US Server Crashing my TF2

[EArkham]

So in the past few days, I've jumped in on two impromptu events. And in both cases, I've crashed out when trying to download the 2nd map. The first one downloads fine.

This has only happened on the US Server, and only on the 2nd map download. It hasn't happened on other servers. I haven't tried to play on the EU server lately (due to having bad latency there), so I don't know if it'd be a problem there as well.

The first time it happened, we had just played cp_serenity and the download crashed hard on pl_corrode.

The second time was after playing cp_slush last night. Sorry, don't know what map it was trying to download cause my friends overlay was up at the time.

Behaviour has been the same: starts downloading normally, then suddenly stops, locks everything up, and I have to restart the computer to get out of it. The first map however always downloads perfectly fine.

Any ideas what could cause this? Something on my end, or something up with the US Server? Is it happening to anyone else?

Things that have changed on my end: my internet connection is faster now (upgraded to the next tier) and I'm using an ATI Radeon 5770. But really don't think either of those would cause this.

Kep

 

[Sgt Frag]

I think cp_luckystar was the next map. Everyone else loaded in fine. ( a lot of people, don't know if anyone had trouble).

I've got a 5850 and cable connection. I don't see why either one of those would cause issues.

What's your ping like on the server?

 

[EArkham]

Ping was fine, about 30-40ish as I recall.

It's strange that both times it's been on the 2nd download, but the first downloads fine.

Kep

 

[Sgt Frag]

Did you try restarting and dling again?

The crash is weird but I have had hangs (not on this server necessarily) where I've had to cancle a dl, then rejoin and it'll finish.

 

[EArkham]

I couldn't cancel. It locks everything up.

After the first time, I deleted the clientregistry.blob, defragmented the game files, and checked the integrity. The second time, I haven't done anything since restarting TF2 and joining other servers worked fine.

One thing I just remembered: I usually keep my settings to "do not download anything" so that servers don't force crap downloads like donator icons, etc. Before joining the tf2maps.net server, I change that to "allow everything" so I could get the maps of course. Maybe that has something to do with it... but it'll download the first one and not the second.

Maybe I'll just get in the habit of pre-downloading all the maps for an impromptu.

Kep

 

[Sgt Frag]

That setting has no effect on map downloads. Just sounds, sprays, spammy annoying crap that Valve needed to make a checkbox for.
I've had mine set at no downloads almost the entire time I've owned TF2 after finding a folder full of nasty porn sprays. And I almost always play custom maps (I think I deleted 18 gigs of them at one point).

 

[MacNetron]

How much free disk space do you have?
It might be that the error occurs when downloading a new map. TF2 downloads the bz2 and then extracts that one to the maps-folder. If you run out of free space, it might hang your PC.

Also, I've noticed on my own PC that TF2 is noticeably slower than it used to be. I used to be one of the first people in server on mapchange, but currently I'm last. Probably time for me to reinstall Windows and Steam, but could mean that this happens on your PC too. Have you just waited when the PC appeared to hang? Or is TF2 really crashing?

 

[EArkham]

It's only been a problem with the tf2maps server. Had no problems downloading multiple maps in ZPS or on other TF2 servers. And I have 134 GB free (surprised it's that small actually, time to do some housecleaning).

Grazr mentioned something about having to restart the server due to "failed file transfers" here, so I'm thinking that's not a coincidence.

Kep