RELIABLE Launcher Workaround for timeout and error 301/209

marchiggs_707b16_ESO

ok guys after alot of serching i have finally found a way to patch the game
you need to edit your host file which should be located in C/windows/system32/drivers/etc
now open notepad as ADMIN and open the host file and add this to the bottom
54.243.115.56 launcher.bethesda.net
save the file (make sure its not read only)right click propities uncheck read only
now open launcher and it should finally patch

Please let me know if this works for you good luck

Mace

tried everything else before this and I was stuck on 301 error


this works perfectly!

Draeckor

seems to have worked for me - although i did a repair at the same time...

Underthing

Thanks for this! It worked great.

Rage_Frost

Ok here is my Update if you have followed my reply's in this thread you know its been a long day.

I just got done installing a clean download of the Game from my account download link.
it was a 22GB download followed by 65mb, 65mb, 5gb, 35mb and 47mb patch of the game files...

The game is looking as it is working without error 209 problems.
Now on a side note before all of this I was using the "BETA ver of the game patched to the LIVE ver of the game." Not sure if that is what the problem is or not. But I wanted to throw it out their... If any Dev's or GM's are still looking into this..

When I launch the game it now states Ver 1.0.0.968197
Again I do not know if that is todays patch or what not but the game is working for me it at least now started to the log in screen and the game let me play.

I have tested this 4 times now with no more error's or any problem at all

I know this is not what a lot of you want to hear But I can say 100% unlike others who have stated these so called delete and replace files etc. This method does work

Super Sad Face....

Diethe

I just have to say that this works.

For those of you like me who doesn't have a host file, here's my workaround:

-Go to the C/windows/system32/drivers/etc folder
-Copy paste the networks file to another place in your computer
-open it
-Replace contents with this:

# Copyright (c) 1993-2006 Microsoft Corp.
#
# This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
#
# This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
# entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
# be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
# The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
# space.
#
# Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
# lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
#
# For example:
#
# 102.54.94.97 rhino.acme.com # source server
# 38.25.63.10 x.acme.com # x client host

# localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
# 127.0.0.1 localhost
# ::1 localhost

54.243.115.56 launcher.bethesda.net

-Save
-Rename file to hosts (Don't rename it while saving it awhile ago. Rename it after saving.)
-Paste it in the etc folder

andrewsp1985neb18_ESO

This worked for me 100%, when I edited the file, the launcher started and acted like 'OMG you're trying to fix me this is not allowed.' I then ran the repair it scanned and then the launcher began patching.
I really appreciate this, certainly worthwhile to sticky this.
Though I do have a question, why does adding that one line force the launcher to patch?

Devolus

This worked for me. Seriously, every other fix that include "delete .version files" and "uninstall the game and reinstall" haven't worked for me whatsoever. Tried this, and first time opening launcher, no more 209 error. Will update this if resurfaces.

Rhoric

I will give this a shot after I re-install for the second time today and see if i get the 209 error after this.

arvz16

+1 this works.

Darwa

Aren't you just preventing the launcher from checking for updates?

Surely it would be better to bypass the launcher (by running the game from eso.exe) instead of editing your hosts file.

marchiggs_707b16_ESO

Darwa wrote: »

Aren't you just preventing the launcher from checking for updates?

Surely it would be better to bypass the launcher (by running the game from eso.exe) instead of editing your hosts file.

no it is forcing it to a WORKING update server bypassing the launcher does NOT update the game after doing my OP my launcher updated to the current patch

GCSH_Dok

THANK YOU! After numerous other fixes (deleting version files, repairing installation, rebooting PC, completely re-downloading and reinstalling the game, repairing a 2nd time, etc, etc), this worked!!!

Now passing to other members of my family & guild who are stuck with the same issue

Darwa

marchiggs_707b16_ESO wrote: »

Darwa wrote: »

Aren't you just preventing the launcher from checking for updates?

Surely it would be better to bypass the launcher (by running the game from eso.exe) instead of editing your hosts file.

no it is forcing it to a WORKING update server bypassing the launcher does NOT update the game after doing my OP my launcher updated to the current patch

I'm surprised you downloaded the patch after doing this as what I said was correct; your 'fix' is actually a workaround and simply prevents version checking, thus making it unable to patch.

Also, I didn't say that running the game from the exe would cause an update. It clearly wouldn't. My point it that your method is, essentially, the same as running from the exe, but the exe 'method' is far more simple.

Look, I don't want to argue, but you really shouldn't mix the terms 'fix' and 'workaround'

Rantog

I can't even get To the login timeout.

I tried deleting the .version files and putting them back after it started downloading.
I tried deleting Just the version file in the Game folder.
I tried -as Support instructed me via email- deleting the game's folder in My Documents and the Program Data folder.

And I'm still in a perpetual loop of Repair, Repair, 209, Repair, 209,....

Darzil

This fixed the patch manifest error for me. Without the entry in hosts it resolved to 54.217.220.144. I guess maybe the patch servers had IPs changed and it hasn't propagated yet fully.

badamarclayrwb17_ESO

trying now god I hope this works got an error while patching so doing a repair if I have to redownload im f#### though cap cant handle it

Sanlas

This is the only fix that worked for me past the launcher refusing to repair.I have a question though.Should we delete that line in the host file after we're patched or keep it there?

Varanid

Does this solution have the potential to create additional issues in future if Bethesda/Zeni change something?
I'd hate to fix it tonight only to have a problem later and Bethesda/Zeni not knowing what the issue is because I've edited a local host file.

marchiggs_707b16_ESO

Darwa wrote: »

marchiggs_707b16_ESO wrote: »

Darwa wrote: »

Aren't you just preventing the launcher from checking for updates?

Surely it would be better to bypass the launcher (by running the game from eso.exe) instead of editing your hosts file.

no it is forcing it to a WORKING update server bypassing the launcher does NOT update the game after doing my OP my launcher updated to the current patch

I'm surprised you downloaded the patch after doing this as what I said was correct; your 'fix' is actually a workaround and simply prevents version checking, thus making it unable to patch.

Also, I didn't say that running the game from the exe would cause an update. It clearly wouldn't. My point it that your method is, essentially, the same as running from the exe, but the exe 'method' is far more simple.

Look, I don't want to argue, but you really shouldn't mix the terms 'fix' and 'workaround'

well as i said when i did this my launcher correctly updated to the current patch as it has done for other people my game is now working fine and is on the patch that was released yesterday

elderscrollsb16_ESO109

Varanid wrote: »

Does this solution have the potential to create additional issues in future if Bethesda/Zeni change something?
I'd hate to fix it tonight only to have a problem later and Bethesda/Zeni not knowing what the issue is because I've edited a local host file.

Yes
This workaround force your computer to contact a specific server among several servers available for this service.
This server can be removed in the futur for any reason (maintenance, failure...)

Additionally it prevent the system from balancing the load across the servers.
If everyone use this specific server, it will be overloaded and may be slow, or stop responding, or even crash.

So this is to be considered as a temporary (for a few days) workaround and in no case a fix (as stated earlier in this thread).

Detritus_Dreg

You could text hack your host file, or you could go the simple route and just reinstall the launcher to the live version without removing the game, as the game files are fine, it is just the launcher that is borked.

Assuming most of you with the problem have the beta launcher patched to live launcher like I did.... If so:
1- Close the launcher.

2-Browse to the Zenimax Online folder (Default would be C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online) .

3-Go into the launcher folder and run the uninstall program (DO NOT UNINSTALL FROM THE LAUNCHER) - This will remove the launcher files but not the game folder.

4-DL the Live launcher from the official ESO account site and run it.

5-When prompted to review the location for the install simply browse to change it to the old Zenimax Online folder.

6-Play the game

Have a nice day.

Saerydoth

Aha...this means, that the DNS entry for launcher.bethesda.net has changed, and the change hasn't propgated to our ISP's yet. So it's actually NOT Zenimax's issue, it's just DNS delaying updates because of TTL values.

Darzil

I'd remove it again once it's patched. This is either because our DNS is pointing at an obsolete server, and DNS hasn't caught up yet (it can take a couple of days to catch up), or one or more patch servers have an issue (which Zenimax will probably investigate and fix). Hopefully either way it'll be sorted.

Darzil

Actually, don't remove it, you'll just get the error again. Just be ready to do so when Zenimax have fixed the root cause, be that DNS or server.

Riku_Kurosaki15

Well this seems to have fixed the error 209 issue but now the game isn't patching at all! I go into the game and it's still saying the game's version is 1.0.0.968197. Shouldn't it be something like 1.0.3.XXXXXX?

Darzil

Game version != Client version. And yes, that's confusing.

1.0.0.968197 seems to be current client.

Rhoric

I was just in contact with ZOS support. And they are aware of this issue everyone is having with this and I mentioned this fix their tech staff will also look at this to see if it is a viable fix to make it last.

Prellentor

Thank you very much!

camknox

Thank you! I'm expecting another patch to fix the patch that fixes the patches before that that fixes the bugs.

Rhoric

these are all the ones I found with nslookup for the launcher.

Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.197.248.206
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.197.250.95
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.217.220.128
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.217.220.134
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.217.220.144
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.217.220.147
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.217.220.152
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 54.243.115.56
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 174.129.248.207
Name: launcher.bethesda.net
Address: 174.129.249.106