Help - Server lists always empty now

[jxf011]

:) FIXED 6/30/09 - See last post below :)

Problem 1: server browser empty :eek:

For a few days now when I start Steam and click the Servers button I get:
"No internet games responded to the query."

I'm also unable to browse servers within a game like TF2. I can join a L4D lobby and Steam Friends works but once the game starts I get an unable to connect after 10 tries message.

Problem 2: hl2.exe error when closing TF2 :confused:

I can start TF2 fine as always but now (after seeing no servers in the browser) closing the game results in:
hl2.exe - Application Error
The instruction at "0x..." referenced memory at "0x..." The memory could not be "read."

I've made no changes to my hardware so I can't imagine that I suddenly have bad memory. And, I think the real issue is not being able to browse any servers so I have worked server browser issue first.

Troubleshooting: eliminate the router

My first fix attempt was wiring my desktop straight into cable modem, bypassing my D-link. No luck. I also confirmed there are no settings in the D-link related to Steam or my games, e.g. port 27015 rules. I do *not* run a software firewall on my desktop or laptops; only anti-virus software.

Troubleshooting: try Steam on my laptops

With the D-link back in place, I tried Steam on both my laptops (they're fine for Steam but too weak for any games). No problem on either - as soon as the Steam GUI appears I click Servers and the list begins populating with a second or 2.

Troubleshooting: remove anti-virus

I removed the Avast anti-virus from the desktop, rebooted and Steam found servers! I thought, great now just try another anti-virus package. I wondered why Avast had worked well with Steam for years and then suddenly stopped but I really wanted to play TF2. :) Note, disabling the AV software wasn't enough - it had to be uninstalled and the system rebooted. Also, I tried adding exceptions for files, directories, and process exes but that wouldn't help either.

So, I tried Microsoft Security Essentials and then Avira but both times my Steam would go back to no servers in the server browsers. I tried AVG and the Steam server browser populated!

Broken again: played L4D but TF2 froze system and back to no servers

I played L4D versus and survival and everything was fine. Then I tried TF2 and was able to browse servers and I picked one. After a long connection time, the system froze so I soft rebooted.

Back to no servers in the Steam server browser!

Troubleshooting: "cleanly reinstalling Steam"

I carefully followed these instructions to reinstall Steam but the server list is still empty.
http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Cleanly_reinstalling_Steam

Troubleshooting: getting desperate - Wireshark (formerly Ethereal)

I tried sniffing a laptop that produces a Steam server list and my gaming desktop which does not. I can see some additional activity on the desktop that might be an issue but I'm not able to decipher the traffic. When I click the Server button there's a flood of activity on both but the desktop still doesn't produce a server list.

Troubleshooting: super desperate - try Steam help forum ;)

So, I'm here and real frustrated. My current choices are:
1. play Steam multi-player games after removing my anti-virus software (no AV = bad)
2. stop playing TF2 and L4D and only play single player games, interact with people face to face, read books, etc. (scary thought!)
3. troubleshoot more by reinstalling my desktop OS, Windows XP SP3 (a very, very unpalatable option and not guaranteed to work)

Hopefully, you all can point me to another option that actually gets my Steam server listing to work with AV running. I've done a lot of serious Googling and forum searching but I'd be happy, even thrilled, for someone to point out a simple to complex fix for this.

Thanks for reading this long post and thanks in advance for any help.
-jxf11

[jxf011]

EDIT: I figured out that AVG and Microsoft do not require a reboot after install. If I load either AVG or MS AV, Steam will return servers in the server browser. But, once I reboot the server browser is empty again. Avira and Avast always want you to reboot right after installing. So, the point is booting with an AV program installed results in the Steam or a game server browser being empty. If there was no AV installed at boot time, the server browsers populate normally.

[jxf011]

EDIT: I just did "sfc /scannow" using my XP Pro SP3 disc, rebooted, did a Windows Update check and still no servers in the Steam or game server browsers.

[jxf011]

FIXED! Yee haw!

After lots of back and forth with Valve Support, including lots of msinfo32 and Steam log files, Valve told me "you'll have to consult with your anti-virus provider's support to fix this" - yeah right, free AV products don't usually have support!

So, this was my indication to buckle down and work more on this. Something had to be on the system that gets active when I install the AV. I dug around and tried some stuff and finally used Sysinternals Autoruns.

Using Autoruns, I combed over every entry looking for firewall, 3rd party stuff and packet filter software. And 'lo and behold! "ghstwall" was in there and I searched the hard drive and found 2 ghstwall files.

Ghostwall wasn't in Add/Remove Programs so I installed it, removed it cleanly and manually scoured the registry and hard drive for left overs. Reboot with Microsoft Security Essentials AV installed and Steam's server browser works!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

Moral of the story, use Autoruns to find hidden gremlins when all else fails.

[pancakewalker]

FIXED! Yee haw!

After lots of back and forth with Valve Support, including lots of msinfo32 and Steam log files, Valve told me "you'll have to consult with your anti-virus provider's support to fix this" - yeah right, free AV products don't usually have support!

So, this was my indication to buckle down and work more on this. Something had to be on the system that gets active when I install the AV. I dug around and tried some stuff and finally used Sysinternals Autoruns.

Using Autoruns, I combed over every entry looking for firewall, 3rd party stuff and packet filter software. And 'lo and behold! "ghstwall" was in there and I searched the hard drive and found 2 ghstwall files.

Ghostwall wasn't in Add/Remove Programs so I installed it, removed it cleanly and manually scoured the registry and hard drive for left overs. Reboot with Microsoft Security Essentials AV installed and Steam's server browser works!!!!!!!! :) :) :)

Moral of the story, use Autoruns to find hidden gremlins when all else fails.

Bravo! Encore!

You deserve a grammy for that 'lecture'.

[Dupbros]

I dug around and tried some stuff and finally used Sysinternals Autoruns.

Using Autoruns, I combed over every entry looking for firewall, 3rd party stuff and packet filter software. And 'lo and behold! "ghstwall" was in there and I searched the hard drive and found 2 ghstwall files.

Ghostwall wasn't in Add/Remove Programs so I installed it, removed it cleanly and manually scoured the registry and hard drive for left overs. Reboot with Microsoft Security Essentials AV installed and Steam's server browser works!!!!!!!!

Could you please explain to me what you did exactly? I got the exact same problem and you are maybe my only hope.