==================================
Servers Unavailable and/or Error 41
==================================
Symptoms
On trying to launch the game you get a 'Servers are Unavailable' error message or and Error 41 while games are playing.

Solutions
This seems to be a problem with the Steam client and the data downloaded to it. There are a number of documents on the general Steam support regarding this, but below are a couple of things that people have found have worked for them.

Method 1.
Follow this guide on the Steam website as allot of people have had success with the changing the region setting: https://support.steampow...om/kb_...5483-YUFN-0521

Method 2.
1. Close Steam.
2. Navigate to the Sniper Elite V2 folder, typically this is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\sniper elite v2\ and delete the 'steam_api.dll' file.
3. Go into the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\sniper elite v2\bin\ folder and delete the SniperEliveV2.exe file.
4. Verify the game cache files following this guide: https://support.steampow...om/kb_...2037-QEUH-3335

Method 3.
Note: This procedure should leave all your games alone so you won't have to re-download them, but it will require you to re-enter your username and password and re-authorise your PC with Steam Guard (if you use it). Please make sure you have all the account information you need to do this before starting.

The procedure can be found on the Steam Support forums here, but I've pasted it below for convenience
https://support.steampow...m/kb_...3134-TIAL-4638.

1. Completely exit Steam by clicking 'Exit' from the 'Steam' menu on the main screen (N.B. Just closing the Steam window by clicking the 'X' button won't be enough).
2. In Windows explorer, navigate to your main Steam install folder- by default this will be 'c:\Program Files(x86)\Steam' or 'C:\Program Files\Steam\'.
3. Delete everything in this folder, the 'steamapps' folder and the file called 'Steam.exe (if .exe is not visible, look for the black and white Steam icon).
4. Restart your computer.
5. Launch Steam.exe from your Steam installation folder.
6. Once Steam has finished updating itself and you're logged in again, restart Sniper Elite V2 and see if you still have the problem.

======================================

If none of these have worked for you, or you are seeing something else entirely, please email us at:

sev2_support@rebellion.co.uk

Please include the following:
1. Your dxdiag.txt attached to the email.
2. When the problem occurs.
3. Any error messages or what you saw/heard when the problem occurred.
4. What methods from the FAQ you have tried.
5. Your Steam ID. This allows us to grab any crash dump files associated with your problems directly from Steam.

Thank you for your patience and help in resolving these issues.

==================================
Servers Unavailable and/or Error 41
==================================
Symptoms
On trying to launch the game you get a 'Servers are Unavailable' error message or and Error 41 while games are playing.

Solutions
This seems to be a problem with the Steam client and the data downloaded to it. There are a number of documents on the general Steam support regarding this, but below are a couple of things that people have found have worked for them.

Method 1.
Follow this guide on the Steam website as allot of people have had success with the changing the region setting: https://support.steampow...om/kb_...5483-YUFN-0521

Method 2.
1. Close Steam.
2. Navigate to the Sniper Elite V2 folder, typically this is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\sniper elite v2\ and delete the 'steam_api.dll' file.
3. Go into the C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\sniper elite v2\bin\ folder and delete the SniperEliveV2.exe file.
4. Verify the game cache files following this guide: https://support.steampow...om/kb_...2037-QEUH-3335

Method 3.
Note: This procedure should leave all your games alone so you won't have to re-download them, but it will require you to re-enter your username and password and re-authorise your PC with Steam Guard (if you use it). Please make sure you have all the account information you need to do this before starting.

The procedure can be found on the Steam Support forums here, but I've pasted it below for convenience
https://support.steampow...m/kb_...3134-TIAL-4638.

1. Completely exit Steam by clicking 'Exit' from the 'Steam' menu on the main screen (N.B. Just closing the Steam window by clicking the 'X' button won't be enough).
2. In Windows explorer, navigate to your main Steam install folder- by default this will be 'c:\Program Files(x86)\Steam' or 'C:\Program Files\Steam\'.
3. Delete everything in this folder, the 'steamapps' folder and the file called 'Steam.exe (if .exe is not visible, look for the black and white Steam icon).
4. Restart your computer.
5. Launch Steam.exe from your Steam installation folder.
6. Once Steam has finished updating itself and you're logged in again, restart Sniper Elite V2 and see if you still have the problem.

======================================

If none of these have worked for you, or you are seeing something else entirely, please email us at:

sev2_support@rebellion.co.uk

Please include the following:
1. Your dxdiag.txt attached to the email.
2. When the problem occurs.
3. Any error messages or what you saw/heard when the problem occurred.
4. What methods from the FAQ you have tried.
5. Your Steam ID. This allows us to grab any crash dump files associated with your problems directly from Steam.

Thank you for your patience and help in resolving these issues.

=================================
Played once, put settings to Ultra, now can't start game
=================================
Symptoms
You were able to play the game for a while, but when you set the settings to max/Ultra, your game crashed to a black screen. Now when you try and start the game, you get a black screen.

Solutions
We're working on a better longer term solution to this, but for now you can do the following to delete your settings.ini file. A new one will be created with the default values when you start the game. Un-installing and Re-installing won't delete this file, so please follow the steps below.
1. Go to the start menu.
2. Click on 'Computer' to open a file browser window.
3. Copy and paste the following into the folder location at the top: %LOCALAPPDATA%\SniperV2\
4. There should be a file called Settings.ini in that file location. Delete it.

==================================
Cannot move or only able to use Bino's
==================================
Symptoms
In a single player game, you may appear half stuck in the ground in a 'T' shaped pose. Also seen in some multiplayer coop gaming.

Solutions
This seems to be a corruption of the Steam Cloud Save data. Follow the methods below to and it should resolve the issue.
1. Right-click on 'Sniper Elite V2' in your Steam Library, and click on 'Properties'.
2. Go to the 'Updates' tab, and uncheck 'Enable Steam Cloud synchronisation for Sniper Elite V2'.
3. Open Windows explorer, and browse to your Steam install folder (by default it's 'c:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\' or 'c:\Program Files\Steam\').
4. From here, browse into the 'userdata' folder. In here there will be one or more numbered folders (depending on how many people have Steam accounts on your computer)- if there is just one go into it. If there is more than one you may have to check them all until you find the right numbered folder in the next step.
5. In here will be another set of numbered folders, look for the one called '63380', this contains your local save data for the game. Delete it.
6. Start the game as normal, you should find that everything has reset itself to the defaults.
7. Enter a game, or change an option. This will generate a new set of local save data.
8. Next time you exit the game you can re-enable cloud syncing by reversing step 2, above (and if Steam asks, choose to keep your local version of the save data).

Warning! This may reset your save game.

=================================
Played once, put settings to Ultra, now can't start game
=================================
Symptoms
You were able to play the game for a while, but when you set the settings to max/Ultra, your game crashed to a black screen. Now when you try and start the game, you get a black screen.

Solutions
We're working on a better longer term solution to this, but for now you can do the following to delete your settings.ini file. A new one will be created with the default values when you start the game. Un-installing and Re-installing won't delete this file, so please follow the steps below.
1. Go to the start menu.
2. Click on 'Computer' to open a file browser window.
3. Copy and paste the following into the folder location at the top: %LOCALAPPDATA%\SniperV2\
4. There should be a file called Settings.ini in that file location. Delete it.

==================================
Cannot move or only able to use Bino's
==================================
Symptoms
In a single player game, you may appear half stuck in the ground in a 'T' shaped pose. Also seen in some multiplayer coop gaming.

Solutions
This seems to be a corruption of the Steam Cloud Save data. Follow the methods below to and it should resolve the issue.
1. Right-click on 'Sniper Elite V2' in your Steam Library, and click on 'Properties'.
2. Go to the 'Updates' tab, and uncheck 'Enable Steam Cloud synchronisation for Sniper Elite V2'.
3. Open Windows explorer, and browse to your Steam install folder (by default it's 'c:\Program Files(x86)\Steam\' or 'c:\Program Files\Steam\').
4. From here, browse into the 'userdata' folder. In here there will be one or more numbered folders (depending on how many people have Steam accounts on your computer)- if there is just one go into it. If there is more than one you may have to check them all until you find the right numbered folder in the next step.
5. In here will be another set of numbered folders, look for the one called '63380', this contains your local save data for the game. Delete it.
6. Start the game as normal, you should find that everything has reset itself to the defaults.
7. Enter a game, or change an option. This will generate a new set of local save data.
8. Next time you exit the game you can re-enable cloud syncing by reversing step 2, above (and if Steam asks, choose to keep your local version of the save data).

Warning! This may reset your save game.

===============================
Game crashes on 3rd mission near Office
===============================
Symptoms
When playing the campaign on single player or coop, the game crashes freezes and minimises or crashes in some other way. It always happens at the same place.

Solution
We've identified this issue as occurring with older AMD/ATI graphics cards with the RV6xx chipset which tends to be cards in the Radeon HD 2000, 3000 and some 4000 series cards. You can browse the list of those cards with the chipset here: http://en.wikipedia.org/...ompari...HD_3xxx_Series

We currently have a fix in development that we're hoping to release in the next patch, and we have made AMD aware of the issue with their drivers.

===============================
'Signal Out of Range' - Black screen error
===============================
This is where the refresh rate that the game is trying to run at is too high for your monitor. We believe that the problem still exists for some because of a driver issue which will likely be addressed in future driver updates.

Symptoms
On trying to start the game in full screen mode, the screen goes black and 'usually' displays an error message saying 'Signal Out of Range'. You will still hear the game audio through your speakers or headphones.

Solution
First off confirm that you can run the game in windowed mode. When the screen goes black, hold ALT and press Enter to change the game to Windowed mode. Does it appear? If yes, proceed to the next part.
1. In your Steam library, right-click on 'Sniper Elite V2', and click 'Properties...'
2. On the 'General' tab, click on 'Set Launch Options...'
3. Type "-60Hz" in the box that pops up, click on 'Ok'.
4. Close the 'Sniper Elite V2 - Properties' window.
5. Launch the game from Steam as usual.

================================
'Signal Out of Range' - Above fix doesn't work
================================
Only seen a couple of these so far, and they seem to be on monitors capable of 120hz but only running at a max of 60hz because of the cable being used.

Symptoms
Same as above, but the fix doesn't work. In addition, your monitor is capable of 120hz but will only run at 60hz because of the DVI cable you are using. You must have a 'dual-link' DVI cable to power 120hz on these monitors, otherwise the max they will run at is 60hz.

Solution
The above fix should have worked for this... but we're looking into why it isn't and will look to release another patch shortly. In the meantime you can run the game in Windowed mode as per below or pickup a dual-link DVI cable for your monitor for around £6 (Google it).
1. Right-click on the Sniper Elite V2 entry in Steam, and click on 'Properties'.
2. Click 'Set launch options...'
3. In the pop-up box, type '-subwindow', and hit OK.
4. Launch Sniper Elite V2

===============================
Game crashes on 3rd mission near Office
===============================
Symptoms
When playing the campaign on single player or coop, the game crashes freezes and minimises or crashes in some other way. It always happens at the same place.

Solution
We've identified this issue as occurring with older AMD/ATI graphics cards with the RV6xx chipset which tends to be cards in the Radeon HD 2000, 3000 and some 4000 series cards. You can browse the list of those cards with the chipset here: http://en.wikipedia.org/...ompari...HD_3xxx_Series

We currently have a fix in development that we're hoping to release in the next patch, and we have made AMD aware of the issue with their drivers.

===============================
'Signal Out of Range' - Black screen error
===============================
This is where the refresh rate that the game is trying to run at is too high for your monitor. We believe that the problem still exists for some because of a driver issue which will likely be addressed in future driver updates.

Symptoms
On trying to start the game in full screen mode, the screen goes black and 'usually' displays an error message saying 'Signal Out of Range'. You will still hear the game audio through your speakers or headphones.

Solution
First off confirm that you can run the game in windowed mode. When the screen goes black, hold ALT and press Enter to change the game to Windowed mode. Does it appear? If yes, proceed to the next part.
1. In your Steam library, right-click on 'Sniper Elite V2', and click 'Properties...'
2. On the 'General' tab, click on 'Set Launch Options...'
3. Type "-60Hz" in the box that pops up, click on 'Ok'.
4. Close the 'Sniper Elite V2 - Properties' window.
5. Launch the game from Steam as usual.

================================
'Signal Out of Range' - Above fix doesn't work
================================
Only seen a couple of these so far, and they seem to be on monitors capable of 120hz but only running at a max of 60hz because of the cable being used.

Symptoms
Same as above, but the fix doesn't work. In addition, your monitor is capable of 120hz but will only run at 60hz because of the DVI cable you are using. You must have a 'dual-link' DVI cable to power 120hz on these monitors, otherwise the max they will run at is 60hz.

Solution
The above fix should have worked for this... but we're looking into why it isn't and will look to release another patch shortly. In the meantime you can run the game in Windowed mode as per below or pickup a dual-link DVI cable for your monitor for around £6 (Google it).
1. Right-click on the Sniper Elite V2 entry in Steam, and click on 'Properties'.
2. Click 'Set launch options...'
3. In the pop-up box, type '-subwindow', and hit OK.
4. Launch Sniper Elite V2

============================
Laptop Graphics Cards
============================
Some laptops have a built in Intel graphics card working alongside a more powerful dedicated Nvidia or AMD/ATI graphics card. You can select which one to use depending on how much power you want to use, e.g. If you're just doing spreadsheets you use the lower powered Intel chip.

Symptoms
Poor frame rate or failure to start. You should know from your laptop spec's if you have more than one card.

Solution
The solutions to this problem vary depending on your system and graphics card, but here are the common ways to set your system to force it to use the best graphics chip for the demo.

Method one:
1. Open the control panel for your graphics card (most have an icon in your system tray, or right-click on your desktop and look for a graphics control panel option there).
2. Check under 3D settings, and make sure your best graphics chipset is set as the preferred chipset if there is an option available.

Method two:
1. Exit Steam entirely using the 'Exit' link on the 'Steam' menu (not just the close button in the top-right corner of the Steam window).
2. Right-click on the 'Steam' shortcut you use to launch Steam (on your desktop, taskbar, or start menu, depending on where you have it), and look for an option that says something like 'Run with graphics processor...' and allows you to choose which graphics chipset to use.
3. Choose your best graphics chipset.
4. Launch Steam, then launch the demo as normal.

============================
Laptop Graphics Cards
============================
Some laptops have a built in Intel graphics card working alongside a more powerful dedicated Nvidia or AMD/ATI graphics card. You can select which one to use depending on how much power you want to use, e.g. If you're just doing spreadsheets you use the lower powered Intel chip.

Symptoms
Poor frame rate or failure to start. You should know from your laptop spec's if you have more than one card.

Solution
The solutions to this problem vary depending on your system and graphics card, but here are the common ways to set your system to force it to use the best graphics chip for the demo.

Method one:
1. Open the control panel for your graphics card (most have an icon in your system tray, or right-click on your desktop and look for a graphics control panel option there).
2. Check under 3D settings, and make sure your best graphics chipset is set as the preferred chipset if there is an option available.

Method two:
1. Exit Steam entirely using the 'Exit' link on the 'Steam' menu (not just the close button in the top-right corner of the Steam window).
2. Right-click on the 'Steam' shortcut you use to launch Steam (on your desktop, taskbar, or start menu, depending on where you have it), and look for an option that says something like 'Run with graphics processor...' and allows you to choose which graphics chipset to use.
3. Choose your best graphics chipset.
4. Launch Steam, then launch the demo as normal.

Now onto your sound card, scroll down the dxdiag.txt file until you get to:

Sound Devices
Description: Speakers (Creative SB X-Fi)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_60021102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1374 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/3/2009 22:28:56, 685592 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

Description: SPDIF Out (Creative SB X-Fi)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_60021102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1374 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/3/2009 22:28:56, 685592 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

There may well be more than one device listed, but you are looking for the one which lists Default Sound Device and Default Voice Playback as these will be providing your audio for the game.
Check the Date and Size line and if its older than 2012 you should go look for updated ones from your sound card manufacturer's website, this should be whoever is listed Driver Provider e.g. In the above example I would go to http://uk.creative.com/ .
If you have a built in soundcard on your motherboard or laptop, all you may see in the Description section is 'High Definition Audio Device'. If you do, its likely that the Driver Provider will be listed as Microsoft. These are the standard drivers which probably date back to 2009/2010 or whenever Microsoft were last given a copy of the device drivers for your soundcard. What you should do here is check on your PC/Laptop/Motherboard manufacturers website for updated Sound Drivers for your particular system.

BTW, the latest updated X-FI Soundblaster drivers for Windows 7 are here, and not always easy to find:
http://support.creative....oducts...hampion+Series

Updated Realtek Audio Drivers are here:
http://www.realtek.com/d...ow...&GetDown=false

As I said this has fixed around 80% of the problems we've seen with 'black screen' failure to launch and crash errors. If this hasn't helped you read on and I'll talk about specific fixes including some known issues we have and are working on.

Now onto your sound card, scroll down the dxdiag.txt file until you get to:

Sound Devices
Description: Speakers (Creative SB X-Fi)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_60021102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1374 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/3/2009 22:28:56, 685592 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

Description: SPDIF Out (Creative SB X-Fi)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0005&SUBSYS_60021102&REV_00
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1374 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 6/3/2009 22:28:56, 685592 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Creative
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

There may well be more than one device listed, but you are looking for the one which lists Default Sound Device and Default Voice Playback as these will be providing your audio for the game.
Check the Date and Size line and if its older than 2012 you should go look for updated ones from your sound card manufacturer's website, this should be whoever is listed Driver Provider e.g. In the above example I would go to http://uk.creative.com/ .
If you have a built in soundcard on your motherboard or laptop, all you may see in the Description section is 'High Definition Audio Device'. If you do, its likely that the Driver Provider will be listed as Microsoft. These are the standard drivers which probably date back to 2009/2010 or whenever Microsoft were last given a copy of the device drivers for your soundcard. What you should do here is check on your PC/Laptop/Motherboard manufacturers website for updated Sound Drivers for your particular system.

BTW, the latest updated X-FI Soundblaster drivers for Windows 7 are here, and not always easy to find:
http://support.creative....oducts...hampion+Series

Updated Realtek Audio Drivers are here:
http://www.realtek.com/d...ow...&GetDown=false

As I said this has fixed around 80% of the problems we've seen with 'black screen' failure to launch and crash errors. If this hasn't helped you read on and I'll talk about specific fixes including some known issues we have and are working on.