Resources

In researching this problem, I came up with several possible solutions and I’m going to list them in order of probability. If, after testing all of these solutions you are still having problems, you may need to give us more information - are you connecting with a cable or wirelessly? Which router are you using? Is it a recent problem, or have you never been able to get online with your PS3? Not knowing any of these answers, I’m still going to go ahead and give you some options.

Sony Update Issue

The most likely cause, particularly if you’ve been able to log on successfully before, is that it is a Sony firmware issue. I’ve seen that other people are having problems due to a recent firmware upgrade. Sony just released an even newer update on December 2, so I would try to log onto the PS3 update site and download the latest update.

Router Issue

What kind of router are you using? There is a known problem with some wireless Netgear routers that won’t work well with PS3’s package of switching of information through their firewall - this is a requirement for the program. If you are using a Netgear router, try using another brand and see if you can log on successfully. Many routers will also only let one device access the Internet at a time. If you are trying to use your PS3 online and someone else in the house is using the same router to get onto the Internet, chances are you are going to be bumped off.

Set Static IP Address

Most computers use dynamic IP addresses, which means that it assigns a new address every time you log onto the computer. Setting a static address may mean that your connection is more stable. Follow these directions if you want to set a static address:

1. First you will need to get some information. Go to Start and then Run. Type in cmd. You will see a new box - type in ipconfig/all. Click Enter. You will see a list of information. Print this or copy down the information for: IP address, Default Gateway, Subnet Mask and Name Servers.
2. Exit out of that and go back to Start, and then Control Panel.
3. Click on Network and then Internet Connections.
4. Choose Internet Connections. Right click on Local Area Connections and select Properties.
5. Select Internet Protoocol TCP/IP. Click on Properties.
6. Select Use the Following IP Address. Here you will fill in your IP address, Subnet Mask and Default Gateway.
7. Then go back and choose Use the Following DNS Server and fill in the Server information.

Hopefully, one of these solutions will do the trick. If you’re still having problems, send us additional information, and we’ll see what we can do.

About Gaming Computers

Computers that are built specifically for gaming are made to process massive amounts of information and graphics really quickly, and come with enhanced graphics and video cards and extremely fast CPU processing chips. Gaming computers are also enhanced with liquid cooling systems and other design tweaks to make them optimal for handing the demands of high tech games and graphics.

If you are a serious gamer, or if you are investigating a computer for a serious gamer, you might consider a system with a good quality graphics card, a good processor and a lot of RAM. However, these computers are expensive, and range between about $1300 for a low-end model up to more than $10,000. If you are interested in finding a computer of this caliber, for gaming in particular, some of the top brands are Gateway, Ultimate ABS and Alienware.

Determining your Computer Needs

If your son is just getting started with games, and if you are looking for a more well-rounded and standard computer, there are some great brands and models that are more affordable, as well as easier to find second-hand. Computer games will include a list of system requirements and recommendations that can guide your basic shopping criteria.

Components of a Gaming Computer

Your main consideration when choosing a computer system that will be used predominantly for games and watching DVDs is having a good video graphics card. Rather than buying a high-end specialty gaming computer, you have the option of choosing a more mainstream system and upgrading your video card. Other major components for gaming computers are the RAM and the processor. These two features will determine the speed with which the computer can load screen shots and data as is it input by the gamer. The Core 2 Duo processors made by Intel are at the top of the list for good, general computing power, and you are going to want at least 512MB of RAM.

Some Computer Suggestions

The Hewlett-Packard Pavilion A6500f desktop model is a popular purchase at just under $600. This computer has an Intel Pentium Dual Core 2.4 GHz processor. The Dell Inspiron 530 desktop is about $100 less at about $480, and is a very similar machine.

The problem with selecting a second-hand model is that it might be out of date and require some updates. Before you purchase an older computer, it’s a good idea to do the math on the price of a new graphics card ($100-$500) and make sure that you wouldn’t prefer to spend the money on a newer system that might not yet need an update.

MS DOS is used by a lot of older games and programs. As computer technology progresses, many old games don’t work properly on newer systems. There are a few ways to get older, MS DOS-based games to play on your new computer.

Compatibility Issues

Here are a few miscellaneous things to try first:

• See if the game manufacturer has a patch that will make an older game compatible with a new system. Many game manufacturers are aware of the compatibility problems and have made patches that you can download to get the games to work.
• Try to change the compatibility of the game itself. If you have it as a shortcut on your desktop, right click on the shortcut icon. Choose Properties and then select the Compatibility tab.

Emulator Program

There is a great freeware download emulator program called Dosbox that you can use to run old computer games that require MS DOS. It emulates a computer running MS DOS so that the older games are compatible with a new system. As with all downloads, make sure that you are using a good antivirus program just in case there is a problem. If you need reviews of antivirus program, we have a good article here.

Dual Boot

If you love your old computer games and want to run them on your PC, you can make it a dual-boot system so that you are running both MS DOS and Windows XP (or another operating system) at the same time. You would first install the MS DOS system and then install the parallel, newer operating system so that the computer runs both and you can choose which program you want the computer to boot from when you turn it on. Instructions for creating a dual-boot system are too complex to go into here, but you can easily find them on the web. There is a good tutorial with installation instructions for creating a dual-boot system on this link.

Older Computer

If you have the space, you might want to consider getting an older computer with an MS DOS operating system on it just for playing these older games. Many fans of older PC games keep an extra computer just for this purpose. You can pick one up cheaply or even for free as people upgrade their systems. Keep in mind the compromises though as older PCs lack sophisticated video cards and power requirements of today’s games.   

Hopefully, one of these solutions will work for you and you will be up and gaming in no time.

Error code 40 in Combat Arms means that for some reason the installation files are corrupted. An application may be interfering with the installation process. The first fix for this is to reboot and try the download again. I’m assuming you’ve tried this, so let’s move on to other suggested fixes for this problem.

Miscellaneous Fixes

There are a few things you should check before moving on to slightly more complicated fixes. First, are you running a download manager? If so, try disabling it while you are trying to download Combat Arms. You can also try resetting the router to see if that allows the download to continue. Make sure your firewall program will allow Combat Arms-set it to accept programs from Nexon.

Have you tried downloading both versions of the game? When you go to download, you are asked if you want to download version A or version B. Several people who had been getting error code 40 have been able to successfully download Combat Arms by switching to download B.

Clear Temporary Internet Files

If these things have been checked and you still can’t download the game you should clean your temporary Internet files. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools and then Internet Options. Choose General tab and then Temporary Internet Files. Click Delete. If you are using Firefox, go to Tools and then Clear Private Data. Once you have cleared out your temporary Internet files, try the download again.

Create New Folder

Try this before you download again. In the Nexon folder, create a new folder and name it something that you will find easily. Start up the installer, but don’t click on install yet. Click on Browse instead. Find the folder that you just created, and then click Install. This has worked for a few people who have gotten error code 40.

Nexon Customer Service

If everything we’ve suggested has failed, you can go to the Nexon customer service portion of the website and enter a support ticket. The site doesn’t offer any phone support, but they may be able to help you via email.

This is a fairly common problem among Pogo users and there are a few things you can do to get the program to load properly.

Clean Up Browser Settings

In Windows Explorer, click on Tool Settings and delete your browser history, cookies and site visits. You can also clear the cache by following these steps:

1. Go to Start and then All Programs.
2. Click on Internet Explorer and then choose Tools.
3. Choose Internet Options and then Advanced.
4. Under “Reset Internet Explorer Settings” choose Reset.
5. Close the window, then click Ok.
6. Close the rest of the windows.

AOL Top Speed

Are you using AOL? If so, making sure that Top Speed is turned on can help you access Pogo games. In the browser window, click on Settings. Choose Top Speed. Place a check mark by ‘Use Top Speed when available’. Save.

Java Updates

You may be having trouble with your Java program. First, make sure you are running the latest version of Java and if not, download the newest version. To find out what Java version you have, go to the Java website - it will automatically analyze your Java. If you need an update, you can download the latest version of Java free from this webpage. It is a good idea to uninstall previous versions before you download a new version. To do this, click on Start and then Control Panel (or Settings and then Control Panel) and click on Add/Remove Programs. You will see the Java Runtime Environment listed. Click the remove button and close the window. Once it is uninstalled, download the new version - you may have to restart your computer to have the Java version take effect.

Antivirus Software

Another important thing you should do is make sure you are running good antivirus, Trojan and spyware software. It is a good idea to run more than one program to make sure you catch as much as you can. If you are looking for a recommendation, try this article on our website. Malware can often cause problems like this, so you should update your programs often.

Following the steps above should have you up and gaming in no time.

Since the game works initially and it is only after time passes that it begins to crash and burn, the problem is probably not related to the game CD. Try downloading the enhancing product on a fresh boot up of the computer to see if that helps. Contact the manufacturer of the game and ask for assistance with this issue. If it is a known quirk, they will be able to offer you some options.

Flight Simulator 4 Crashes: System Requirements

One of the first steps to take before even purchasing a game is to look at the minimum system requirements for it. I imagine that you probably did so, but just in case, look at them now. If your system barely meets the system requirements for the game, this could contribute to the problems that you are having with the game. If your system does not meet the requirements, then this is definitely the problem. This type of game is a real hog when it comes to computer resources, you might want to consider adding some RAM.

Flight Simulator 4 Crashes: Manufacturer Tips

Read through the documentation for the game to see if you can pick up any tips. You can also visit the website for the manufacturer of the game and check the support section for tips on how to handle this particular problem. If a forum exists, see if any other players are having the same issue. Many gamers will offer help on how to fix game related problems simply because they have been through the same thing themselves.

Flight Simulator 4 Crashes: Heat Related Issues

Although I rarely play computer games, my sons are frequent fliers when it comes to flight simulators. One of the biggest problems with this type of game is overheating the computer. The fastest way to check this out is to open up the tower carefully by removing one of the sides. Do this when the computer is turned off to avoid shocking yourself or damaging the computer. You might as well check out the dust situation while you are at it because this can also contribute to overheating. Carefully remove the dust from the computer.

Turn the computer back on and see how the game plays while the panel is still off. Removing the tower panels allows the air to circulate and the computer to cool. If the game does not freeze and crash, you have a heat related problem. The fan for your computer might need to be replaced. This is one of the cheaper options that you have open.

Flight Simulator 4 Crashes: Graphics Card

The possibility also exists that your graphics card is not up to speed and is leading to a lot of the problem including heat. While this could also be caused by overworking the processor, replacing the graphics card is much less bothersome and expensive. Consider this one of your troubleshooting options.

Flight Simulator 4 Crashes: Overworking the Processor

If the game is overworking the processor, this will also lead to a freeze in gameplay and resultant crashes. Replacing the processor should be your last resort, since this is also the most expensive option you have.