Some common LSN problems and possible solutions.

PLEASE NOTE- THIS IS NOT AN OFFICIAL CODO FAQ, AND NEITHER CODO NOR MYSELF (Count Zero) TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE DONE TO YOUR PC, OPERATING SYSTEM OR SOFTWARE FROM USING THE ADVICE HEREIN.

I can't change my player name or password.

I can't change my email address.

I've forgotten my password.

I paid for the game, so why does it say I am not registered, and can only play Marines?

I'm not receiving any emails from the server.

I can't send my orders manually.

I can't play on all of the maps in hotseat.

I can’t log into the web interface.

I can log into the web interface, but I can't download the full version.

I can log into the web interface, but I can’t play my turns; it just logs me out.

I can log into the web interface but I can’t issue challenges.

I can’t log into the web interface and I have the email option disabled. Can I still get my turns?

How do I play LSN on two different computers?

I can’t open game results email attachments with Outlook Express; they are greyed out.

I get ‘Application not found’ or 'invalid menu handle' when I run LSN.

I’m playing a game and my units suddenly stopped following my orders, and just stand around.

I can't view a whole game I downloaded.

I can't open the LSN client, it just sits on the taskbar.

The game is slow and jerky in playback mode.

I can't see the menu text.

The graphics for Greys shots are ugly white squares.

    ...Spawn are surrounded by ugly green squares.

    ...vision tool does not work.

    ...lighting toggle does not work.

    ...zoom is limited to two levels.

LSN crashes with the error 'Failed to update render target.'

LSN crashes with the error 'A required DLL file, D3D8.DLL was not found.'

LSN crashes with the error 'Failed to create 3D Device.'

I can't play the game in 3D mode.

How do I open the client to change these options?

I can't see the main screen to alter any options.

Where can I get more technical support?

I can't change my player name or password.

There is no way for you to do this, but Codo can change either of them for you. Email support@codotech.com

When making your request note that your player name and password are case sensitive, so 'a' is different to 'A'.

I can't change my email address.

You may have changed the email address in the client but forgotten to 'fix' the change by making a request of the server with the client by issuing a challenge, requesting last turn or a whole game.

Note that this only works for subscribers.

I've forgotten my password.

Enter your player name in the password retrieval form. An email with your password will be sent to you.

In the event of the password retrieval not working, it is also possible to extract your password from your computer using Dangermouse's Challenge Spy 1.3 This will only extract the last password entered into the client, so if you have reformatted the hard drive and reinstalled the client; you are using a different computer; or if you have been attempting to guess your password it will not help.

Download and unzip Challenge Spy into a folder. You will need to edit challspy\config.cfg so that # the directory LSN is installed in LSNdir = C:\Games\Laser Squad Nemesis points to your LSN directory (default location is C:\Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis). Run the password extractor, PEX.EXE, and you will see the player name, email and password that are currently entered in the LSN client.

Challenge Spy itself has been made obsolete by the web interface, but a message extractor, MEX.EXE, is also included which can be useful if you do not have access to the web interface and have forgotten your in game messages.

I paid for the game, so why does it say I am not registered, and can only play Marines?
You have the free trial version installed. Go to the web interface and then click on the DOWNLOAD link. Download and install the full version of LSN from there.

I'm not receiving any emails from the server.

Make sure that the email turn results are enabled. Log into the web interface and select the 'EMAIL OPTION' along the top to enable or disable email results. Note that you always receive some email notifications, even if the email option is disabled.

Make sure that you have entered a valid email address in the client, and that you have remembered to 'fix' any change by making a request of the server with the client by issuing a challenge, requesting last turn or a whole game.

It is possible that a spam blocker has decided to block LSN emails. If you have a spam, blocked or junk folder you may find the missing emails in there. Adding the server to your address book (normally by simply replying to an email) can help with lifting the block on LSN emails.

I can't send my orders manually.

Make sure that you are sending them to the right address, which should be lsnorders@codotech.com for regular games or lsnbeta@codotech.com for beta games. An alternate address for regular orders is lsnorders@codo-linux1.bytemark.co.uk

Check that you are sending orders files and not game state or event files.

Do not attach more than one file or it will not work.

I can't play on all of the maps in hotseat.

Although a subscriber can play on any map available on the server in an online game, you can only play on the maps you have in your client software in hotseat games. The maps that are available by default are Boulevard, Bunker, Crossroads, Devils Gate, Factory, Forest, and Front line. In order to play hotseat games on any others, you must first download them. A 1.94 MB zip containing many, if not all, of the maps is available to download. The zip contains .MAP and .ARA files which will need to be unzipped into your Map folder (default location is C:\Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis\Map). Map names are not case sensitive for hotseat games (although they do seem to be for online game challenges issued via the client). Be careful of spacing however, 'frontline' is not the same as 'front line'. If you enter a map name that is not available, the client will instead select a map at random from those that are.

Log into the web interface and go to Official Maps to download individual maps - and most current.

I can’t log into the web interface.

Double check your user name and password. Note that they are case sensitive, so 'a' is different to 'A'.

There is an alternate URL for the web interface http://80.68.80.146/LSN/GameManager that works much better for some.

Often this is a firewall issue, so check to see that your firewall is not blocking access. You may even have to resort to disabling the firewall, accessing the web interface, and re-enabling the firewall.

Try clearing your temporary internet files and deleting your cookies.

I can log into the web interface, but I can't download the full version.

Try disabling any download accelerators, such as GetRight, FlashGet or Go!Zilla.

I can log into the web interface, but I can’t play my turns; it just logs me out.

Check that your subscription has not expired. The web interface doesn't alert you of this.

Try clearing your temporary internet files and deleting your cookies.

I can log into the web interface but I can’t issue challenges.

Try clearing your temporary internet files and deleting your cookies.

I can’t log into the web interface and I have the email option disabled. Can I still get my turns?

If you open the client and select MANAGE GAMES, then request GET LAST TURN or GET WHOLE GAME, those results will be emailed to you even if the email option is disabled. You will need to do this for each turn, unfortunately.

You will need to know the game number to do this. Look for the most recent / highest numbered folders in your games folder (default location is C:\Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis\Games) and GET LAST TURN for those. When the results email arrives it will list the numbers of other games in progress. Failing this, get in touch with an opponent and ask for the number of your game.

If you have problems viewing the whole game, see below.

How do I play LSN on two different computers?
If you continue playing a game on a different computer you must use the GET WHOLE GAME option. Its easiest to use the web interface here. Log in, click on the game in the list, then click on GET WHOLE GAME. Alternatively, open the client and go to MANAGE GAMES and select GET WHOLE GAME. Enter the number of the game and nothing else e.g. 1745 and NOT G00001745 then send it. When the email arrives double click on it and it should run. Additionally make sure you have entered your player name and password exactly the same on both computers. Note that your player name and password are case sensitive, so 'a' is different to 'A'.

If you have problems viewing the whole game, see below.

I can’t open game results email attachments with Outlook Express; they are greyed out.

Go to Outlook Express Tools|Options|Security and un-tick 'Do not allow attachments to be opened or saved that could be potentially be a virus' if it is ticked. If the machine is not yours, ask for the owner’s permission before you do this.

I get ‘Application not found’ or 'invalid menu handle' when I run LSN.

This suggests that the association between .lsn files and the LSN client is broken, so you need to recreate it:

1) Save a game sent to you to your desktop
2) Right-click it
3) Choose OPEN WITH
4) Make sure you check ALWAYS OPEN WITH THIS PROGRAM, then click BROWSE
5) Browse to your LSNCLIENT.EXE (default location is C:\Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis\LSNClient.exe)
6) Click OKAY.

If it still doesn't work, try renaming your LSN client to contain the .EXE suffix to ensure it is recognised.

I’m playing a game and my units suddenly stopped following my orders, and just stand around.

This is a rare but persistent and annoying bug. Standard procedure is to GET WHOLE GAME with the client or web interface. ‘Rebuilding’ the game in this way usually clears the problem, but unfortunately the orders your units have ignored already are unrecoverable.

Note that 'rebuilding' a whole game on a slower computer can take quite a while, so you may have to be patient.

If you have problems viewing the whole game, see below.

I can't view a whole game I downloaded.

Ensure that the games folder (default location is C:\Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis\Games) only contains numbered folders. Any files not in a numbered folder shouldn't be there and you can safely move them out of the games folder.

If you still have problems try clearing your temporary internet files and deleting your cookies.

Note that 'rebuilding' a whole game on a slower computer can take quite a while, so you may have to be patient.

I can't open the LSN client, it just sits on the taskbar.

The client sometimes opens minimised on the taskbar, and can be quite hidden. Right click and 'restore' it. This works whereas double clicking on the task bar or maximizing doesn't seem to.

For a better and more permanent solution to the problem try changing SCREEN MODE and RESOLUTION, quitting, reopening the client, then resetting them. This bug is said to be caused by a window location of around 32000 in C:\ Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis\Configs\UserData.cfg so it may also be fixed by editing that file.

The game is slow and jerky in playback mode.

This mainly affects slower computers. In general, try to have as few applications running as possible, especially 3D games or other graphics intensive applications. In particular, try to have only one instance of the LSN client open. Try lowering the TEXTURE RESOLUTION. If you are playing in Full SCREEN MODE try lowering the RESOLUTION; altering the RESOLUTION to match that of the desktop; or switching to Windowed SCREEN MODE. Try switching DISPLAY HARDWARE to 2D mode. Even playing without the sound effects may help.

Playing the action back at 1/4 speed seems to help. The second and subsequent playbacks generally go a lot smoother than the first.

You can make things easier on your machine by avoiding 30FP Spawn vs Spawn games and similar mass battles. Likewise, choosing a small map or one with sparse terrain seems to cause fewer problems. Playback is smoother with fewer units, projectiles, and revealed terrain onscreen.

Note that it can be a useful feature: playback tends to pause when something new becomes visible, even if it is off screen.

I can't see the menu text.
On graphic cards which support anti-aliasing this feature should be turned off.

Switching from 3D to 2D mode can also help with text problems.

Lowering the desktop colour and / or resolution may also help.

The graphics for Greys shots are ugly white squares / Spawn are surrounded by ugly green squares / vision tool does not work / lighting toggle does not work / zoom is limited to two levels.

These are known bugs and limitations that only occur in 2D mode, but for which there are unfortunately as yet no solution.

These problems disappear when playing in 3D mode. To switch to 3D mode, open the client and select SOUND/VIDEO OPTIONS,  then set DISPLAY HARDWARE to 3D card. You will need to restart the Laser Squad Nemesis software after you change this setting before it will actually take effect.

LSN crashes with the error 'Failed to update render target.'

If you are running LSN in full SCREEN MODE, and switching between it and other applications, then try doing so less often; lowering the RESOLUTION; setting the RESOLUTION to the match that of the desktop; or running it in windowed SCREEN MODE instead.

Try to have only one instance of the LSN client open, particularly if you have a slower computer. Multiple instances, especially ones with active games, will tend to corrupt graphics or crash the client altogether. So it is good to get into the habit of checking that you last turn has been sent and the client closed before opening the next turn.

LSN crashes with the error 'A required DLL file, D3D8.DLL was not found.'

This would suggest that DirectX is either not installed or not working properly. Check that you have DirectX 8.0 or later  installed, which is required to run LSN. You can check that it is working properly by running DXDIAG.EXE which should be in C:\windows\system. This will tell you which version of DirectX you are running, and has some diagnostic tools to check that DirectX is working correctly.

LSN crashes with the error 'Failed to create 3D Device.'

If you have a Voodoo 3 graphics card, make sure the desktop is set to 16 bit colour. Right click on the desktop, then select Properties, then the Settings tab, and finally Medium (16 bit colour). This may help even if you do not have a Voodoo 3 card.

Try following the advice for 'Failed to update render target' (see above).

I can't play the game in 3D mode.

There can be any number of reasons for this, and these are just a few common, simple solutions.

Try lowering the RESOLUTION in Full SCREEN MODE.

Try lowering the TEXTURE RESOLUTION.

Try disabling the SOUND.

Try following the advice for 'Failed to update render target' (see above).

Make sure that you have DirectX 8.0+ installed (see above).

Try setting the desktop to 16 bit colour (see above).

If you are using windows 2000 make sure you have installed the latest service pack because this is known to solve problems with some video cards, including Geforce cards.

Make sure that you have the latest driver for your graphics card.

If you do not have a 3D graphics card you will get much better results playing in 2D mode. If you have a 3D graphics card but are having problems you can also opt for 2D mode. Open the client and select SOUND/VIDEO OPTIONS,  then set DISPLAY HARDWARE to 2D card. You will need to restart the Laser Squad Nemesis software after you change this setting before it will actually take effect.

How do I open the client to change these options?

When LSN is installed it creates a shortcut on your desktop. If you've deleted this then the client can usually be found in the default install folder at C:\Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis

Note that you can access the SOUND/VIDEO OPTIONS by pressing the small tick button to the left of 'Time' during a game.

I can't see the main screen to alter any options.

If you can't even see the main screen to change the SOUND/VIDEO OPTIONS then you can edit the configuration files at C:\ Program Files\Laser Squad Nemesis\Configs\UserData.cfg

Where can I get more technical support?

For official Codo technical support email support@codotech.com

Codo forum Technical Support and Bug Reports - see particularly the Common problems and their solutions thread

Codo LSN FAQ archive

Joegan's LSN Technical FAQ  archive