pnkbstrtb.exe disappearing from services.msc

[g30rg13]

So, like most people, I am getting the pnkbstrb.exe initialization failed error that keeps kicking me from the server after playing for less than five minutes rendering the game completely unplayable ( I can't get through a SINGLE F@#$ING MAP) and have tried SOOOO MANY SOLUTIONS. However I think I have finally found my problem. I was unable to locate pnkbstrb.exe in my Services.msc. So I contact support asking what to do and was directed to this ( http://help.ea.com/en/article/punkbuster-technical-issues/ ) for the 400th time because all support does is provide you links and no actual responses to the problem you provide them ( its like a trained monkey). However, after doing this again in hopes it would work, I got pnkbstrb.exe to show up in my services.msc! So I started both B and A and tried to play a game only to have it STILL CRASH. However, for the first time I actually checked my services.msc after it crashed and discovered that pnkbstrb.exe had disappeared! I don't know what the hell made it disappear and I'm pretty sure this must be my issue. Can anyone tell me how to keep this thing from disappearing? I feel this will be the solution and I can finally play battlefield 4 after owning for over a month and not being able to play a single game. 

TL;DR my PnkBstrb.exe is disappearing from my services.msc and dropping me from games after less than 5 minutes of game play. What do I do?????

[g30rg13]

anyone?????????????????????????

[XXXO77O4906]

Do every step in this page to fix this problem http://help.ea.com/en/article/battlefield-4-punkbuster-troubleshooting/ 

Also try this additional steps if the above does not work

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 specifications" 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 4 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. bf4)
13. check for updates.

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[dissaifer]

I have exactly the same problem and have had it since I got this game.

I followed the instructions and the game bombs out in like 5 mins.  Something is deleting pnkbstrB from the services.  I've already called EA about it and they told me to put in a ticket with Even balance, but I haven't here anything from them either.

[g30rg13]

No luck. even went back after  step 13 and redid step 6 for the new punkbuster files that appeared.  btw its not two copies, there are about 4 of each at least on my machine. then before i joined the server I made sure I went into services and made sure both a and b were running ( A wasn't so i enabled it). Sure enough the second I enabled it, B disappeared again and then as always I crashed. Before anyone says its my antivirus  (Which is AVG btw) I disabled it to make sure that wasn't the issue. 

I really wish EA support would stop linking me articles and actually talk to me and give me real solutions to my problem, but its clear to me EA just wants to direct every one to these stupid quick fix solutions. Its also irritating that I can't get the option to just email EA about my problem and that it is just reduced to either find it on the support site or talk to a live person that ends up redirecting me back to the support site. at least here I'm getting responses from real people ( I think).

Anyone else got a possible solution? 

[heinztomato]

The PnkBstrA and PnkBstrB service components are installed  into the Windows system folder (usually c:\windows\system32\) as PnkBstrA.exe and PnkBstrB.exe  respectively. The PnkBstrK kernel driver is installed into the "drivers\" folder (which is inside  the Windows system folder) as PnkBstrK.sys. The PnkBstrA and PnkBstrB components manage keys in the  system Registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Even Balance. Any security software that flags  our new components as malware, trojan-like or suspicious simply has not been updated recently to  properly reflect these components as authentic extensions of the PunkBuster Anti-Cheat system.

---

Can I configure these components to run as other users rather than as a system service?

These components will not operate properly unless they have Administrator rights. Any manual  reconfiguration after they are installed may prevent being able to play on PunkBuster servers.

source  http://www.punkbuster.com/index.php?page=pbsvcfaq.php

go to C:\windows\system32 (32-bit OS) Or C:\windows\syswow64 (on 64-bit OS) Scroll down and find PnkBstrA. / B exe or PnkBstrA / B application. Right-click>Properties>Click the Compatibility tab>Click the checkbox for ‘Run this program as an administrator’.

Download the latest Punkbuster files here:  http://www.punkbuster.com/index.php?page=dl-bf3.phpPunkbuster [punkbuster.com] needs to be installed in C:\Program Files (x86)\Origin Games\Battlefield 3\pb folder and C:\Users\*YOUR NAME* \AppData\Local\PunkBuster\BF3\pb folder in order to work properly.

[g30rg13]

To answer the top half, I can assure you my antivirus is not marking it as malicious and its not my firewall either.  Ive disabled both and still no luck. Same problem. 

As for the second half, I marked them but no luck, still getting dropped. I know I am not the only person having this issue. They really need to fix this is issue already. None of the patches put out have solved this issue. everyday I try and play battlefield and this just gets more and more FRUSTRATING! 

[g30rg13]

So is this going to get fixed or should I just be demanding a refund for selling me a defective product?

[XXXO77O4906]

This are all the steps you can try. Only other thing is to get in touch with Evenbalance for future assistance, to do that see this page here: http://www.evenbalance.com/troubleticket/new_ticket.php?game=bf4. To make a ticked, see more information here: http://help.ea.com/en/article/punkbuster-bans-and-violations/. Also note, this tickets are not just for banned accounts.

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[g30rg13]

I would not call this a solution. this is more of being redirected again just as EA support as been constantly doing to me. I really shouldnt have to go through this much trouble just to play a game.  THanks for the attempts though.