Open Beta Weekend Begins + Tech Problems

Posted 20 April 2012 by Flux

The D3 Open Beta Weekend has brought a huge influx of new (would be) players and as expected, there are tech problems. This is basically the start of the D3 Stress Test, and it is indeed proving rather stressful; for players who want in, for the Blizzard servers, and for the Blizzard tech support guys.

The first hurdle is actually getting the game installed on your system. This became a great deal more challenging a few weeks ago, when the new Battle.net Launcher as introduced into the D3 and WoW:Panda beta. (It’s not incorporated into full WoW, SC2, or other Bliz titles.Yet.) The launcher created unplayable lag and installation problems for many players, and while the tech problems have been steadily whittled down, it’s still a show-stopper for numerous players, especially when first trying to install D3 or WoW:MoP.

This is fixable; the games work okay as does Battle.net; the hard part is convincing your computer to play nicely with the tech. If you’re stuck on a pop up box that says, “updating system files” you are very much not alone. There’s been minimal help from Bliz tech support on this, but there are plenty of player-discovered workarounds. The obvious thing is to update all your drivers; video card, OS, motherboard, etc. No, that’s not any fun, but neither is not being able to play D3. If you’ve done those things and still can’t play, the two main fixes are quoted in this thread.

Delete these two folders, which are recreated each time you log on or try to install:

  • C:ProgramDataBattle.net

  • C:ProgramDataBlizzard EntertainmentBattle.netCache

Now right click the d3 installer.exe file and run it as an administrator. (Retstarting before this step may also help.)

If that doesn’t help you, this work around thread collects numerous tech tips and fixes, or you can browse for others in the Blizzard Tech Support Forum. You won’t be able to post there, but at least you’ll feel better after seeing how many other people are stuck right beside you.

Update #1: Risingred is also compiling all the issues/solutions into one thread which you can find here.

Update #2: You guys are killing the D3 servers with heavy load. The twitter feeds of Bashiok and Blizzard Customer Service are both burning up with replies to tech problems. The D3 servers are getting hammered, most people can’t get on, and basically it’s everyone’s “online-only DRM launch day nightmare” come to life. Thankfully it’s just the beta stress test, though that’s not hugely reassuring if you’ve been waiting to play D3 for 10 years and the D3 beta since September. A few quotes from the past hour or two:

This is a stress test, and issues are expected. You may have trouble logging in due to the sheer number of other people attempting the same. –Bashiok

We’ve temporarily capped #D3 open beta concurrency until we can address some stability issues. Expect Error 37 and login failure. –Bashiok

If you are seeing Error 3003 click on Options and change your region to ‘The Americas’. The open beta is on US servers only. –Bashiok

As per @Bashiok “We’re investigating why some people are seeing a ‘no license’ Error 12 for the #D3 open beta. Hang tough.” –BlizzardCS
What about the servers are busy error 37 and disconnected from battlenet error? –metallica155
That’s just due to the servers getting slammed at current. A lot of people want to try the game. –Bashiok

Hi Bash! I just wonder, how many people are the test servers expected to handle at once? –JrgenSandberg
A lot more than we have right now. :) We’ll get there! –Bashiok

If it helps; I’m getting mixed error msg: most are “disconnected from b-net”, sometimes “server busy”, once in a while the error 12 –CasperBHansen
Progress! ;) Yeah http://Battle.net, D3 servers and account management are slammed. We’re trying to put out fires. –Bashiok

Okay, now i get Error 12 as well, i actually AM a closed beta tester :D . –PeterBang1
Yeah, it’s definitely some kind of syncing issue on our side. I don’t believe any user changes could help workaround it. –Bashiok

Given these messages, you’ll probably be happier if you do other things for at least a few hours, and try again tonight or tomorrow morning.

Update #3: More Bashiok and CS tweets with potential problem fixes.

Cool! Error 12 is fixed by changing your password. If you’re seeing Error 37 it just means the servers are full right now. Keep trying! –Bashiok

There are currently 187,900 people in public games in the #Diablo III beta! Thank you for testing, and for your enthusiasm. Keep it up! –Kaviax
any word on when the player cap will be increased / removed? –StoneFaceLock
We’re slowly increasing it over time. –Bashiok

Click through for some video entertainment that might help reduce, or reflect, your emotions over this tech problems rollercoaster.

A dramatization of worldwide player sentiment. If someone wants to get the original and put fake, Hitler-movie subtitles pertaining to the D3 stress test, I think I speak for everyone when I say that would be awesome.

Tagged As: | Categories: Bashiok, Community Relations, Diablo 3 Beta, Hardware & Tech, Twitter
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93 Opinions have been expressed on “Open Beta Weekend Begins + Tech Problems”
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  • I asume everyone is getting the “Server is busy try again later” message?
     
     
     

  • yeah i cant login.

  • It’s working for me, I hope they fix it up for you guys asap.

  • when i try to login, it clears the password field. after that it just stays on that screen for a long while (3-5minutes) til i get a popup saying ive been disconnected from battle.net. the european and asian servers throw other errors. :|

    • Same error here.
      And it’s exactly the only reason so far that’s kept me from pre-ordering the game: the omen of lost Battle.net downtime during the first days (or weeks) after the game launches.

  • Hopefully this stress test fixes anything for May 15th.  Having the servers not working on release night will be very frustrating!

  • H1 guys i think i have found a way around for the “updating system files” problem: i have been behind my router and as i saw in one message, some1 has writen that you have to remove the aditional networks, so i just unplug the router and put the internet cable directly in the PC and i have download it succesfully. I hope this will help to some ppl.

  • This doesnt help at all… now I’m even more ****ed… 

  • +1
    grammerman
    April 20, 2012 at 20:42

    Hey thers my friendsor, i thinkg that its try later to login.
    P.S
    Frustrating ang *** blizzard is. 

  • I type in my username/password but the login button is grayed out, is anyone else having this problem? And if anyone knows a way around it what should i do??

  • I think 90% of us wont get to play during this stress test.
    Too many players and they will only analyse the problems, not fixing them during the weekend,
    So tough luck me!

    • they are in serious crunch mode now.  I guarantee they have people (if not all hands on deck) working the weekends until post launch.  Now, how difficult the issues are to solve, may still make your statement right.  But they will be working all weekend. 

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