auto connect issue

[manny zagri]

Hi all

I have bought L4D and L4D2 bundle from steam, installed and everything goes well.
One significant problem – in both games, I do not have control over the main menu.
The game just automatically tries to initiate an online game, regardless of steam sync / online
And makes if very difficult for me to configure controls etc…
I have contacted steam support, but with no reply yet.

Do you happen to know about this issue?
Any ideas that might help? This happens in both games….

Thanks!
Manny

[Stuffinator]

Wait, so you start L4D or L4D2 from the library of your steam client and it automatically tries to connect to a server?

Are you sure you didn't just click on some invitations from friends?

[BlackCat]

A new computer would solve this problem for you.

You're welcome.

[manny zagri]

100% positive i didn't do anything other than installing from steam, and that's about it.
from first start till this very moment, the game insists
on automatically loging in to an online game.
even when steam is offline, the game shoots directly
to that part in the menu.
seems it refreshes in 1 second cycles between attempts.
Installed L4D2 from steam, same behaviour.
the games are running perfectly fine, but im unable to do anything else other than starting a new online game...

Running WIN7 on Intel Core i7 920.

Any ideas?

[one of them]

Well I have absolutely no idea what could be causing that unless it's some sort of autoexec command or something. I'm sure Steam Support will answer your ticket in time. It's an unusual problem so it might take them a bit longer.

[manny zagri]

thanks man!

i have done some reading and i suspect it might be:
- addon (though i haven't installed any)
- steam offline patch (which i will try install later)

thanks for the tip regarding the autoexec command,
any idea where i can find the responsible files?

[one of them]

Go to
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\Common\Left 4 Dead\Left4Dead\cfg
Look for a file called AutoExec.cfg (which may or may not be there).
If you find it, open it with Notepad and take a look. See if there are any suspicious command lines that saying something like "connect xx.xx.xx" or something along those lines. If there is, you can either remove the lines or just delete autoexec.cfg. It's not a necessary file to run L4D.

To look in the L4D2 folder it would be:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\Common\Left 4 Dead 2\Left4Dead2\cfg
Same thing, look for autoexec.cfg and delete it or remove the code from within it.

This is all assuming that your system is 64-bit.

[manny zagri]

thanks for the tip,
ill try in 30 minutes and report back...

also its 32bit sorry for not specifying.

[one of them]

No worries. In that case just change the \Program Files (x86)\ to \Program Files\ and you're good to go.

[manny zagri]

ok
no autoexec files found on any of the games.
attempting to validate game integrity.
so far L4D 1 file found and correcting, now checking L4D2

[Godshelp]

Disconnect from internet, let it try and connect. Let it time out, click Okay.

Re-connect to internet. You'll be at the menu, never heard of your problem before...

EDIT: 1337th post.

EDIT 2: After googling, no one has ever had this problem. Are you sure the launch options aren't set weird or you're not clicking something else?

[manny zagri]

Tried disconnecting, time out, ok, no change.
Steam repaired L4D and no change.
Steam did not find any problems with L4D2, yet same behaviour.
I have replaced my keyboard on the grounds that it might be faulty, no change.
from looking at the screen the menu keeps jumping into, it says:
looking for online games.
another thing:
when i try move the mouse on different menu items, it automatically select them
and whatever option that is highlighted at the moment.
needless to say it caused some wierd configurations but nothing i could not revert.

I was googling on it the entire day, it appears no one has ever encounter anything like it before.

i am now disabling the following backround softwares:
-UPS monitor
- RME Fireface Mixer
- Daemon tools

nothing but NOD32 and Steam. give it another try

thanks for trying to help! it is much appreceated!

[manny zagri]

IT WORKED!!! my god it worked!!!
ok, so the following are the cause for this erratic behaviour:
- RME Fireface Interface
- RME Mixer
- Daemon Tools
- Gamatronic UPS monitor

ill try to isolate and report back later, but it is now ok on both games!!!
:)
thank you all for helping me!

[one of them]

Gamatronic UPS Monitor sounds like something that would mess with games.
$10 says it's that.
Any takers?

[manny zagri]

we got a winner! indeed you are correct sir.
it wasn't even the Flux software
(free screen light dynamic adapter - recommended!!)
the Gamatronic UPS Monitor did it.
I have updated Steam support ticket,
so this is one for the books i guess...

bout those 10 bucks, gimme ur paypal address :)