Was it the very first time that it had happened to you ? Could you join a game before ?

Have you closed any sofware firewall (including the cheap one which comes with Windows) ?

Are you behind a router ?

My questions are attempting to identify what could be interfering with the transmission of 100% of the data.

Have you tried to join after a Windows reboot ?

Would you have background programs running that might be interfering ?

Computer troubleshooting and problem-solving has a lot to do with a trial-and-error approach : you have to learn to know your machine (hardware and software) and to try various hypothetical solutions until things work. Sometimes, they finally work, and you never understand what was wrong in the first place.

I have managed to join games before (on same network, with no difference in settings), but this is not the first time it has happened.

I do recall alt+tabbing shortly before this occurrence however, and I know that has bad effects on some programs, has this ever happened to anyone else?

@ the Monk

1a. Too bad I cannot edit my previous post anymore : "cheap" was not the best word I could have chosen.

1b. But you cannot generalize the value of the Windows Firewall based on your personal experience. Some people seem to have no problems with it, and I know some people who had a lot of issues with it : that does not constitute proof, one way or the other. Your reply is as dogmatic and biased as my post was -- in the opposite direction. But I do agree that "cheap" was a cheap-shot against Windows.

2a. You misquote me ! I never used the term "preferred" (and I didn't even imply it). That was intellectually dishonest on your part : criticizing a text by editing it a posteriori with invented words is a favourite tactic of conceited fanatics -- since the Middle Ages (if not since earlier).

2b. Well, Lord IT Genius, we "lazy" gamers do not have PhDs in Computer Science and we do not run three high-tech corporations at the same time. We often have to resort to trial-and-error troubleshooting on-the-fly, with or without Internet data-base research.

You quote me out of context AND misrepresent my statement (by inserting your term "preferred", with emphasis). I was just trying to help a fellow gamer : I was not at all indulging (as you have done on other threads) in a pretentious, condescending Lecture.

For one "expert" like you who has an opinion, we can find a-dime-a-dozen other "experts" who will defend a contrary opinion. What you have just written on the Windows Firewall is just that : an opinion.

Since I am far below your level, I won't bother you any further -- not on this thread, and not on any other.

Your system specs are fine.    Many people with "less" hardware are running the game very well indeed.

I would like to know what your video driver version is though. Maybe you can post back with that info? Have you checked for an updated video driver?

the Monk

what version of the game do you have?