Empire Steam FAQ

[Aradan]

The following posts were originally made by bigfootedfred here, here and here.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...5483-YUFN-0521




Steam Servers Are Currently Unavailable or Too Busy

Question

I receive the message "The Steam Servers are currently unavailable. Please try again later." or "The Steam Servers are too busy" while using Steam - what should I do?

Answer

Connection Issues

The most common cause for this error is a communication issue with your network and Steam. This can be caused by a firewall, anti-virus or internet security software, a router or a general poor connection such as dial-up.
Please make sure that your network is configured correctly for Steam. The guide below will be useful for making sure that your computer and Steam can communicate properly:
Troubleshooting Network Connectivity
If you suspect that a piece of software running on your machine may be the culprit, then please follow these guides:
Programs Which Interfere with Steam
Disabling Background Applications
Note:

Steam does not support running through a network DMZ (de-militarized zone), so your router must be reconfigured if you are running in that mode. For more information, please follow our guide to Using a Router with Steam.


Network Down-Time

If there is extremely high traffic on the Steam Network or if the network is temporarily off-line, you may not be able to use Steam immediately. Please follow the link below to check the Steam Network Status page:
Steam Network Status

http://www.steampowered.com/status/status.html

Game subscriptions may not be recognized yet

If you experience this error while trying to install or register a game, log out of Steam and log back in to determine whether or not your purchase was successfully processed:

1. Right click the Steam icon
2. Select the "Settings" option, then "Log in as a different user..."

After Steam restarts you will be prompted for your username and password. After logging in you should be able to download and/or install the games.

Download Stalls At a Certain Percentage

Question

My download stalls at a certain percentage or stays at Download Starting/Stopping

Answer

Router Issues

The issue is usually from a router interfering with the download process. Please unplug your router and connect your computer directly to your internet connection to test the issue. If this corrects the issue, please resolve the router issue using this guide: Troubleshooting Network Connectivity

General Troubleshooting

Try launching the stalled game by double clicking it. This may allow the download to finish.
If unsuccessful, right-click on the stalled game and select "Properties". Click the Updates tab and change the automatic update to "do not automatically update this game", close the Properties menu, and try to launch the game. Repeat this process to switch back to "Always keep this game up to date".
If you continue to see this issue, please exit from Steam and rename the ClientRegistry.blob.
Restart Steam to replace the file and then finish the game update.

Connection Speed

Make sure your Internet Connection setting is correct for your current connection:
In the Steam application, Click Settings > Downloads tab and make sure the speed is correct.
Incorrect settings may affect your Steam downloads.

The issue may also be due to other programs interfering with Steam. Please complete these guides to further test the issue:
Programs Which May Interfere with Steam
Disabling Background Applications

Dialup Users

Please make sure to specify a 56k connection in the Steam settings menu . You may also manually make that setting in your registry:

• Go to Start > Run in Windows
• Type regedit.
• Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Steam .
• Right click on "Rate", select Modify and set the value to 3500.

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...6966-IADH-1503

low Downloads and Connection to Content Servers

Question

I heard Steam was fast, but whenever I try to download content my speeds seem very slow for my connection. On other sites I get the rate that I expect from my connection's capabilities. What's wrong?

Answer

Content Servers

Steam uses content servers that are located all over the world to provide better service. Steam automatically selects the best content server based on your location. If you feel that your downloads are going slower than expected, you can double check your download region:

1. Start Steam
2. Go to File > Settings > Downloads tab
3. Under Download region, select the region that you are in or that is closest to you

Third Party Applications

Some third-party applications such as ESET NOD32 Anti-Virus can cause Steam to use incorrect content servers. Any sort of Internet security and/or packet filtering software may have a similar affect. This can also lead to connection issues.
If you are not using NOD32 but you suspect a different program might be related, you can follow the Programs Which Interfere with Steam guide to determine if that is the cause of the issue.
For NOD32, there is a work-around that may help:

1. Go to NOD32's settings
2. Under Antivirus and antispyware, locate Web access protection
3. Find Web browsers and locate Steam.exe
4. Click the box until a red X is displayed
5. Click Ok and close the settings

For example:



Rename the Blob

Your ClientRegistry.blob file, located in the Steam directory (C:\Program Files\Steam\ by default), stores the location information for Steam to use in order to select the best content server. After disabling your background applications, please see this guide: ClientRegistry.blob

Connection Rate

Ensure that your Steam connection rate is set appropriately. For more information, please see Setting Client Rates.

Network Connectivity

If your rate is set correctly and you are still having trouble, then it may also be due to a network connectivity issue. Please follow these directions to make sure the correct ports are open and double check the list of ISP's that are known to have issues with Steam: Troubleshooting Network Connectivity.

[Abel12512]

Nice, Q & A about Steam. Explains much

[The Sundance Kid]

Incredibly useful resource, thanks, Aradan. Hopefully this will solidify the fact that Steam is not a malicious piece of Third Party software... I never knew so much witch-hunt-esque paranoia could be generated by a thing like this.

Again, good stuff, cheers.

[Frost, colonel]

This last bit "Once the system Steam, being the only system, and the game be installed, then lobbest thou thy CD or DVD of Empire:Total War towards thy bin, if thou wishest it, being not needed in your drive, and thou shalt play it"

So if I do keep the disk in the drive will it run quicker? ie, doesn't a disk in a decent drive get read quicker than a hard drive do the all the work?

[Redcoat69]

good Q&A, should take alote of doubts off the forum

[Aradan]

So if I do keep the disk in the drive will it run quicker? ie, doesn't a disk in a decent drive get read quicker than a hard drive do the all the work?

It means that the disc is not necessary, as in "it is not being read by the system". I believe you will see no difference whether the DVD is in the drive or not, the game will simply ignore it.

[Frost, colonel]

It means that the disc is not necessary, as in "it is not being read by the system". I believe you will see no difference whether the DVD is in the drive or not, the game will simply ignore it.

Well if the game is going to run slower because it's only reading from the Hdrive, then at least mines a 10,000rpm Raptor and I will make sure I uninstall all the old games I don't play, so I install ETW on the outside edge of the platters, as Tesco's say, "every little helps"

[Toshiba]

I now declare steam worthy of running Empire Total War. If you know you will not have Internet, simply switch to Offline mode before you lose your Internet!

[eddy_purpus]

I now declare steam worthy of running Empire Total War. If you know you will not have Internet, simply switch to Offline mode before you lose your Internet!

But !
what if i dont have internet ?
Will ETW DVD bought in any store , have steam software in it ?
or do i have to download it from the internet ( STEAM software)?
im asking this because , there are lots of people who play the game without internet

[cassog]

I now declare steam worthy of running Empire Total War. If you know you will not have Internet, simply switch to Offline mode before you lose your Internet!

Unfortunately, this does not seem to be totally correct. I have tried to play the game offline a number of times now, and in every instance it crashes within minutes. On the other hand, when playing with an internet connection, it has not crashed at all. Can this be merely coincidence?
Steam may well be the greatest thing since sliced bread for PC gamers (though I personally doubt it), but the one simple fact that most of you are missing, is that more and more we are being practically forced to play online, and that our personal choices are being seriously eroded. I personally do not want to play my games online, however, the current trend is making it very, very difficult (if not impossible) to play without an internet connection. The question begs to be asked - why? Who benefits, and how? If playing via Steam is totally free, then why does it matter if I am online or not?

Thanks for listening.

[HordeOfDoom]

I didn't understand any of the jibber-jabber until the holy grail summary. I now comprehend completely, and shall return with a shrubbery as symbol of my thanks.

[Stavroforos]

I now greatly anticipate the lobbing of my holy DVD of Antioch into my disk.

[Actus Reus]

Soo, is it impossible to install & play single player without the PC your are installing it to being connected to the internet?

I have a system connected to the internet that certainly will not be able to handle this game, but have another that will without internet connection..

[GroupofSpearmen]

Soo, is it impossible to install & play single player without the PC your are installing it to being connected to the internet?

I have a system connected to the internet that certainly will not be able to handle this game, but have another that will without internet connection..

You only need to activate the game once on Steam to play Singleplayer, you can start Steam in offline mode after activating it.

[Actus Reus]

You only need to activate the game once on Steam to play Singleplayer, you can start Steam in offline mode after activating it.

Yeah, I understand that but in order to activate it I presume I will have to install it on a computer with access to the internet....

I can not play it on my computer with access to the internet..

And I dont think transfering the activated game to my other computer is an option..

Do you think there will be a non-online activation key, where the installer will ask you to enter a key, then giving you another key to enter on the website, to receive your final activation code to be used on the off-line machine where the game is installed..?

Like Mount & Blade for anyone who has played that..?

[Agisilaos]

that was extremely useful aradan. thanks!

[Xen]

Lol, i'm posting in this thread from steams in game web browser playing cs source.

Steam is awesome, don't deny it.

[Sun Devil]

When you purchase something from steam, is there tax?

[Jango]

About time a Steam thread was sticked, so many people don't seem to realize what Steam actually does.

[Robo1992]

[fieldset]


Q: What is the extent of online activations? Once forever on one machine, or every single time every time on one machine?

A: Empire gets tied to your Steam account. No limits beyond that so you can uninstall and reinstall it as many times as you on as many PCs as you want.

So what I only have to activate it once and then I dont have to have an internet connection??