Help! CS:S redirects me to one lame server every time I try to join any!

[-42]

Hi, I just got CS:S a few days ago, and I got on this laggy (for me) server called "Underground Central #1". Whenever I try to join any other server, the server will load up, go in game with a completely empty scoreboard (as if I were the only player), stay in game for around 1-30 seconds, then go back to a loading screen, and load up Underground Central #1, where the lag for me is massive, the players are jerks, and aimbotting is OK.

The game runs perfectly fine on my own server with bots, and I have never had this problem with any other steam game, not TF2, not anything.


My ping to the lame Underground Central server is usually 200+, and I usually get kicked within a minute for high pings, so I can't play online at all, really. Sadly, I bought CS:S to play online.

The other servers are usually 60 ping and under for me, except for a few, including Underground Central.


What is going on and how can I fix this?

[Suomis]

Try removing it from ur server history... It probably wont help, but its worth trying...

[-42]

didn't work :(

[Ta!phoon]

delete your cfg or just remove the alias on connect

[-42]

How do I do that?

I have tried:
Reinstalling CS:S
Deleting "Clientregistry.blob" (Searched and found that, didn't work obviously)
Removing Under♥♥♥♥ central #1 from my history

[Angelslayer]

Do you only have that problem on that particular server? So let me get this straight: you join a server and after playing for about 30 seconds it's starts connecting to another server, where you got lots of lag.

Well redirecting is a feature of CSS I guess. How many players are there in the server? It might be your Internet or PC.

List the following things please, we'll need them to help you:
FPS, MS, CHOKE, LOSS and tickrates. (open the console and type net_graph 3)
MS is the ping. The tickrates are 2 numbers to the right. (20.3 and 30.4)

http://img296.imageshack.us/img296/7355/netgraph31jf.jpg

EDIT: Be sure to back up your custom config if you have one. CFG's can be located here: X:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\*acc name*\counter-strike source\cstrike\cfg

[-42]

Do you only have that problem on that particular server?
If you mean do I only lag on Underground Central #1, yes. My computer has trouble with some of the imported files that are autodownloaded. On Underground Central, regardless of the players, I have sound skips and some FPS trouble, but that is unique to Underground Central.
So let me get this straight: you join a server and after playing for about 30 seconds it's starts connecting to another server, where you got lots of lag.
That is correct.

How many players are there in the server? It might be your Internet or PC.

It doesn't matter, I get the same lags no matter how many players are on the server. I've played with no players and the maximum amount of players.
When there is the maximum amount, my FPS does decrease extra, but that is obviously because there are more players.

My PC specs are:
Windows XP SP2
AMD Sempron 3100+ processor
Geforce 8400 GS 256mb video card
Belkin Wireless-G card, connected to my own modem/router. Time Warner Cable is the company I get internet from.
1gb ram DDR

I do not know how to get that debug screen in CS:S.

Do you think that config you speak of is the one ta!phoon wants me to remove?

Thanks for the reply, btw.

[Angelslayer]

You can remove all downloaded files from that server. Go to your cstrike folder and tell me what maps you see. You do not need to list these maps: bin, cache, cfg, DownloadLists, downloads, maps, resource, SAVE, sreenshots. The maps sounds and materials contain customized sounds and skins, you can remove them if you want. There might be some other maps you need to remove, I hope some one else can help me with that.

Press tidle (~) to open the console when you're in CSS. (in-game or in the menu) If it doesn't work you'll need to enable it first. Go to Keyboard>Advanced then tick the "Enable developers console". Open it up and type "net_graph 3" without the "'s. To remove the autodownloading, type cl_downloadfilter none. You can turn it off by type cl_downloadfilter all or nosounds. (Lets say you want to join a server with the map cs_assault_old, you'll have to download it first)

EDIT: PING should be <50 (for competative play), FPS should be 60+ (during battles), choke and loss should both be near 0, and the tickrates should be near the server's tickrate. (33, 66 or 100 - 100 is the best)

[-42]

EDIT: PING should be <50 (for competative play), FPS should be 60+ (during battles), choke and loss should both be near 0, and the tickrates should be near the server's tickrate. (33, 66 or 100 - 100 is the best)

My own server:
Ping: 0...duh
FPS (31 bots): 60-70
Choke: 0
Loss: 0
Tickrate: 100x4

TF2 random server:
Ping: 70
FPS (Max players, battle): 50-70
Choke: 5
Loss: 3
Tickrate: 90-100x4

Underground Central #1
Ping: 250>, server max is 270, so I often get kicked for the high ping.
FPS: 10-20
Choke: 50-70
Loss: 10-20
Tickrate: 12-18-16-13

[Angelslayer]

Copy the following into your console: rate 25000; cl_cmdrate 100; cl_updaterate 100. Those 3 commands should partitialy fix the choke, loss, tickrate and ping. Also, try some other servers too, with different amount of players and maps.

I think your PC can't handle CS:S correctly, primarily because of the CPU. Do you mind about image quality? Go here: http://www.gmodfiles.com/y0haN/fpsscript.html. Hold your mouse over the picture and tell me if you like better image quality or better gameplay. (fps>quality no?)

Go to your CFG folder and create a new TextDocument file, then copy the text you found on the website. Then save the file as "all files" and give it this name: autoexec.cfg. Now save it and set it to read-only.(properties>read only). Restart CSS and open the console, it should somewhere say "execing autoexec", and "_Casey's Config v2 (CAL compliant) loaded_".

EDIT: lowering your resolution also helps, so does lowering your DXlevel.

[masta121]

Just delete the cstrike folder. Problem solved. Some servers add an extra line to your config, then something like that happens.

[MrChris]

delete your config, start a new game with bots and change all your video. control settings to how you want them and input the new rates etc

then quit out and set your config file to read only, this will stop anyone changing it in the future

[-42]

Copy the following into your console: rate 25000; cl_cmdrate 100; cl_updaterate 100. Those 3 commands should partitialy fix the choke, loss, tickrate and ping. Also, try some other servers too, with different amount of players and maps.

I think your PC can't handle CS:S correctly, primarily because of the CPU. Do you mind about image quality? Go here: http://www.gmodfiles.com/y0haN/fpsscript.html. Hold your mouse over the picture and tell me if you like better image quality or better gameplay. (fps>quality no?)

Go to your CFG folder and create a new TextDocument file, then copy the text you found on the website. Then save the file as "all files" and give it this name: autoexec.cfg. Now save it and set it to read-only.(properties>read only). Restart CSS and open the console, it should somewhere say "execing autoexec", and "_Casey's Config v2 (CAL compliant) loaded_".

EDIT: lowering your resolution also helps, so does lowering your DXlevel.
While I thank you for attempting to help fix the problem on that server in particular, my main problem is that I can't connect to any other servers.
If the original problem is fixed, then lowering my Direct X level and detail won't be a problem.

And again, counter strike works fine on single player, and other steam games including TF2 @ 1280 x 1024 work fine too. Hell, I play BF2142 @ 1600 x 1200 on maximum without a problem. I CS:S triples it's requirements over all other games the second I join any online servers.

And to that link, what is that thing on the wall that disappears in low detail? XD
Just delete the cstrike folder. Problem solved. Some servers add an extra line to your config, then something like that happens.
I have tried this already, when I completely removed Counter Strike and it's folder yet again an hour ago. Didn't work.

delete your config, start a new game with bots and change all your video. control settings to how you want them and input the new rates etc

then quit out and set your config file to read only, this will stop anyone changing it in the future
I have already tried deleting my config, it didn't help at all. I even set it to read-only after resetting my settings.

I'm about to completely remove steam and reinstall it, any suggestions before I do?

[-42]

I just completely removed steam, and the server STILL takes over.
When I tried to join another server, it tried to connect yet again to Underground Central, attempting to download it's files (I canceled.).

How the hell do I fix this?

[Pointy]

Well, you could scan for malware and viruses. Google "AdAware", "Spybot Search and Destroy" and one of "AVG" or "Trend Housecall" to get free programs to look for those.

Next, you could check your DNS file. This is a file that tells your computer where to go when you request something over the 'net - it could potentially be used to relocate to another server (that's a long shot mind you!). Look in the following directory:

c:\windows\system32\drivers\etc

There should be a file called "hosts" without a file extension. Open it in Notepad and see what it contains - let us know if anything looks out of the ordinary.

It's possible that the Windows Registry settings for CSS have been changed - this would make sense if you deleted the whole of the Steam folders, or whatever you did, and it's still going to the same server. You can see the Registry by going to the run option on the start menu and then run regedit. Use caution: have a rummage around in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Valve and HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve to see if there's anything that looks suspicious (but do NOT delete anything you're uncertain of in the Registry).

Finally, you could try installing Steam into a different directory from usual - you never know, it might be enough to fool whatever's causing this!

When you said you tried reinstalling CSS/Steam/whatever, did you make sure to get rid of ALL the files related to CSS and Steam? Uninstalling can leave some residual files that could affect the next installation. (If you selected the folders in question and deleted them manually after uninstalling then that should be enough.)

[Strike Harder]

Please shutdown Steam completely before you remove the cstrike folder, otherwise steam has it in memory and for protection disallows permanent deleting. Let me know if this works..

[Ultima V|RUZ]

I wonder if this is a glitch, or some lowlives actually redirect people to their servers with malicious software.

[-42]

Well, you could scan for malware and viruses. Google "AdAware", "Spybot Search and Destroy" and one of "AVG" or "Trend Housecall" to get free programs to look for those.
I have ClamAV, AVG, Spybot, and Ad-aware. I had a couple tracking cookies when I scanned earlier, but nothing else.
When I uninstalled steam, I wiped the folder, registry, and everything.

[Agentcow007]

Try editing your hosts file to redirect the Underground IP to a better server's IP (or maybe you have to do that on your router... I forgot). It's not a good fix by any means but maybe you can get a little time in on your new game. If I were you I'd be livid by now. It's not like you can return it for a refund or anything.

[Angelslayer]

I still don't fully understand. Whenever you connect to a server, doesn't matter which, you get redirected to that Underground server? And you got that with ALL servers? (Inluding your own?) Since when do you got this problem?

[SkrU]

Why don't you go to their forums and ask them for yourself?

[Unplugged!?!]

Hello

I am one of the guys who runs the Underground Central servers and also a member. I wanted to clear up some false ideas about our servers that have popped up in this thread.

1. We do not allow aim botting in our server or any other hax. Hacking is prohibited and results in a perm ban from our server. I don't know what "-42" is talking about. You can visit or server and check out our MOTD or even visit our forums for the server rules for proof.

2.Our server is located in heartland America so that Americans and Canadians from the the farthest reaches of this continent can play with a relatively good ping. So unless your playing from Ye Old England, or you have a 56k modem, your ping shouldn't be that bad. We have a gentleman who lives near the north pole and has a regular ping of about 100.

3. As far as our players being jerks... we are mature gaming community. We pride ourselves in how our members are respectful and mature to provide the best gaming environment for any guests. Rude behavior, what ever it is, is dealt with when ever possible. We have our problems just like any other server. When someone happens to be on and being a jerk, and there are no members on to deal with them. But over all, (again check our forums), people like it here. Proof? We went from 6 people to about 40ish (members) in about 9 months. We have almost 300 people signed up on our forum and about 80 people in the steam community. In other words... we rock!

4. Finally, we are not low lives, we do not give people viruses, and we do not redirect people from other servers to ours.

I'm sorry "-42" that you are having these problems, but please be careful to not take it out on us and make us look bad. We have done nothing wrong. I hope in the future, you get those problems fixed and can come and have a good time with us without any problems.

Thanks
The Underground Community
Unplugged

[JassoLaamanen]

http://www.superantispyware.com/ works on spyware (if that is the problem).

[Brainkiller]

I remember this from 1.6, though the fix was simply deleting your config.cfg (you got the problem by connecting to a server which modified your config adding ;wait;wait;connect IP.)

[Storm101]

I have this same exact problem! I too get re-directed to the Underground server when I try to enter a server. It's not all of them like this guy, though. It's just most of them. I have about 5 servers that I have favorited and regularly play on just fine.

I'm quite disappointed to see nothing ever came of this... But I hope we can find a solution now.

I haven't tried anything suggested in this topic yet (if it didn't help him I assume it won't help me) but I did delete my config.cfg file, but that didn't do anything.

[finkypoo]

thats because they have a box of 200 or so listen servers with setips that makes it look like there are players on these "servers" which have all sorts of names, and they have very low pings. all of these servers are empty in reality, and redirect you to one of their main servers. its the old Q clan trick. nothin new.

i imagine the op lives like, next door to this box of ls, and clicks on all the servers with 5 latency in his server browser...try some higher pinged servers. also steam does not appreciate this. forward them the ips of all the servers that redirect you.

good luck.

edit: http://happypc.ca/wordpress/?p=36 read the first reply to this blog abotu this problem.

[Storm101]

Interesting. Thank you for this information.

So basically, they're fake servers to anyone who enters them? If I got my friend to enter one of these servers who has never been to the Underground server before, he would have the same problem?

How can I forward their IP's?

[finkypoo]

if the server is in your favorite list, right click on it, view server info, and copy+paste that ip. see if your friend gets redirected too. im pretty sure he will, because that's probably what's up.

[Storm101]

I'm going to get a friend to try it soon.

I know how to get the IP, but where exactly do I send it to?

[finkypoo]

idk. probably steam support.

[Storm101]

Well, I got a freind to try it and sure enough he was re-directed to the Underground Central. I'll be reporting the IP's and see what can be done but at least I know it's not my own problem. What a dirty trick.

[finkypoo]

:) I bet it seemed frustrating when everyone said it was spyware. you're all good.

[Silverbud]

i have the same probleme. It s not a hardware probleme i have a quadcore phenom with 4 g of ram and the latest nvidia card.

I used to be able to play on a lot of servers but since a few weeks i keep getting redirected to the underground server.

I have been looking for an answer on the net for the past few days without success.. it s a real pain in the 'beeeeeep'

I got nothing against underground servers... i like this server, but sometimes i like to play on other servers with other maps... having NO CHOICE of server is just very frustrating...

[Strike Harder]

Are they still doing this? Or did someone contact Valve and made them quit?

[nattylife]

Are they still doing this? Or did someone contact Valve and made them quit?
still happening in 2010

[Strike Harder]

Yea, I saw Underground #2 again. Their spamming tactics suck.

[twistedgamer]

How are they doing this? I need to redirect one server to a new one because we are moving hosts. I have a spam advert running in the server but would like to redirect them from the old IP to the new before it goes offline.

And no I don't want to create a spam server, just redirect incoming regulars to the new IP.

[Kigen]

I really won't disclose how they are redirecting people to their server.

But lets just say that they created all those other servers to redirect to one server and stole the name of other popular servers to put on their little redirects.

You have to find servers that don't redirect to their crappy server.

[twistedgamer]

I really won't disclose how they are redirecting people to their server.

But lets just say that they created all those other servers to redirect to one server and stole the name of other popular servers to put on their little redirects.

You have to find servers that don't redirect to their crappy server.

I didn't ask how to setup a fake listen server to force people to a server. I asked if there was a way to setup a redirect from my server that's about to be shutdown, to the new server. It would be great if it showed a message telling peeps whats happening when it happens to.

Like it or not there are legit uses for redirects. Mani is supposed to have a server full redirect but I haven't been able to make it work.

[Vcc2cc]

I got this problem too. Every time I tried to join a server that was in italy I kept getting sent to VIRS Pud Server. It still happens today, and it's been weeks.

I think it could be a server thing. Maybe visiting a server in the past redirects you when you try to join X type of server?

[Dualhammers]

I keep getting redirected to the same damn Underground Central server. How do I fix this?

[iFerok]

I keep getting this but redirected to a Fragmasters server, help please :(
Cant find my config folder cause I installed Counter Strike with steam etc so not tried that yet

[endeffects]

to get rid of all these fake servers on your steam server list you need to block their ips.
there exists a small tool that can do it for you: http://www.enire.com/fake-server-buster/

the tool works for all hl1 and hl2 steam games, like cs 1.6 or css.
it is also able to block servers with bots.