Your multiplayer games do not work correctly after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2 (875363)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (SP2)
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (SP2)

SYMPTOMS

If you try to play a multiplayer game over the Internet or over a network after you install Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2), the game may quit unexpectedly or stop responding (hang).

CAUSE

This behavior may occur in any one of the following scenarios:
  • If the game disables task switching, the Windows Security Alert dialog box may appear behind the game user interface, and you cannot switch to the dialog box. For example, you cannot use the ALT+TAB keyboard shortcut to switch to the dialog box.
  • If the game does not correctly handle task switching scenarios, the game may stop responding or crash when it tries to switch to the Windows Security Alert dialog box.
  • The game supports task switching, but the Windows Security Alert dialog box does not steal the focus from the game. Therefore, you are not aware that the dialog box is in the background.
Note The Windows Security Alert dialog box appears when Windows Firewall is turned on, and a program tries to accept connections from the Internet or from a network. Windows Firewall blocks the program and displays a message that gives you the option to unblock the program. Windows Firewall blocks unsolicited connections to your computer to help provide security.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, follow these steps:
  1. Quit the game.
  2. In the Windows Security Alert dialog box, click Unblock to unblock the program.
  3. Restart the game.
If you cannot access the Windows Security Alert dialog box, follow these steps to add the program to the exceptions list:
  1. Click Start, click Run, type firewall.cpl, and then click OK.
  2. In the Windows Firewall dialog box, click the Exceptions tab, and then click Add Program.
  3. In the Add a Program dialog box, either locate and then click the program in the list that appears or click Browse to locate your program.
  4. After you select your program, click OK.
  5. On the Exceptions tab, make sure that the check box next to your program is selected, and then click OK.

    Note If you later decide that you do not want the program to be an exception, clear this check box.
  6. Restart the game.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about how to permit certain programs to run after you install Windows XP SP2, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

842242 Some programs seem to stop working after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2

For additional information about the Windows Security Alert dialog box, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

875353 How to use the Security Alert dialog box in Windows XP Service Pack 2

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:9/7/2004
Keywords:kbFirewall kbtshoot kbprb KB875363 kbAudEndUser
©2004 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.