Games for Windows LIVE: Your connection drops after you sign in to LIVE

When you try to connect to Games for Windows – LIVE, the connection fails or the connection is dropped after you log on to Games for Windows – LIVE.

This issue typically occurs for one or more of the following reasons:

• The network adapter is using an older device driver. This prevents the adapter from connecting to Xbox LIVE.
• The network router is reset when you try to connect to Xbox LIVE.
• A Games for Windows – LIVE update is preventing the game from working or connecting to Xbox LIVE.
• Antivirus or spyware software is blocking a connection to Games for Windows – LIVE.

To resolve this issue, use one or more of the following methods.

Method 1: Update the network adapter driver by using the latest drivers

If you have an OEM system, we recommend that you contact the manufacturer of the computer to obtain the latest drivers. For "Killer NIC" adapters, we recommend that you install the latest drivers that are available from the manufacturer's Web site.

Method 2: Update the network router firmware to the latest version

We recommended that you contact the manufacturer of the router or the gateway to find out how to update the network hardware.

Method 3: Reinstall the latest LIVE update

After you install the latest Games for Windows – LIVE update in the game, the update may not install or may stop responding during the update process. To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Exit the game.
2. Open a Web browser, and then download the latest Games for Windows – LIVE update. To do this, visit the following Microsoft Web site:
   http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98609 (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98609)
3. Save the update file to the desktop.
4. Restart the computer so that all the processes are closed.
   
   Note Open or running processes may prevent a successful update of the Games for Windows – LIVE components.
5. Open Windows, and then double-click the Games for Windows – LIVE update that you downloaded.
6. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to complete the installation.
7. Restart the computer if you are prompted.
8. Start the Games for Windows – LIVE game, and then connect to the LIVE service.

Method 4: Check third-party programs

Some antivirus and spyware programs have been known to block or limit the network when you connect to the LIVE service. We recommended that you contact the vendor of your security software to obtain support for connecting to the LIVE service.

For more information about the ports that you must open in Microsoft Windows Firewall to play a Games for Windows – LIVE game, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.