Service Communication Failure: PnkBstrB. I've tried everything!

[ColeHardTruth]

I understand that it must be tiring to hear so much of this issue that most people should be able to fix with a quick forum search, but rest assured I'm NOT one of those people! I've searched tirelessly and followed every guide recommended to me by EA Support staff and Answers HQ users both! I've tried everything! A quick note: A lot of the advice offered to me by guides HAS worked, but only for an hour at the most. The problem is back after that time, though.

The exhaustive list of what I've done (Most of these come from this page http://answers.ea.com/t5/Battlefield-4/Kick-off-from-bf4-because-of-PnkBstrB-exe-initialization-fail...):

1. Checked firewall exceptions, uninstalled PunkBuster services, deleted pb folder in BF4 install, restarted computer, reinstalled PunkBuster from BF4 _Installer folder, reinstalled PunkBuster services, tested using PB's built-in test. Test completed successfully at the time.
2. Repaired BF4 using Origin tool. Issue still present. Restarted computer. Issue still present. Uninstalled and Reinstalled BF4. Restarted computer. Issue still present.
3. Uninstalled PunkBuster services using pbsvc.exe tool downloaded from evenbalance.com. Tool crashed after checking for PnkBstrA.exe install status. Restarted computer. Tool ran successfully. Reinstalled PunkBuster services, tested using PB's built-in test. Test completed successfully at the time.

PLEASE HELP! I will assist in any way I can! The problem has only started four days ago after I've had BF4 for months! Thanks to anyone in advance!

[ColeHardTruth · Accepted solution]

As I read your response I thought to myself "there's no way I missed such an important step." But I tried anyway and PB did in fact need updating. Did it, I'll update soon with if it worked or not.

UPDATE: It didn't work, the issue persisted, but in my frustration I realized that every time the game closed I had Process Explorer (my task manager alternative, https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx) open. I do this because of another problem: for some reason BF4 doesn't appear in the taskbar while open, so in order to actually use it I have to use PE to "manually switch" to the game, but that's not important.

Anyhow, I started closing Process Explorer while playing the game and all of a sudden the PnkBstrB.exe problem hasn't occurred since! Upon research, it seems PunkBuster and Process Explorer do not get along at all! (https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/1f52d546-e7b4-4745-8260-c7b7b0c08e2b/punkb...) What a weird coincidence...

Anyway, thanks for all your help! I appreciate it greatly!

[ragnarok013]

Here is a solution to this issue that has worked for many people in the past.  The part that I see missing from your troubleshooting is manually adding BF4 to the newly installed Punkbuster. So repeat those steps and then add BF4 manually as that is often the step that solved it for me in the past.

http://answers.ea.com/t5/Battlefield-4/RESTRICTION-Service-Communication-Failure-PnkBstrA-exe/m-p/16...

Options

‎10-20-2013 05:47 PM

I got the RESTRICTION: Service Communication Failure: PnkBstrA.exe message.
I finally fixed mine after reading lots of forums, i did a few of my own things, some probably not needed, and others probably noobish, but in the end mine works!
i did:
1. Open windows firewall
2. click advanced settings( on the left) and then inbound (also left)
3. Find PnkbstrA.exe and PnkbstrB.exe (if you have two of both, its fine)
4. right click on each of them>properties>programs and services
5. make sure that "all programs that meet the spesifications" is checked
6. then go to the "Advanced" tab and check all 3 boxes. Domain, Private and Public.
7. REMEMBER TO DO THIS FOR ALL PnkBstr Files. then save and quit.
8. Go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Battlefield 3 and delete "Pb" folder.
9. go to these 2 links:
http://websec.evenbalance.com/downloader/download.php?file=1
http://www.evenbalance.com/downloads/pbsvc/pbsvc.exe
10. download and install both
11. Run Pbsetup.exe (the first link)
12. add a game (eg. bf3)
13. check for updates.

[ColeHardTruth · Accepted solution]

As I read your response I thought to myself "there's no way I missed such an important step." But I tried anyway and PB did in fact need updating. Did it, I'll update soon with if it worked or not.

UPDATE: It didn't work, the issue persisted, but in my frustration I realized that every time the game closed I had Process Explorer (my task manager alternative, https://technet.microsoft.com/en-in/sysinternals/bb896653.aspx) open. I do this because of another problem: for some reason BF4 doesn't appear in the taskbar while open, so in order to actually use it I have to use PE to "manually switch" to the game, but that's not important.

Anyhow, I started closing Process Explorer while playing the game and all of a sudden the PnkBstrB.exe problem hasn't occurred since! Upon research, it seems PunkBuster and Process Explorer do not get along at all! (https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/1f52d546-e7b4-4745-8260-c7b7b0c08e2b/punkb...) What a weird coincidence...

Anyway, thanks for all your help! I appreciate it greatly!

[EA_David]

Thanks, please let us know how you get on. 

It's easy enough to overlook the simple steps when troubleshooting, but that's why listing the steps as you did helps so much.