on GR and I just now found out why. It was because my Windows account name in Win 10 had a space in it. It seems GR's server interprets a space as an ampersand, and when it looks in your registry for the game using an ampersand where there should be a space, it can't find it. The solution was to create a new user account with no spaces in it. Install GR into that account and then as long as you selected to install Links "for all users," it should work.