Yes this annoying situation has happened to me as well. And it seems to be related to the last official game patch (1.0c)

What I recommend to you is to downgrade the patch to 1.0b. It can be found in the granary section of the main site, along with a tutorial on how to do it. Also you may consult the first thread in this section of the forum.

Of course in order to play a multiplayer game, you need everyone in the network to have the same patch.

[This message has been edited by Suppiluliuma (edited 01-05-2014 @ 01:45 PM).]

Thank you very much for your help.

We just tried with the patch 1.0b, i.e. we downgraded from 1.0c (collector's edition) to 1.0b fine. We have not yet been able to play with it though: when trying to create the game, the computer running the DVD gets an error message to the effect that
"one of the players needs to have the CD inserted". Yet the DVD is inserted.

Thanks in advance if you know a fix for that, we would really appreciate it.

That's because the Collector's DVD edition (which I also have) is newer and doesn't require a disc to play. It has 1.0c build-in. When you install an old patch, you replace the CE with older version which requires CD.

You can fix this by using Customize AOE - open it, click "Select empiresx.exe" and select it from your game folder, uncheck "CD Check" and press "Save File", then Exit.

Please tell me if this fixes your network problem, because 1.0c should have less network problems than 1.0b.

Diane31, Try if you still have the problem if you're both connected via network cables instead of wireless.

I got the exact same problem as diane31 (sorry for necro), any form of AI players in combination with other humans in multiplayer gives a game freeze at a certain point.

The only game I managed to finish was a 2 human vs 1 Roman AI on deathmatch; dunno why Roman's AI in DM will work correctly.

Other modes (other DM, any Random Map) won't work for the full duration of the game.

Is 1.0b really a solution for this?
I'll try with Upatch 1.1 as soon as I can, and I'll let you know with it anyway

Yes, try UPatch in combination with GameRanger (it's already proven to be working), not Hamachi or other methods. 1.0b (= ROR version 1.0) is not a solution (read above) and you can't use 1.0b if you have Collector's Edition.

[This message has been edited by aoe_scout (edited 07-24-2014 @ 05:33 AM).]

Btw I've got Gold Edition AoE, which starts at 1.0b

I played many games in LAN with my friend (Upatch 1.1) (not gameranger), the AIs was totally fine (we played with up to 4 Random Map AIs)

We used my laptop as a second computer, which lacks of a working dvd reader, so we transferred the game with a USB drive and it worked fine.

One thing tho, I couldn't open up_res.exe in my laptop, because it couldn't find the registry key in windows which is written after the installation, so I had to play with 800x600 and not 1366x768, is there anything I can do about it?

Thanks for your time and your Mod!

You need proper install of the game and UPatch, so that the patch can function properly. You can use this file (extract to game directory, right click and select Run as administrator) if you don't have install of the game. Then you need to install UPatch (over the previous install) and it will work.

Thanks for the link, now it works just fine.

With my friend we tried playing the same setup as yesterday (4 AIs on random map) but on gameranger, the game freezed again after various slow downs.

So with the LAN cable it's ok, maybe the bandwidth is so high that messed up scripts can manage to play smoothly, with gameranger multiple AIs screw up the game.

I guess it depends upon the quality of the connection. Please report back if you encounter problems with the LAN connection too.

I was hosting and I've got a fair connection for gaming, up to 16Mbit download and 1 Mbit upload with a 20-30 ms ping.

While playing with my friend the game hasn't shown any of the symbol that represents a network problem (i.e. yellow turtle, red turtle etc.) and probably the game didn't even take advantage of the whole bandwidth or whatever.

We had this problem 2 years ago too (1.0c RoR - Hamachi, Gameranger) , as I reported back in this thread;
we never had it tho while playing with the LAN cable in the old days, 14 years ago.

It's surely related to having AIs in the lobby of a multiplayer game with more than one human player (if you play solo or if the other player leaves the game continues smoothly).
Unfortunately the AoE have some bugs, which only dedicated and skillful user could solve in some ways.

I link to some useful information in another thread:
http://aoe.heavengames.com/cgi-bin/forums/display.cgi?action=ct&f=5,6371,,10

hy scout
i was the one who postes his AoE/Ai Network Problems on
http://www.moddb.com/mods/upatch-hd/#5090648
you said i may register here
and here iam, nice site by the way, alot AoE stuff
i will try to launch an AI game with the patch and gameranger and take a look if it fixes that problem
is the patchversion from moddb the latest ?

EDIT:

Okay i just tried it over gameranger:
- UPPatch HD 1.1 Beta2 installed.
- Ports for Gameranger and for AoE RoR are open.
- Hamachii is uninstalled and removed the old Networkadaption of Hamachii.
- No Window Mode.
- No *forced* resolution only widscreen same size of desktop on both comps.
- Tried with and without compatibly mode.
- both comps have win 7 Ultimate. (also tried everything running a VM-Ware Workstation with WIN XP, EVEN ON WIN 98 VM it happens quiet often, i was like *wat?*)
- no outdated drivers.

Still kicks all players out of game after several minutes.
Message:
- stopping multiplayer game
- Your connection to the game got abborted because of an asynchronous (not synchrone running) game (player).
(sry for bad translation, iam from germany ^^)

HAPPENS ONLY WITH AI PLAYERS IN A NETWORK GAME (no matter wich kind of network, we also tried tunngle):
- no matter wich civ
- no matter wich map modifications
- no matter how many human players
- no matter whos the host
- happens after 2-15 minutes. (latests was 17 min.)

iam out of ideas .....

EDIT 2:
It seems the game stays longer synchronous the less ammount of AI players you use.
Proove for me was:
- Games with for example 6+ AIs keep running between 2 and 5 mins.
- Games with 3 or less AIs keep running 10+ minutes.

Hope that helps

EDIT 3:
To dodge long post discussion here anyone who has ideas may add me on Gameranger OR Skype preferably Skype. Name is GeXile as it is here

Greetings GeX

[This message has been edited by GeXile (edited 02-16-2015 @ 02:44 PM).]

Post here, don't worry about long posts, it's not a problem. Someone else might also know something about this problem and if we manage to solve it, other people may benefit too. My knowledge on networks is rather limited, but I will try to help with what I can.

So here's what I know:
- Me and most other users who play with ai in both LAN (direct IP connection) or GameRanger don't seem to have such problems. I played one test game today (GameRanger) - 2 humans + 2 ai, 1 hour 25min game (ended normally). I use wired connection to a router, with the 2 computers on the same network.
- Any compatibility options (on game exe) should be disabled. Remove other network software (like Hamachi, etc) and use UPatch 1.1 Beta2 and GameRanger.
- Civ or map chosen are most likely irrelevant.

Try and tell me this:
- Do you have problems with other games?
- Do you use wireless connection or wired? How are the computers connected (are they on the same LAN)?
- Exactly which ports do you have open and for which computer? Check them again, if the addresses haven't changed.
- Does the problem only occurs when you are the host or if you join any game? Computer players are handled by the host.
- Try a Multiplayer game with only you and computer players (no other humans).
- What is your full configuration - network adapter, type of connection to the internet, router (+ settings), antivirus program, firewall, etc.
- Install UPatch 1.1 Beta2 in English (it doesn't matter if your original game is not English), so you can tell me the exact error message you get.
- Run the game as Administrator. After the sync error occurs, close the game and get the file C:\aoesync.txt. Hopefully it will contain some information I (or someone else here) can understand.

I guess there is a problem with your network (or its configuration) or some sort of incompatibility with the game, that can't be compensated when computer players are present (considering this is a game from 1997, it doesn't have very advanced network handling).

- Do you have problems with other games?
NO problems with other Games, even Settlers 3 on a Windows XP VM ware workstation is running without any errors in network. Only game wich has close to the same error is C&C Generals Hours Zero if AIs are added to the Game, no matter who is hosting. I mean its REALLY EXACTLY THE SAME ERROR xD
Adding AIs makes the game go async.

- Do you use wireless connection or wired? How are the computers connected (are they on the same LAN)?
Computers are connected (by cable) over a D-LINK 10/100 Fast Ethernet Switch, and that Switch has a cable connection to the Router.

- Exactly which ports do you have open and for which computer? Check them again, if the addresses haven't changed.
Ports for AoE RoR are:
Triggering : 47624 TCP and 2300-2400 UDP/TCP
Ports for Gameranger are:
Triggering : 16000 UDP and 16000-16000 UDP/TCP
EDIT: accessable for all PCs.

- Does the problem only occurs when you are the host or if you join any game? Computer players are handled by the host.
Happens in all cases with AI. No matter who and how game was started/created.

- Try a Multiplayer game with only you and computer players (no other humans).
DONE, no problems. Connection was TCP/IP.

- What is your full configuration - network adapter, type of connection to the internet, router (+ settings), antivirus program, firewall, etc.
Standart LAN Realtek thingy ^^ (Onboard Network Card)
Activated are:
Client for Microsoft Networking
VM-Ware Bridge Protocol
Virtual PC Networkfilter Driver
QoS Paketplanner
Data and Printer accessprotocol (we use one Printer for all 3 PCs)
Reliable Multicast Protocol
TCP/IP v4 AND v6
E/A Driverprotocol for ..... (Didnt find the english Name for that)
AND the Answerprotocol for that E/A Thingy ^^

WINDOWS FIREWALL WAS OFF IN ALL TESTRUNS, didnt work so far :/
Antivirus is Avast. Set to Gamingmode (so Network and Internet is not influenced by it) i asked the avast support, answer was: if you switch to gaming mode there should be no known errors so far.
EDIT: Also tried it after exiting Avast.

- Install UPatch 1.1 Beta2 in English (it doesn't matter if your original game is not English), so you can tell me the exact error message you get.
It displays 2 messages, but they dissapear very fast, i tried to read them ^^
First: something looking like the loadscreen of the multiplayer, when you start a game, saying something like: closing multiplayer game (german: verbindung zum multiplayer spiel wird getrennt -> maybe you have a good translator ^^)
Second: The connection to the multiplayer game has been terminated because one or more players went asynchronous
(german: Die verbindung zum multiplayerspiel wurde getrennt da es nicht mehr synchron oder fehlerhaft war)

- Run the game as Administrator. After the sync error occurs, close the game and get the file C:\aoesync.txt. Hopefully it will contain some information I (or someone else here) can understand.
I allways run the game and gameranger as administrator, but i cant find that txt. where is it located :O
systemsearch could also not find a data with that name.

Greetings GeX and thx for the help so far
EDIT 1: added some edits

[This message has been edited by GeXile (edited 02-19-2015 @ 06:22 PM).]

Well, if you get the same error in another game (one that's newer - 2003), then you may have some connectivity problem, not caused by the game/other software. The error you get should be this one: "You were dropped from the game because of a sync error. Your network connection may have been lost." This also confirms that possibility, may be some games can compensate for this problem, but not AOE.

I strongly suggest you to first try to connect directly to the internet - without the switch and without the router. Something may be messed up between these 2 devices, especially with the additional addresses and open ports. This way you would know where the problem comes from and if it's from these devices you can try to to change their configuration to solve it (also check the cables).

In your experiments do you always test with both your computers? Try with only one and let someone else host. Also close the open ports before that (GameRanger should be able to connect without them, at least when you are not hosting), they could cause problems (especially when open to 2 computers at the same time). In router settings make sure UPnP is on, you can also try to turn off the router's Firewall.

aoesync.txt should be located directly in C:\ (by default) or in another drive root folder. Search for it, it should be there if you ran the game as admin.

[This message has been edited by aoe_scout (edited 02-20-2015 @ 05:57 PM).]

The funny thing is it worked a while ago without problems on the vm ware win xp. but iam literally not able to find out what i changed. And that was WITH the router + switch.
You were dropped from the game because of a sync error. Your network connection may have been lost ..... yepp thats it i guess, but having no other problems, atm iam thinking i may disable everything on the network adapt. i will only leave ip v4 and microsoft network support ON and see what happens ^^. i think everything else is not *really needed*.
Can YOU maybe tell me wich protocols and clients HAVE TO ACTIVATED to keep the network save and functional.
i guess iam not really in the need of *reliable multicast protocol* for example ?

the ports were allready open when it *stopped* working. it was like: hey i work for a week and then, baaam.... silence.
so i guess the ports are not guilty ^^.

connection without the switch didnt work. still same error if i plug all comps into the router..... wasted 20€ for longer network-cables xD

i allways test changes with changing the host once.

HERE IS THE FILE YOU WANTED:

Adding: P#1 WTime=496510 Turn=930 Cs1=0 Cs2=-1011644510 Cs3=370863 Cs4=0 Cs5=-2147287035 Rand=9692
Plr: Wrldtime CommTurn Random WChecksum CksumNew Position Actions Unif. Visible
01: 00002970 00000010 021245 00000000 819645598 00334404 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00002970 00000010 021245 00000000 819645598 00334404 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00023470 00000050 009126 00000000 737882329 00331685 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00023470 00000050 009126 00000000 737882329 00331685 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00042910 00000090 016793 00000000 638478515 00332795 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00042910 00000090 016793 00000000 638478515 00332795 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00064510 00000130 031247 00000000 555765874 00335932 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00064510 00000130 031247 00000000 555765874 00335932 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00086110 00000170 016303 00000000 457837396 00337951 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00086110 00000170 016303 00000000 457837396 00337951 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00107710 00000210 012671 00000000 426566152 00339266 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00107710 00000210 012671 00000000 426566152 00339266 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00129310 00000250 006631 00000000 379232970 00340846 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00129310 00000250 006631 00000000 379232970 00340846 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00150910 00000290 010660 00000000 332815599 00343512 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00150910 00000290 010660 00000000 332815599 00343512 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00172510 00000330 018152 00000000 250015074 00345605 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00172510 00000330 018152 00000000 250015074 00345605 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00194110 00000370 012069 00000000 185333666 00347352 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00194110 00000370 012069 00000000 185333666 00347352 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00215710 00000410 025644 00000000 120466359 00348147 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00215710 00000410 025644 00000000 120466359 00348147 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00237310 00000450 000463 00000000 71835209 00349574 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00237310 00000450 000463 00000000 71835209 00349574 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00258910 00000490 013807 00000000 -27443425 00351249 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00258910 00000490 013807 00000000 -27443425 00351249 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00280510 00000530 017271 00000000 -93242206 00352561 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00280510 00000530 017271 00000000 -93242206 00352561 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00302110 00000570 025213 00000000 -191204625 00354634 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00302110 00000570 025213 00000000 -191204625 00354634 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00323710 00000610 017200 00000000 -307947327 00356383 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00323710 00000610 017200 00000000 -307947327 00356383 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00345310 00000650 016416 00000000 -406526280 00358125 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00345310 00000650 016416 00000000 -406526280 00358125 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00366910 00000690 007376 00000000 -471256682 00359672 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00366910 00000690 007376 00000000 -471256682 00359672 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00388510 00000730 019470 00000000 -635953247 00362798 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00388510 00000730 019470 00000000 -635953247 00362798 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00410110 00000770 013103 00000000 -701518955 00364218 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00410110 00000770 013103 00000000 -701518955 00364218 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00431710 00000810 024648 00000000 -766785443 00366108 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00431710 00000810 024648 00000000 -766785443 00366108 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00453310 00000850 025050 00000000 -799628106 00366474 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00453310 00000850 025050 00000000 -799628106 00366474 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00474910 00000890 029414 00000000 -896943178 00368793 00000000 -2147287035
01: 00474910 00000890 029414 00000000 -896943178 00368793 00000000 -2147287035
02: 00496510 00000930 008112 00000000 -1011692382 00370846 00000000 -2147287035
=====> MISMATCHED RANDOM ( 9692 should be 8112)
=====> MISMATCHED CHECKSUM...New
=====> MISMATCHED..Position
01: 00496510 00000930 009692 00000000 -1011644510 00370863 00000000 -2147287035
00: 00000000 00000000 000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
00: 00000000 00000000 000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
00: 00000000 00000000 000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
00: 00000000 00000000 000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
00: 00000000 00000000 000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000
Player Checksum information:


PLAYER: GeXile
P#1 CSum=20763653


PLAYER: Little
P#2 CSum=36698761


PLAYER: Pitkhanas
P#3 CSum=54131216


PLAYER: Hyon
P#4 CSum=73029763


PLAYER: Tudhalyas
P#5 CSum=88348667


PLAYER: Hammurabi
P#6 CSum=104023387


PLAYER: Dido
P#7 CSum=122235737


PLAYER: Gortys
P#8 CSum=138704911

VNVT=0, VNFT=0
...end of log


FROM A GAME OVER GAMERANGER + YOUR PATCH, ME MY WIFE AND SOME AIS.
HOPE IT SHOWS UP SOMETHING :/
greetings gex.

I don't think this has something to do with the Network adapter settings (as you said you tried this in a VM too), better leave them default and try changing the ports (the very least not to be open for both PCs) and other router settings. Also if you can try connecting directly to the internet, without the router, you will know where the problem is. Unfortunately the log above doesn't say anything meaningful to me.

Seems like Bratken found a solution for a similar problem - here, that also helps with sync errors. I hope it works for you too. The router is the most probable cause for such problems.

[This message has been edited by aoe_scout (edited 02-27-2015 @ 07:49 AM).]

>Seems like Bratken found a solution for a similar problem

Well, frankily, i'm still trying to beat it I've made some progress and it was really ok at first time but now game lives on its own again (This is why i'm here. I wanted to make new thread but i'll post my thoughts here).

So, what i've got:
— GameRanger, Voobly won't help. At first they did, but then i started to get "out of sync" error.
— UPnP is 80-90% related to the problem. Game ports don't affect LAN game yet at the same time.
— Game is more stable while Windows 7 is running safe mode.
So maybe GPU/Network adapter driver is involved (and also sound card drivers). I admit such possibility because game is more stable with Win XP running on virtual machine (i use Virtual PC. Couldn't run XP normally on Virtualbox for some reason on my computer. Something with vga drivers). And here's interesting moment. On virtual XP game often freezes like OPs instead of crashing when it comes to "out of sync" error. Different virtual machines can emulate different network adapters, so i think we should sort this thing out.
— Using Wi-Fi or cable makes no difference. Game will give error anyway, if it will.
Just tried to play with my wife. My PC, her laptop, D-link Dir-825 d1a router. Got "out of sync" error in both cases: with cable and with wi-fi. Every time in stats screen our game time differed by 1 second. Maybe this is significant?
— Somehow game distribution really affects the game process. Tried 4 different images (i live in another town and i don't have my disks with me). And 4 times game behaved different. Even font in the game menu with UPatch could be displayed wrong or, for example, i couldn't install beta2 patch properly and game worked only in windowed mode.
— Seems like game just lives by its own
When i solved my LAN visibility problem we could easily play on gigantic map with 5 AIs (4 enemies and 1 ally) and have no lags. Now we pray to not to get a sync error while playing on huge map with 4 enemy AIs. At first i played on virtual XP (wife's laptop has windows 7 home). Everything was alright. After week or two game started to freeze when it supposed to crash with "out of sync" error (4-5 mins of in-game time or ~3 mins of real-time. Sometimes after 12-15 minutes of in-game time). So i switched to Safe mode in Win 7 again. And again we could easily play on huge map (because gigantic is too big for us and without saving option we can't play for 3-5 hours in a row. At least pause option works) with 5 AIs but it worked only for a week or so. And now game crashes in every OS, in every mode within 5-15 minutes of in-game time or 3-5 minutes of real-time. I don't know what to do. I tried many different game distributions and found the most stable and proper (gold edition) but i still get this error. Sometimes game lets you play normally but then it can give sync error by five days in a row flipping you a finger, lol. It makes me so mad literally because i can't figure out what's going on. Same conditions but different results. And why ~3 minutes? Rare cases when game crashed after 10 minutes or even 40.
I'll keep you in touch guys if i find something. I really want to play RoR and only RoR. I can't play Age of Mythology, Rise of Nations, Empire Earth and AoE II. Sorry for bad english.

[This message has been edited by Bratken (edited 03-20-2015 @ 02:26 PM).]

I really don't know what causes this. You got too mixed results to make any conclusions. GPU or sound drivers have nothing to do with this. Windows version also doesn't seem to be the problem, more likely to be related to network devices or network configuration or connection problems. The more important experiments would be with router configuration (Firewall, UPnP, with/without open ports) or even better - a direct cable connection between the 2 PCs (no routers, switches, etc). As I said before, me and many other people never had this strange problem.

Editions (distributions) of the game (Gold, Collector's, separate) don't matter at all. Versions (ROR 1.0/1.0a) are the ones that matter. The Collector's Edition comes with ROR version 1.0a by default, but that's again a difference by version (the removed CD protection in CE is 2 bytes which can't affect anything else). The rest are 100% the same and UPatch is also the same when installed on each version.

About the font problem - this has nothing to do with UPatch. The game requires few popular fonts, which many systems have, but if you don't have them they will be installed during game setup. And when fonts are installed, you usually need to restart your PC for Windows to load them, otherwise the game can't display them.

Maybe there're too many things to synchronize when you use use higher resolutions? Game often crashes when someone changes age. I usually use 1600x900 or 1920x1080. Wife plays with 1366x768, but used 1280x720 before and game was more stable. Today when game crashed 4 times in a row every 4-10 mins i switched to windowed mode on beta2 (just to preserve scaling) with default 1024x768 resolution. But i tested it in safe mode yet. And guess what? We finally played the game 3 vs 4 on huge map.
This is the only explanation i can give now, that game's network engine was optimized for default resolution modes and i was lucky to be able to play 3 vs 4 on gigantic. I don't know. Gonna test it on virtual XP and normal mode on Win 7. Hope i'm right because i have no ideas otherwise. Or i'll try IPX wrapper if game supports IPX connection.
P.S: Turned UPnP on and couldn't see LAN games in AoE. Whatever

[This message has been edited by Bratken (edited 03-21-2015 @ 11:57 AM).]

I don't see how resolution could make any difference, the whole map has to be synchronized anyway. Not to mention I've tested different resolutions in Multiplayer as well, including 1920x1200 and never had such problems (neither did many other people). This problem appears too randomly, so you can easily mistaken something else for the cause. I think that even if some external factors could affect it (which is not proven), they are not the reason for the problem but side effects. This must be a network problem, possibly caused by (incompatibility with) the router and its configuration.

[This message has been edited by aoe_scout (edited 03-21-2015 @ 06:07 PM).]

Still nothing. Last week i set up 40 mhz bandwidth instead of 20/40. Surprisingly it did something because we could play on max resolution without safe mode 3vs4. We played two times without a single lag but today the game was at it again. 6 times in a row: three times at 05:20-05:22, one at 05:40 and last two error at 08:20. I just don't understand. I've seen problem solving on microsoft site. But i didn't get any new information FROM HERE
Maybe network adapter really has something to do with that problem. I'll try to figure it out.

Heyyyyyyy... Funny thing. I knew something was going on. Check this out. I installed discrete GPU (AMD HD5850) and 5 times in a row we could play 2 vs. 3. How about that? It's like one guy who put another sound card to his PC and game worked fine then.
OP, are you here? What're your PCs configs?

Hey Bratken,
what do you mean with 'installing GPU discretely', simply updating it via device manager or even 'more manually' ?

I keep getting the well-known freeze as well when playing online with a friend (via tunngle; win7/win8.1) and getting mad therefore x(

He means installing an external (separate) video card. As you probably know, some laptops and desktop computers use internal video adapter integrated into the motherboard or CPU. These internal adapters are not always very compatible with old games and sometimes cause problems even with new games.

Hi. It's me again.
My HDD died in august and been replaced only by the end of december.
Fresh Win7, fresh everything. Found strange thing. At first i installed OS and drivers and other software. Then the game with latest uHD Patch. Played with my wife couple of matches 2 vs 3 on huge maps. Everything was ok, no sync errors. Some days after i had to install VirtualBox which installed it's own virtual network adapter. After that we started to get random sync errors almost on every map like after 5-15 in-game minutes. Even with gameranger. I don't know maybe game detects network adapters somehow because yesterday we reintalled the game (both aoe1 and rise of rome) and everything works fine yet. I'll be watching but i'm confused how the game reacts on such things like hardware replacement, software installation and so on.

And again hello. Finally found the problem. It's my freaking network adapter which is Realtek 8111E. 3 vs 4 on huge map will always crash specially when i'm host. So i decided to try it on Win XP SP3 with VirtualBox. As virtual machine adapter i set PCnet-FAST III. Connection type: Bridge. All went smooth without any lags. Thats it. Wife's adapter is atheros wi-fi card.