What is PunkBuster services?

joel2007 · 02-01-2010, 11:17 PM

I just found a service name PNKBSTRA.EXE. When I google it, it shoows up as PunkBuster services. I want to know if it is from Steam game? Is it safe to disable it?

kbe2k9 · 02-01-2010, 11:21 PM

Yep it's from a game and nope if you do you will not be able to play online in whichever game uses it. People have made like scripts to load it when you open a specific game that uses it and also unload it when you close that specific game.

Personally I just let it go; right now I have BF2 installed and it's using it.

Maledict21 · 02-01-2010, 11:24 PM

PunkBuster is an anti-cheat program. It's certainly safe to disable it, but not recommended as some online games won't work.

02-01-2010, 11:37 PM

Maybe you installed America's army?
America's army use Punk buster as anti-cheat program

Slayer00 · 02-01-2010, 11:41 PM

http://www.evenbalance.com/ the official site for PunkBuster if you want to have a look what it is.

joel2007 · 02-02-2010, 01:58 AM

Hey, thanks everyone. I just want to know if it's from Steam game. That's all. 'Cause I hate to have service that running without any purpose. I just found out that I have DOOM 3 and Quake III Arena.
Will this service gone after I uninstall these 2 games? Or do I need to manual uninstall the PNKBSTRA.EXE?

Slayer00 · 02-02-2010, 02:07 AM

You have to manually unistall PunkBuster either by using their installer to unistall or via Windows remove programs menu.

I think you need to either run;
Doom 3 installer and choose unistall
OR
Quake 3 Arena and choose unistall

MaxMad · 02-02-2010, 02:21 AM

Before you uninstall punkbuster, remember , you will not be able to play any of the games that uses it as a anti-cheat program.

Many multiplayer games will require you to install it before you can play online, so if you uninstall it now and you buy a multiplayer game that has punkbuster you will have to reinstall it..

02-01-2010, 11:17 PM	#1
joel2007 Join Date: Nov 2009 Reputation: 34 Posts: 255	What is PunkBuster services? I just found a service name PNKBSTRA.EXE. When I google it, it shoows up as PunkBuster services. I want to know if it is from Steam game? Is it safe to disable it?

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02-01-2010, 11:21 PM	#2
kbe2k9 Join Date: Nov 2009 Reputation: 167 Posts: 1,351	Yep it's from a game and nope if you do you will not be able to play online in whichever game uses it. People have made like scripts to load it when you open a specific game that uses it and also unload it when you close that specific game. Personally I just let it go; right now I have BF2 installed and it's using it.

02-01-2010, 11:24 PM	#3
Maledict21 Join Date: Oct 2009 Reputation: 1663 Posts: 5,029	PunkBuster is an anti-cheat program. It's certainly safe to disable it, but not recommended as some online games won't work.

02-01-2010, 11:37 PM	#4
hc813 Guest Posts: n/a	Maybe you installed America's army? America's army use Punk buster as anti-cheat program

02-01-2010, 11:41 PM	#5
Slayer00 Join Date: Sep 2006 Reputation: 1100 Posts: 5,486	http://www.evenbalance.com/ the official site for PunkBuster if you want to have a look what it is.

02-02-2010, 01:58 AM	#6
joel2007 Join Date: Nov 2009 Reputation: 34 Posts: 255	Hey, thanks everyone. I just want to know if it's from Steam game. That's all. 'Cause I hate to have service that running without any purpose. I just found out that I have DOOM 3 and Quake III Arena. Will this service gone after I uninstall these 2 games? Or do I need to manual uninstall the PNKBSTRA.EXE?

02-02-2010, 02:07 AM	#7
Slayer00 Join Date: Sep 2006 Reputation: 1100 Posts: 5,486	You have to manually unistall PunkBuster either by using their installer to unistall or via Windows remove programs menu. I think you need to either run; Doom 3 installer and choose unistall OR Quake 3 Arena and choose unistall

02-02-2010, 02:21 AM	#8
MaxMad Join Date: Oct 2007 Reputation: 71 Posts: 995	Before you uninstall punkbuster, remember , you will not be able to play any of the games that uses it as a anti-cheat program. Many multiplayer games will require you to install it before you can play online, so if you uninstall it now and you buy a multiplayer game that has punkbuster you will have to reinstall it..