Crash during "retrieving server info" step in loading

[Dr.Satan]

Ok I personally know that this is NOT a FF only problem, b/c it happens to me on TF2 as well, but I was hoping maybe someone around here could give me some suggestions. Again NOT a FF only problem just looking for help from anyone at this point.

Anyway here is my issue:

Weather I start it up in -window mode or not, whenever i attempt to load FF (or TF2) I can get to the start up menu and can edit my keys or mouse sensitivity or X-hairs or whatever. I can pull up the server list everything seems to be working fine at this point, however if I attempt to connect to a server, the game freezes at the retrieving server information loading stage and i have to manually (thru task manager) end the task.

I have tried a ton of crap but i'll try to be brief:

I have the most updated Directx
I have tried running it in -window (in the launch settings)
I have updated my gfx card to the most recent update.
I have uninstalled and re installed all FF files at least 20 times
I have removed the .exe from my firewall and reloaded it and tired again.
I have completely turned off my firewall.
I have scowered the Steam support forums as well as extensive searches on google for anything i could try that I might have missed

All of the above and combinations of each have yielded nothing! This is really upsetting as i have yet to be able to actually even SEE a map on FF or play the game in any way. If anyone has any suggestions how I might fix this I would really appreciate it.

~sry in advance for wasting any dev's time with an issue that is not FF only, but like i sd i can't think of anything else to try and i really want to play this game!!

Bump. I got this problem too.

[Dr.Satan]

Ok I think I figured out the problem check it out:

http://www.fortress-forever.com/foru...ad.php?t=11735