[OPEN] Chat crashes at random times

[Fexno]

Short description:
The chat window crashes at random times. Sometimes (maybe most of the times) it comes back on its own, in other cases you have to reload the game.

Screenshot:
http://i.imgur.com/iKGbMi3.png

Possible cause:

Might be connection related

I find that this happens to me sometimes, but not as often as it used to, and only when I am straining my computer's resources, for example: When playing on 2 or more game servers (e.g. Sandycove, Test Server and a German server)
When playing the game while accessing other Flash-rich sites, especially ones with lots of ads
When downloading or uploading stuff that takes up most of my bandwidth
Running your OS on a minimum-spec computer (e.g. Win 7 with less than 1Gb of RAM)

Corrupt cookies.

 
Prevention:



My advice for anyone that this regularly happens to, close all other browser tabs and any other programs that access the internet (IRC, downloaders, torrents, etc...).  If you computer is low-spec, then upgrade it - I upgraded from 768Mb to 4Gb recently, and this problem for me was almost eradicated...
For some people it works if you clear your cookies before you start the game.
Others think that using chrome reduces the occurences
Increasing the amount of data the game can store might help, see here


Workaround:
If your chat doesn´t come back automatically, go to the island of a friend and return.

Related:



Original thread(s): 1

[inyi]

i am very happy this is finally reported as a bug :)

After facing this for a very long time now, i noticed a few things.
It hardly never happens while on adventure, lately it happens occasionally.
*Hiding* on an inactive island prevents the chat from crashing.
It usually crashes when something refreshes, like wheat fields or when all explorers return home
All my mills are close to each other, going to that part of the island creates a huge lag and the chat to crash

Maybe i am wrong, but a button to stop animations might solve the issue

[Rislem]

HI. I have set my browsers to always clear cookies once I exit it and its a matter of minutes not weeks before it starts again, so could you please tell us which browser your using.. I am using a lot of them and all give the same problem.

[DrakeAdams]

Hi. Thanks for opening this, but I have set my browser to remove all cashe once I close it, and this happens constantly, not 1-2 weeks it happens almost right away. Could you please tell us which browser your using, as im using a lot of different onces, there all the same.

[Jamdoggy]

I find that this happens to me sometimes, but not as often as it used to, and only when I am straining my computer's resources, for example: When playing on 2 or more game servers (e.g. Sandycove, Test Server and a German server)
When playing the game while accessing other Flash-rich sites, especially ones with lots of ads
When downloading or uploading stuff that takes up most of my bandwidth
Running your OS on a minimum-spec computer (e.g. Win 7 with less than 1Gb of RAM)
My advice for anyone that this regularly happens to, close all other browser tabs and any other programs that access the internet (IRC, downloaders, torrents, etc...). If you computer is low-spec, then upgrade it - I upgraded from 768Mb to 4Gb recently, and this problem for me was almost eradicated...

[Fexno]

could you please tell us which browser your using
I use chrome.

Hmm for those that have it often, could you try and change the amount of data that the game is allowed to store.


Right-click somewhere in the game
Click "Settings"
Go to the middle tab, should be called "Local storage"
Change the setting to 10 Mb


http://i.imgur.com/gWOPWvv.png

Also would be nice to know if the prevention measures posted by Jamdoggy helps you.

[Tripi]

Just for info; the chat/trade server does not use local storage. Amending those settings will change nothing. There is no reason to store anything locally for those as they need to refresh quite often. Localhost flash memory is mostly used to store graphics or mathematical algorithms (not done in settlers due to exploit-ability - little known bit of info: the first attempt at hacking/exploiting the settlers online game happened within the first minute of the game going open beta)

Both chat and trade are hosted at a different port to the actual game and are thus governed by thread overload within that port and handling threads of the server (presuming the server was thus configured) that might not affect actual gameplay (subnote: I do not as yet know what flavour of linux the server is running, so cannot guess further).
Flash uses a TCP based transmission protocol (Transmission Control Program) which basically takes control of package handling once direct IP linkage is below scope. A number of applications use this same protocol (email, ftp, ssh, p2p and some similar streams), so it is possible to clog it up. TCP though also has a facilty where the host (the settlers server) will request a resend of the packet which would mean one more communication. (It does though manage to juggle badly handled packages back into the correct order - yay tcp)

Basically though, if you are having trouble with chat refreshing or dropping out, there is little you can do except: reduce your email refresh download rate, limit ftp uploads, limit other tcp based gaming and stop streaming that mmm stuff you do. If that doesn't work, blame overload on the settlers EU server.

[Fexno]

I agree it´s infinitely more likely that is has something to do with the connection to the server.
I was just looking through the things I tried a few months back, when I had chat crashes a lot more often, and this was one of them.

For the others experiencing chat crashes often, follow the advice of Tripi and Jamdoggy and please report here if it helps you or not.

[inyi]

I have nothing running while playing settlers and tried the flash settings increase months ago, it won't make a difference.


If you computer is low-spec, then upgrade it - I upgraded from 768Mb to 4Gb recently, and this problem for me was almost eradicated...

i am not in the position to do that, besides that TSO is a browser based game and do browser based games need system requirements ?
You can't tell me everyone, who plays this game, has a pc or laptop running on win7, to demand that is ridiculous.
Sure i can understand the game is running less smooth on an older pc, but not like this.

[Fexno]

You can't tell me everyone, who plays this game, has a pc or laptop running on win7, to demand that is ridiculous.

He doesn't mean that you have to be running Windows 7, but giving an example that running Windows 7 on a computer with less then 1 GB is considered a minimum-spec. Windows 7 generally reserves a big part of the 1 GB for itself, so not much is left for other applications like settlers online.

[inyi]

He doesn't mean that you have to be running Windows 7, but giving an example that running Windows 7 on a computer with less then 1 Gb is considered a minimum-spec. Windows 7 generally reserves a big part of the 1 gb for itself, so not much is left for other applications like settlers online.

thx for clarifying :)
Also would like to mention the trade tab disapears when chat comes back by itself

[Triple-J]

Usually chat comes back when visiting another island for a minute or a bit longer.
For some reason the trade tab comes back when you go home.
Or atleast that's my experience.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I must say that i find win8 very unstable.
Every time i come back from another program the chat fails.
(sometimes even when coming back from another chrome-tab in the same window)
Lately chat fails aswell when my screen goes on standby.

It's a i7 2,4 ghz quadcore with 6gb internal memory and 2 original videocards.
I'm not saying it's t.s.o. but i can't believe it's my fresh out of the box laptop.
Most likely it's Chrome indeed, but i would like to keep running t.s.o. in it.

Crashes happen when i have many heavy things running but just as often when i only run t.s.o.
With many heavy things running it's usually the shockwave player that crashes (the game entirely)
I fully understand that :) but the chatfails (like 10x a day) are very annoying.

The one with a good solution for this deserves a shiny medal :cool:

[peck_ed]

Every time I've had this, it's been due to connection issues, rather than machine issues. Mostly when using wireless connections as well

[Urkle]

This only happens to me if I use IE when using chrome everything is mostly fine but on IE I lose everything within seconds and then it comes and goes like a yoyo .. gave up with it in the end. :-(

[Shelli-lala]

Hi , Ive been having the same issue , and just recently. It's not my PC, I built it myself for gaming . Specs can run any game I want at this time. I've tried chrome and firefox and ie and non seem to be any better than others. Its been worse this last week or so and its crashing all the time . Server Call Fail, chat not working and half the time access to the buildings is non-existant till I log out....reload . I am not running any other tabs..windows etc . I do however , still us xp. I'm a die hard and it has always seemed the most stable os to me . I have one pc with 7, one with 8. Just like xp .I'd have to agree with Urkles assessment of comes and goes like a yo-yo. Thought I should post so people aware this is an issue. I've tried the suggested "fixes" to no avail. Thanks
Lala

[naikou]

This has started to happend to me several times a day. My connection is excelent, and I have done this
http://forum.thesettlersonline.com/threads/25333-OPEN-Chat-crashes-at-random-times?p=236638&viewfull=1#post236638

I have to go another map and come back, to get chat back.

[Nogbad]

Since last night's maintenance, chat server is either taking an age to load, or not even bothering.

[Sixxon]

I use chrome.

Hmm for those that have it often, could you try and change the amount of data that the game is allowed to store.


Right-click somewhere in the game
Click "Settings"
Go to the middle tab, should be called "Local storage"
Change the setting to 10 Mb


http://i.imgur.com/gWOPWvv.png

Also would be nice to know if the prevention measures posted by Jamdoggy helps you.


Sorry for necroing an old post but this happens to my chat window all the time, every couple of minutes, its impossible to even use the chat
because i cant sustain a conversation.

Ive tried to alter the local storage settings but when I right click on the game screen to alter the Flash Player settings
I only see 3 tabs not all 5 tabs shown. Local storage tab is missing.

Im using windows 10 and FireFox and at this time the latest version of flash 20,0,0,235

How can I enable all 5 tabs in the flash settings menu so I can even attempt to increase the local storage Settlers uses to try to cure
the chat problem ( i dont even know if this will affect it)

Thanks

[Nogbad]

seems to be affecting Sandycove a lot lately, with chat resetting with annoying regularity. Other servers seem fine with it being a rare occurrence.

Merged

[jamm]

it happens to me too has for a long time i no what courses it for me if im using ether steam or have a torrent downloading all the tabs crash every 30 secs its not a bandwidth problem i use no were near my limit 78mb but as soon as i exit steam or the torrant the tabs come back and stay back

[bigbenno]

21:45] News: No chat server available.

i also had the "hammer man" prior to this happening

[Marjon]

+1

[Dorotheus]

been happening here too

[Ozzymandeus]

Indeed... I have noticed a distinct increase in this happening after the recent chat maintenance.

[Mortallicus]

Many in my guild are reporting more chat crashes than normal and strangely every time the same two members are seen talking at the top of the Guild Chat and the same times shown regardless of the time you are logging in.

Every time i crash and come back in I have
[14:53] xyz: i run a nord
[14:54] abc: I also am on Nord

Then the time jumps to the actual time I joined chat.

[Arioch_Wolf]

Approx every 45secs ALL chat boxes 'crash / reset'..
been happening for the past couple of days ..


http://prnt.sc/c8fdlb
http://prnt.sc/c8fdlb

[Durin_d]

Approx every 45secs ALL chat boxes 'crash / reset'..
been happening for the past couple of days ..

http://image.prntscr.com/image/0495a6b9c48e490a899e410c632dbb79.png

Have cleared your cookies?

This has happened couple of times to me and the reason is that cookies from the forum are sent to the chat connection (http://forum.thesettlersonline.com/threads/31944-Forum-cookie-leaked-to-game-and-chat-connection) and the chat server can't handle that many cookies in the connection header.

[Arioch_Wolf]

cookies from the forum are sent to the chat connection (http://forum.thesettlersonline.com/threads/31944-Forum-cookie-leaked-to-game-and-chat-connection) and the chat server can't handle that many cookies in the connection header.

Strange it's only started to happen to me, recently .. unlike yourself (last year) ...
And yes, i use (and update) ccleaner on a regular basis :D

[jason_shotter]

have the same here since chat update log keep loosing connection on game or chat crashes but its not my end as warthunder a 6 gig game 16 v 16 runs fine no lag or ping and have teamspeak open too any ideas BB ? and yes did clear cookie crumbs out my bed and cache quiech lol

[BB_Saqui]

have the same here since chat update log keep loosing connection on game or chat crashes but its not my end as warthunder a 6 gig game 16 v 16 runs fine no lag or ping and have teamspeak open too any ideas BB ? and yes did clear cookie crumbs out my bed and cache quiech lol

So just to confirm - you're losing connection to both the game and chat separately? Could you make sure that your Flash version for your corresponding browser is up to date.

[SnowBlizz]

For first time in ages now game&chat crashed. Damn you jason! :P

[lulu10093]

For first time in ages now game&chat crashed. Damn you jason! :P

lol Poor Jason getting the blame

BUT
in all seriousness not sure how relevant the following will be it happens to me a lot on both servers I play on This account i play on google chrome and clean cache thingy all the time and have allowed max whatever it is when you right click mouse on game screen and enabled hardware thing same way. which have all been suggested to me in the past.
I have however noticed chat loss mostly happens over there when i have a shock wave flash thing pop up saying stop working after the game has been frozen for a long time, when it unfreezes it pixelates (i think the word is) and game is no longer froze but when the pixel changes i loose chat get connecting to chat server message all time until thats sorted its self out
ALSO chat jumps are back whether you be in adventure chat/whisper chat and swapping adventure maps/islands etc you end up back in global 1 but in my case with the whisper boxes still in view so a heads up for mods as we know some probs that can cause :(
maybe shock flash thing something to do with it but i checked mine say up to date and also maybe the game freeze pixel thing causing it.
the complete crash thing i have noticed as now i play between 2 servers if i don't be in sandycove but busy on other one the game sort of times me out i think if i havent done anything in the game as get refresh screen thing pop up (the little box in middle of screen cant remember exact words)

so does being logged in but not actually active in game cause you to be forced to refresh or logged? out as sometimes im logged in for hours and i go to check forum say and the game says im logged out even though i have been playing say over 8 hours in a row (in all senses of the term playing)but i log back in on uplay to be able to post on forum.

OK other account i play on game download thing again i have chat jumps and have lost chat a lot swapping maps and the game freeze thing to however very rarely does game crash completely on me but has done in the past on that.

like i said not sure if relevant but its things ive noticed so far

[maryam1]

Chat is crashing...individual players lights go off even though they are still there, they cant see what we type, we dont know they are there.
Happening now more and more often and with more and more players.

[Lady_Mayor]

Chat reboots every time I return from an adventure