HL2:CS lockups

[Bob151]

I just installed (last week or so) HL2 and I updated and installed CounterStrike. Yea, got it on Target clearence, won't pay retail for games anymore. I can start CS games (servers) locally all day long. But I can't join any games over the internet and the program just locks up at this point:

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Parsing game info......

This server is VAC-secured.

Cheating will result in permanent ban.
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The only way to get out of this screen is to switch to the desktop, ALT-TAB, and kill the program.

I'm not sure what to think. I haven't played any version of CS since 2001 when I got tired of all the cheating. I've been on BF and BF2 multiplayer when doing anything at all multiplayer.

Since I haven't even gone as far as installing scripts or non-vavle downloaded content, I can't believe that I am banned somehow already, I haven't even connected to an online game once.

What's up with this program?

 

[drwngflies]

That doesn't mean you were banned, it was only giving a fair warning to anyone who enters any VAC secured server.
That is the generic notice in any VAC server.
Have you double checked your Firewall settings?
Steam seems to be able to connect, since you're updated, but has CS been enabled?

 

[Bob151]

Yea, CS is installed/enabled, I can start a server with bots and all and see the same ol' maps (basically the same) as they had years ago.

Double check firewall settings? I have never had to open up ports inbound for any game I am not personally hosting. And I haven't been trying to host a server, I have been the client trying to connect to one. The SPI capabilities have always allowed everything else I have ever tried to do with the internet. Of all the games I have played I have never had to make special firewall changes. SPI has always taken care of it.

A quick google search seems to indicate that opening up ports are nessesary for hosting as a server, not the client.

From which source are the SYNs coming from, me or the server when I try to connect to a server?

 

[0roo0roo]

disable ur firewall and se eif it works. peer guardian will screw it too, but not lock it up