Help getting onto PTS

GenjiraX · May 2020

Hello. I bought a PC to play PTS. Accessing the live server works fine but I get error 200 when trying to connect to the PTS. I followed the guidance for error 200 but nothing worked. It still doesn't work after the maintenance. I also get a message at the bottom of the screen saying, "Could not retrieve announcements." I opened a ticket last week (#200515-003674) but got a response today telling me what to do to try to fix error 301 on a console.

The PC has a static IP address, is wired, and I added the ports to my router's port forwarding rules. The launcher is running as Administrator and I updated my Radeon drivers. I also tried repairing the launcher but the option to do that only appears on the live server option, not PTS.

I play on Xbox mainly and I set up my PC ESO using my Xbox account, if that makes a difference (again, the live PC server works fine).

Grateful for any help.

VaranisArano · May 2020

Have you sent in a Support ticket? If so, you might add it here, or make another thread in the PC Help forum where a mod,might be more likely to see it.

I'm not seeing anyone else with this specific problem but here's some ideas based on similar issues. They may or may not be useful.

1. Is the Check for Updates option there? Sometimes that prompts the Launcher to allow repairs.
2. Does rebooting the Launcher do anything? Some people had to restart it a couple times before everything loaded.
3. Try rebooting. This helps some people with getting the Launcher to work properly for the Repair option.
4. ESO's support article: https://help.elderscrollsonline.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/27031/~/what-do-i-do-if-i-cant-get-to-the-login-screen-when-trying-to-play-eso-on-pts
5. These steps helped some folks with Error 200. They are for the Live server, so you might have to find the PTS files instead. https://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/523720#Comment_523720

Hopefully these aren't just a wild goose chase!

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

If everything that you tries fails then I would do a clean installation of the game. That is the only thing that has worked for me in some situations but it should only be done as a last resort.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

I wonder though if because the original set up was for XBox and being that XBox doesn't have a PTS that when you transfer the game to work on a PC the PTS fails. Just a thought. A possibility or a stab at a reason with nothing to back it up with as I have never done this before. Always played on PC and never had the PTS fail.

GenjiraX · May 2020

Hey, thanks for the replies.

@Dovahkiin02191973 I could try that but it was a clean installation on a new PC to begin with. If I get nowhere, I'll try it.

@VaranisArano Yes, the ticket number is in my post but the response I got was unhelpful so I posted here. I'll try again on the PC Technical Support forum. I do turn the PC off after playing. Repair worked but there was no option to do this on the PTS, only on the Live server, which makes sense because it's for repairing the launcher. Thanks for the link. I had excluded the Zenimax Online online from my virus scanner but I haven't tried excluding it from Windows Defender so I'll try that and I'll try those steps in the other thread.

Thanks again for your help, guys.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

A clean wipe of the game will remove the registry entries that the installation creates which if those are corrupt could be really bad and a clean wipe and installation is the only cure for that. That means totally uninstalling the game using the game's uninstaller. Then you have to find the Zenimax Online folder on your PC a delete that. It will say this file is to large to move to the garbage can do you want to permanently delete it and you say yes to that. Then you simply start over by downloading the installer from your account here on the site. The site is down right now by the way so until they have finished working on it that download will be unavailable. Again last resort here. If you do this and get the same results it is something on Zenimax's end that needs to be fixed.

kylewwefan · May 2020

I don’t understand what has to do with the Xbox. Are you playing the Xbox version on your PC? I didn’t know that was possible?

Have you bought the game on PC? Is the PTS actually installed? I think you install the PTS right from the PC account page.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

You're Welcome by the way. It's nice to see someone in need of genuine help and be able to offer some assistance. I hope it all works out for you.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Yes, the XBox game can be linked to the PC account which will allow a player to play on PC. The Steam version is the same way. I have my Steam account linked but I don't go through Steam to play the game. I create shortcuts from the game's 64bit executable files and run the game from those. I only use Steam for updates because if you run the game through Steam it uses the 32bit executable files to launch the game which will in turn bring down the performance on a PC that has a 64bit OS on it.

GenjiraX · May 2020

kylewwefan wrote: »

I don’t understand what has to do with the Xbox. Are you playing the Xbox version on your PC? I didn’t know that was possible?

Have you bought the game on PC? Is the PTS actually installed? I think you install the PTS right from the PC account page.

I started playing a year ago on Xbox. My ESO account is linked to my Xbox account. Yes, I bought the game on PC and installed it, using my existing Xbox-linked ESO account to set it up. I then installed the PTS. I was wondering if that might be the reason I can't access PTS but can still play the Live server.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

That is my thinking on it. Again not 100% sure as I have never been in this situation before but if not being able access the PTS is happening because of a linked XBox account only Zenimax can fix this issue.

GenjiraX · May 2020

I'm going to try reinstalling once the store is back up but, if that fails, can I create a new, clean ESO account for PTS or would that make things even more complicated?

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

I have more than one account myself. I did this a long time ago before I realized I could create more than one character on a single account. I have a PC account and I bought the game again on Steam. I just use the Steam one as I can access both accounts with it. Yes you can create another account directly off the PC rather than a link to XBox. It will need totally different information. Another E-Mail address etc. to create it.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that a clean wipe is all you need. Another account will cost another $79.99 or whatever it it is if you get everything.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

GenjiraX - I may have found the issue. I tried to log in through the Launcher and I got big message saying pretty much that new accounts will not be able to access the game until this Store Maintenance is over. This may be the issue. I hope you get my message before buying another account or wiping your current one and try logging in after this maintenance is over. If that works it would be awesome. It would save you a lot of time and money.

GenjiraX · May 2020

Thanks @Dovahkiin02191973. I’ve had this problem for a week but maybe today’s maintenance will fix it. I’ll reinstall (already wiped - I don’t mess around) and try again on existing account and then move onto a new account if that fails.

Thanks a lot for keeping on it. Much appreciated.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

I just posted a screen shot of what I got. I don't think you can read it though. Ugh -

GenjiraX · May 2020

Yes I saw that earlier. I figured that, as it’s not new new (Live has been working fine for a week), it didn’t apply to me.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

It basically says that if you have not accepted the agreements that appear when you do your first login that you won't be able to login until Maintenance is over which I think applies here as you have not been able to get on and accept those.

GenjiraX · May 2020

Ah, but I've been playing fine on Live for a week. It's just PTS that won't let me get past the login screen. I think the "Could not retrieve announcements" message is relevant as it appears not to be able to connect to the service at all. But that might be red herring and it's something like, as you said, if my account is linked to my Xbox account maybe the first thing the PTS login checks is what platform your account is 'on'. Or something.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Most likely since this has been going on for a week for you. What I just got applies to now. Yes, the could not retrieve announcements I have read is a server issue. Your computer is trying to link up to the PTS Server but can't and it may very well have something to do with the fact that it is an XBox linked account and XBox has no PTS.

GenjiraX · May 2020

I reinstalled the game - didn't work. I created a new account and bought the game again - also didn't work.

I guess I'm just waiting on support to get back to me now.

EDIT: As suggested by @VaranisArano, I've opened a new thread in the PC Tech Support forum so this thread can be closed. Thanks.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Oh man, I am so sorry. I am responsible. I was grasping at straws with ideas. Something is present that is blocking your games from connecting to the PTS server and I have no idea what it could be so yes let Zenimax handle this.

GenjiraX · May 2020

You're not responsible, @Dovahkiin02191973 - don't worry about it. No need to apologise. I really appreciate your efforts to help.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Thanks - I still feel bad that it didn't work but yeah I am not an expert on PC issues and games. My ideas were logical but did not pan out to be the fix for whatever is present that is blocking the game from connecting to the PTS. I would hammer on Zenimax until they help you get it resolved. On having two accounts you can play on PC and XBox. I wish I had an XBox so I could see the game in full HD. My PC runs off of Intel HD 4400 integrated graphics and the best it will do is medium settings and get a playable frame rate.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Medium setting will do odd things like when I approach a character their outfit will be blurred until I get right up next to them and then the details of the outfit will phase in. That's how bad my PC is. Turning the settings down lower is just outright unplayable to me as it looks so bad. I can get the magical 60 Frame Rate if I use minimum settings but then you can't see anything at much of a distance.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Well anyways I will stop on this thread as I know you want it closed. I hope Zenimax will help you get this resolved quickly.

GenjiraX · May 2020

Dovahkiin02191973 wrote: »

Medium setting will do odd things like when I approach a character their outfit will be blurred until I get right up next to them and then the details of the outfit will phase in.

That happens on my Xbox One X as well. It’s annoying.

Thanks again.

Dovahkiin02191973 · May 2020

Oh wow. Even on a console that is supposed to be able to play any game made for it full steam ahead. Interesting. Maybe this is one of the performance issues along with lag that everyone is griping about. To be honest I don't get lag. I just can't turn up the settings because my PC is not very good.

ZOS_Lunar · May 2020

We have closed this thread at the OP's request.