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Categories

Xfire General

Questions




Answers


* What is Xfire?

Xfire is a free application that combines multiple gaming tools into one powerful tool to alleviate the need to run multiple different gaming related programs. For instance, Xfire allows you to chat with your friends, see what games they are playing, what servers they are playing on and join them instantly with one click. Xfire also allows you to show off your gaming skills by capturing screenshots and videos and uploading them to your Profile page on the Xfire website. For more details on all of Xfire’s great features check out our Product Tour.
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* How do I get started using Xfire?

You’ll need two things to get started, the Xfire software and an Xfire user name, both of which are free.

Click this link to download the Xfire software now. Once downloading is complete, double-click the Xfire installer icon and follow the instructions to finish installation.

You can create your account directly from the Xfire software by clicking the New User Registration link or from the Xfire website here: http://www.xfire.com/register/
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* Is Xfire really free? What's the catch?

Xfire is completely free. Xfire is supported by leading sponsors in the gaming industry, and brings relevant advertising messages to you. But rest easy; we do not sell, exchange, or share any user information with anyone. If you need further clarification on how we handle user information, read our Privacy Policy.
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* Who makes Xfire?

Xfire was originally developed in 2003 by the team at Ultimate Arena. For current information about the team behind Xfire, visit the About Us section of this website.
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* What games does Xfire currently support?

Xfire supports the latest and best PC games, with more being added constantly! Mosey on over to the Games page on the Xfire website to peruse the current list of games that Xfire supports.
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* How is Xfire different from a game server browser?

Game server browsers help you find game servers to play on, but leave you on your own when it comes to playing with your buddies. Gamers regularly deal with the hassles of finding a game server to play on together and resort to having to cut & paste server IPs or call each other.

We at Xfire believe gaming should be gamer-centric rather than game server-centric. It's simply more fun to play with your buddies than it is to play on some random game server against strangers. You still get the standard server browser info in Xfire (e.g. ping, # of players, map, etc.), but we show you when and what games your buddies are playing, what server they're playing on, and you can join their server with a click of a button.
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* How can I make suggestions for new games that I want Xfire to support? How does Xfire decide on which new games to support?

You can post your suggestions for games you would like to see supported by Xfire in our New Game Ideas forum. Threads with the most replies and Users requesting a given title will be more likely to get noticed. We are always going to add the new releases and now Xfire can release support right away via the Xfire Download System!
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* How can I make suggestions for improvement or enhancement to Xfire?

Xfire couldn't exist without your help and support. Got an incredible idea? Heck, got a mild improvement? Then we'd love to hear it! Create a thread in our Feature Suggestions section of the forums and tell us all about it!
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* Is it pronounced X-Fire or Cross Fire?

It's pronounced X-Fire.
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* Does Xfire provide games for free?

While there are some games that are free to download, Xfire does not actually supply games for free that are sold at retail. Instead, you must purchase a game (from a retailer) and install it on your machine. Then Xfire detects your game and provides various features depending upon the game.

There are a limited number of games that are actually free to download and play. They can be found on our Xfire Files page, but can also be found for free on their respective websites. If you click the 'Full Games' link, found under the 'By file type' heading, you will find the following page with a list of downloadable games: http://www.xfire.com/files/type/game/

There is also a list of Free Games that Xfire supports on the Xfire Supported Games Page (click the ‘Free Games’ heading just to the left of the alphabet).

You can also find more free games in this thread.
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Downloading / Installation

Questions




Answers


* What are the system requirements for Xfire?

  • PC with a Pentium processor running Windows XP, 2000 or Vista
  • 10 MB available hard drive space recommended
  • Desktop resolution of 800 x 600 at 256 colors (1024 x 768 at 16 bit color or higher recommended)
  • Internet Explorer 5.0 with Service Pack 1 or higher
  • Internet connection (broadband recommended)
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* How do I install Xfire?

Installation is a breeze. You can find detailed instructions to install Xfire on the Download page of Xfire's website.
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* I didn't choose to have the Xfire shortcuts placed on my desktop and system tray during installation, but I changed my mind. How do I create shortcuts now?

Having a single button to create shortcuts for Xfire is something that could be coming down the road for a future release, but for now you'll have to do it the old fashioned way. Xfire's default install location is "C:\Program Files\Xfire". Navigate to there, or to wherever you decided to actually install it. Right-click on Xfire.exe, and click "Create Shortcut." You can then put the shortcut wherever you want on your desktop, in your system tray, in Internet Explorer - wherever you might have a sudden craving to launch it. Alternatively, you could click on the Xfire.exe icon, hold the Alt key, and drag it anywhere. This will automatically create a shortcut as well.
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* Can I set up Xfire on multiple PCs?

Of course! You can install Xfire on as many computers as you like (being that Xfire is free and all) and log in to any of them. Your list of friends and favorite servers will follow you around! Right now, however, your custom statuses are linked to only the machine you create them on, so you'll have to think of new, witty phrases to use at each system. But you can setup Xfire at home, on your laptop, at work, and at your friends' computer. The small installation makes it easy to download anywhere!
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* I logged in and Xfire started to automatically update, why?

Xfire typically updates every three weeks. The updates are of course free like Xfire. We are constantly making changes to the Xfire software, such as new features or bugs fixes. These changes are to both the Xfire software as well as its servers. This is why it is not an option to disable the update as it may contain critical fixes and will help ensure stability.

If you are able to receive a file through the Xfire Download system then you will get the updater file a few days ahead of everyone else. That means when we update you will already have the file ready to go and will not have to wait to download it. It will simply update and you’ll be able to log in immediately.
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* Is there a Macintosh or Linux version of Xfire?

No. While we do want to support gamers regardless of operating system, right now we're focusing on working on the features and development of Xfire for Windows based systems only. It is possible that in the future we will port Xfire over to other operating systems but for now it is Windows only.
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* How do I uninstall Xfire?

The process for uninstalling Xfire is similar to other Windows programs. Begin by ensuring that Xfire is closed completely (Xfire | Exit).
    In Windows XP:
  1. Access the Add or Remove Programs tool (go to Start -> Control Panel and double click on Add or Remove Programs).
  2. Scroll down to Xfire and select it from the list by clicking on it.
  3. Now click Remove and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
    In Windows Vista:
  1. From the Windows (Start) Menu select Control Panel.
  2. Now double click on the 'Programs and Features' tool to open it.
  3. Find Xfire on the list of programs and highlight it by clicking on it.
  4. Click the 'Uninstall' button at the top of the list and follow the onscreen instructions to complete the uninstallation.
Remember, the Xfire client must be closed for the uninstallation to be successful.
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Xfire User Account

Questions




Answers


* I just installed Xfire. How do I register an account?

The very first time you launch Xfire, you will be given the option to register a new User account. If you close that window by mistake, right below the Username field you'll notice a link titled “New User Registration.” Click this link to re-open the New User Registration window. You can also register a new User account on our website here.

Here are some tips to remember when creating a new Xfire account:
  • User names are lower-case letters and numbers only.
  • Be sure to enter a valid email address.
  • Passwords are case sensitive and must contain at least five characters.
Once you've created your account, you can enter your Xfire Username and Password at the login screen and start gaming on Xfire.
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* Why should I enter a valid e-mail address when registering an account on Xfire?

Having a valid e-mail address associated with your Xfire account allows your friends to easily search for you even if they don't know your Xfire username.

Another reason it is important to register with a valid e-mail address is in case you lose your password or username; your e-mail address will be used to recover that information through the Lost Password system.

Xfire is not in the business of selling your private information. We are about creating a better gaming experience for our users. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your privacy on Xfire please read our Privacy Policy.
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* How can I update my email address?

You can update pretty much all your information right from the Xfire Profile page. Launch Xfire, open the Xfire menu, and select Activity Report. This should launch your default web browser and take you to your Xfire Home page.

Click the Profile link under your avatar on the left of the page. Then click the Edit Profile link. This may require you to re-enter your login information.

Once at the Edit Settings page, click the Account tab to modify your current contact email (*Real Email). Click the Save changes button once you are finished.

Be sure to revisit the Edit Settings page and verify your email address again after you have updated it.
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* How do I verify my email address?

Xfire is now requiring a valid email address for certain features of the website.

If you need to validate your email address, first add noreply@xfire.com to your email safe list then follow these steps:
  • Login to Xfire.com.
  • Click Profile.
  • Click Edit Profile.
  • In the 'Real Email' field, be sure your email address is correct.
  • Click Verify your email address.
  • Click the Verify button.
At this point an email is sent to your registered email address. Login to that email account and simply click the link in the email you received from Xfire. For security purposes, this must be done from the same browser and IP address you clicked the Verify link from.

If at any time you change your registered email address you will need to verify it again.
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* Can I have more than one Xfire username or can I change my username?

You cannot change your registered username. You can however register another Xfire username if you like but beware that you will not be able to transfer your Friends list, Gaming History or any data from one account (username) to another.

A great alternative is to simply change your “nickname” which changes how your name is displayed to other people. To change your “nickname” in Xfire:
  • Click the Tools menu, then select Options.
  • On the General tab you will see the field labeled “My nickname”.
  • Type your nickname here and click Ok.
You can also change your nickname from the Edit Profile page on our website.
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* How do I change my Xfire password?

To change your Xfire password, first you must be logged into the Xfire website. Once logged into the Xfire website go to http://www.xfire.com/profile/ or click any of the “profile” links on our site (your Avatar will work too). At the top of the “Details” section of your Xfire Profile on the right-hand side is the Edit Profile link. Click that to access the settings and preferences of your Xfire account. After clicking on “Edit Profile” you will be asked to login again, this is normal. This is an extra security measure in place to protect your account. For your security, always be sure the link in the address bar is from Xfire.com when entering your username and password.

Once you are on the Edit Settings page:
  • Click the Password tab.
  • Enter your new password in each field.
  • Click Save Changes to update your Xfire password.
*Note* For your security, always be sure any link used to enter your username and password is from the Xfire.com domain.
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* I forgot my Xfire Password. What do I do?

Ack! There's nothing worse than a login screen with a Password you've forgotten/mislaid/eaten. Our lost password process is a little different. Go to the Lost Password Recovery page, type in just your username and click the "Go to next step" button. This will send you a Confirmation Code to the email you originally registered your Xfire account with.

In the email you will have a hyperlink which takes you back to the lost password page and pre-populates your confirmation code. Click the Submit button to receive a temporary password.

Login to the website with the temporary password, click Profile, Edit Profile, scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter a new password. Click Save Changes.

If you do not receive an email within 24 hours, please send an email to support@xfire.com listing both your Xfire username and the email address that you originally registered the account with.
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* I forgot both my Xfire Username and Password. What do I do?

Now you're in trouble. Just kidding. If the Lost password recovery system is not working for you (not getting the email, invalid code), please send an email to support@xfire.com with the user name you wish to recover. The email must be sent from either the email address that you created the Xfire account with, or from the email address that the account is currently set to. Make the subject of the email “Lost Password”.

Requests are usually replied to within three business days from being received.
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* Is there a way to remove a game from my profile?

Yes. You may hide games on your Gaming History by going to your Edit Profile link.

Scroll down the page to "Game Preferences". Click the "Show or Hide games" button. Use the check boxes to indicate which games you wish to hide. Click Save Changes.
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* The Username I wanted is taken, but that person has 'No Games Played'. Can I have that account?

No, we do not reset Usernames or accounts.

We may clear out the unused accounts in the future, but there is no timetable for this.
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* Some Users have more hours played for "this week" than is possible in seven days. Why?

Xfire records your game time as "sessions". As long as Xfire and the game are both running you are recording that session. Let's say you leave a game sitting at the main menu for three days. When you quit the game, Xfire will record 72 hours for that session. This is why some Users Profile (or miniprofile) show more hours for "This week" than there are in seven days.
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* How do I cancel or delete my Xfire account?

Currently there is no User option to cancel an account.

Like many other free services on the internet we do not recycle accounts.

Here's one thing you can do to protect your info before discontinuing your use of the program. In your Xfire client go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab and uncheck "Show on my profile and miniprofile." This will hide your extended profile information, gaming history and friends list from other users browsing the website.
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Connecting to Xfire/Login troubleshooting

Questions




Answers


* How can I automatically log in to Xfire when I start my computer?

You've got places to see, people to frag and quests to fulfill. If typing in a Username and Password eats into your online gaming time, we'd recommend checking the "Save Password" and "Auto-Login" boxes on the login screen. Now the next time you login to Xfire it will launch directly into the last Username and Password used.

If you did not check "Run Xfire when Windows Starts" in the installation process, you can always enable this feature later from the Tools | Options | General tab in your Xfire client. Check the box next to "Automatically launch Xfire when I startup my computer".
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* I am behind a firewall and cannot connect to Xfire no matter what I do. I think I need to configure my firewall, but what port does Xfire use?

Now we're getting technical. First off, you don't need to jeopardize your security to use this service. Xfire uses TCP port 25999, and you'll be connecting to the cs.xfire.com server. Make these changes to your firewall, and you'll soon be locating your online compadres with the best of them. If there's still no joy in logging on after you fiddle with the firewall modifications, post in the Technical Support - OPEN forum. Be sure to include pertinent information on your firewall (the brand, model, and software version number), and we'll toil with you until the problem is fixed.

For more in-depth information on what ports Xfire uses see the advanced FAQ here: What ports does Xfire use?
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* I have Norton Internet Security and can't login to Xfire! Why?

As of the 2005 edition, go to Norton Personal Firewall. Click Configure. Click Custom Level. Then check the box that says "Enable Control Access alerts". Then Norton will give you a pop up that allows you to permit Xfire to connect to the internet.

You can also do this manually. Configure> Programs tab> Click Add. Browse to the xfire.exe. (Default is C:\Program Files\Xfire) You may need to also add xfire_exception.exe to the list as well.

You will have to repeat this everytime Xfire updates, since the firewall will view Xfire as a new or changed program.
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* How do I allow Xfire into the Windows XP firewall?

To allow Xfire into the Windows firewall built into WinXP:
  • Go to Start, Settings, Control Panel.
  • Double click Windows Firewall.
  • Click the Exceptions Tab.
  • Click Add Program.
  • Find Xfire in the list, highlight it and click OK.
You may need to also add xfire_exception.exe to the list as well.


You can also add the Xfire connection port on the Exceptions tab:
  • Click Add Port.
  • In the Name field enter: cs.xfire.com
  • In the Port field enter: 25999
  • Make sure the TCP radio button is checked.
You may have to re-add Xfire to your exceptions list each time we update.
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* How do I allow Xfire into McAfee Personal Firewall?

Open your McAfee Security Center.
  • Click Personal Firewall.
  • Click "View the Internet Applications List".
  • Click "New allowed application".
  • Browse to the Xfire.exe in your Xfire directory and select it.
  • Click "Ok".
You may need to also add xfire_exception.exe to the list as well.

This should allow Xfire to connect. You may have to repeat these steps each time Xfire updates. McAfee can be configured to alert you and give you the option to permit after the program is "changed".
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* Xfire just auto-updated and I can no longer log in. I receive a DNS error or the connection times out. How do I resolve this?

This is commonly caused by security software after Xfire updates or is reinstalled. This is a security measure to prevent programs that have been altered from connecting to your network. Since each Xfire update replaces the .exe, security software views it as a 'new or changed' program.

Even if you previously allowed Xfire.exe in your security software, after each update you may need to re-allow the new version of Xfire on your firewall, anti-virus and other programs with 'permissions'. In some security programs you may need to remove the permissions for Xfire completely and reboot your PC. Your software should prompt you to allow the new version of Xfire.

Rebooting your PC after updating your permissions is usually a good idea since some security programs require a system restart in order for the new permissions to take effect.

If you have completely disabled your firewall and/or security software, please try re-enabling it and then make the appropriate permission changes (remove them and add them back) followed by rebooting your machine. Then try to connect again.

If you aren’t sure how to configure your permissions, please consult the online support or documentation that came with your security software for "allowing internet applications" or "program permissions".

If you still have trouble after re-allowing Xfire, then please head over to our Technical Support - OPEN forum and create a new topic with details about your network conditions and the troubleshooting steps in this FAQ that you have already tried. It also helps to post a screen shot of your running processes so we can get an idea of what is running on your PC. Sort your process list by Image name and make sure we can clearly see the entire name of the .exe files in the list. If it takes two screen shots to see the entire list that's fine.

We hope this FAQ helped you get re-connected to Xfire!
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* Xfire freezes right when I login! What is causing this?

Some anti-spyware programs like "Spyware Doctor" or "Stopzilla" will view Xfire as a threat and halt the process before it can connect to the internet. This is why Xfire appears to crash or freeze when you login.

To prevent this, be sure to allow Xfire.exe and xfire_exception.exe in your anti-spyware programs exceptions list or allowed programs list.

For details on how to do this please consult the online support or documentation that was included with your security software.
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* Xfire will not save my username and password even if I check the ‘Save Password’ box at the login screen. Why?

This usually occurs with non-English versions of Windows. Xfire cannot read non-English (ASCII) characters such as ό, з, ś. Any letters that are not within A-Z, a-z, or 0-9 will result in Xfire being unable to save to the folders required for remembering your login information.

You cannot fix this by simply changing your Windows username because all of your user data is already saved in folders with the non-English characters .Instead, you’ll need to create an entirely new Windows username that does not use non-English characters.
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Privacy and Security

Questions




Answers


* With whom does Xfire share my information?

Nobody. We're not the sort of company to sell, exchange, or share any personal information with anybody. Nothing you type in when you register your UserName, Password, and email ever leaves our database. The best place to learn how we handle user information is the Privacy Policy page.
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* Why do I have to enter my email address while registering on Xfire? What are you going to do with my email address?

We're certainly not going to share it with anyone, so don't worry. However, for our users' security, Xfire only responds to the email addresses that you specify. This is especially relevant if you lose your Password and need to retrieve it, or when updates are available to download. Remember, we're not in the business of selling, exchanging, or sharing our users' information with a third party. We are in the business of making your online gaming as stress-free and friend-packed as possible. If you need to check our Privacy Policy, this tells you just how we handle user information.
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* When I type in my friends email addresses to invite them to use Xfire, will you spam them with future emails?

We don't keep your friends' email addresses until they become registered Xfire users, and we certainly don't spam them with annoying email clutter!
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* How do I block another Xfire User from messaging me?

If someone is "spamming" you or being abusive, they are either on your Friends list or Friends of Friends list.

If the User is on your Friends list, you should delete them by highlighting their name and pressing the "Delete" key on your keyboard or right clicking their name and selecting "Remove Friend".

If they are on your Friends of Friends list, right click on their name and select “Block User”. You can also get this menu under Tools | Friends. This will prevent the blocked user from sending you instant messages, Chat Room, Voice Chat and Friend invites. You can also do this right from the Instant message window, Actions | Block User.

If they are on your Clan/Guild/Team list, you can block them the same way as you would block a Friends of Friends user.

To unblock someone go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab. Highlight their username in the Block list and click “Remove”.

If you wish to disable the Friends of Friends feature altogether, go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab and uncheck "Show friends of my friends".
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* Where do I find my Privacy settings and how do they work?

Some features of the Xfire website and miniprofile are actually controlled from the Xfire software client.

To get to your Privacy settings go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab. The list of options and their functions are:
  • Show my friends - Displays what game you are playing to people on your Friends list (this must be enabled for Xfire to track your game hours).
  • Show on my profile and miniprofile - Displays your current status and Gaming History on your Xfire.com Profile and Xfire Miniprofile.
  • Show my game server data - Displays the IP address and other info about the server you are currently playing on.
  • Track kill/death stats for display on profile - This allows Xfire to collect kills and deaths for games that are supported by Xfire Game statistics. See here for more info: Game Statistics FAQs
  • Show Friends of my friends - Displays a list of common friends in your Xfire friends list and will allow people not on your Friends list to message you, join your game or send you a friend invite.
  • Show my Voice Chat server to my friends - Allows friends to see your Teamspeak or Ventrilo IP address.
  • Show people when I type to them - Displays a notification in the IM window when you are typing a message back to a friend.
  • Idle Status - Allows you to set the time when Xfire will set your status to AFK (Away from keyboard)
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* Why does my security software detect Xfire as a keylogger?

The file that is actually causing this false positive is xfire_toucan_xxxxx.dll. This dll will hook into windows watching for keyboard and mouse activity. The reason it does this is for our 'auto-afk' feature which you can enable on the Tools | Options | Privacy tab. In order to know whether or not you're afk, we have to monitor the keyboard.

We also use toucan to do In-Game messaging. For In-Game it actually injects itself into every running process to determine if it's a game, and if it is a game, whether or not it supports XIG and should 'hook in' to the process.
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* How do I prevent my inbox spam filter from blocking Xfire emails?

When you register your Xfire account, you should receive a welcome email from us. Other than that, Xfire typically will only send you an email if you request it. Those cases being "Lost passwords" and "email verification" for using the Xfire website features like Clans & Guilds.

Two of the more popular free email services are Hotmail and Gmail. We're going to list the steps to add noreply@xfire.com (Xfire emails) to the "whitelist" for those two services.

For Gmail: Typically Xfire emails are sent straight to the inbox in Gmail. However, if you want to make sure you get emails from us:
  1. Login to your Gmail account/inbox.
  2. Select "Contacts" on the left navigational bar.
  3. Select the + button ("add contact")
  4. fill in the required information, with the email address: "noreply@xfire.com"
For Hotmail:
  1. Log into your Hotmail account.
  2. Select "Options" (right side, on the top navigational bar)
  3. Select "More options..." on the options drop down menu.
  4. Under the "Junk Email" category, select "Safe and blocked senders".
  5. Select Safe senders.
  6. Enter "@xfire.com"
  7. Click the "Add to list >>" button.
We hope this helps you get your Xfire emails delivered in a timely manner. For all other email services and clients, please consult the topics on "whitelists" or "spam filters" included with the help documentation for those products.
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Friends/Status/Joining Games

Questions




Answers


* Is there an easy way to invite friends to use Xfire?

Most definitely. Locate the easily accessible Invite a Friend section on the Xfire website. Then log in with your Xfire Username and Password. Once done, there's an option to enter your friend's email address, and/or customize the default invitation email message we've prepared for your convenience. Your Xfire Username is automatically included in the invitation so your friend can easily add you to his or her Xfire Friends List after he/she installs Xfire.
Remember; the more friends you invite, the more use you'll get out of Xfire!
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* How do I add friends to my Friends list?

With extreme ease. Is your friend already an Xfire member? Then add them to your Xfire friends network by selecting "Tools", and "Add Friend" in the Xfire interface. Or, you can just click on the "Add" button at the bottom of the screen. Type in your friend's Xfire Username (or search for them using the fields available), and when he or she logs onto Xfire the next time, your friend will receive an invitation to join your Friends List. Assuming your friend accepts your offer, both of you are added to each other's Friends List.
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* When I add a friend, I type in his Xfire Username, send an invitation message, and click OK, but he still doesn't appear in my Friends List. Why?

Because you've jumped the gun a little bit. Your friend needs to approve the request for the addition to be complete. When that happens, you'll see his or her name appear.
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* I'd like to find out more about the friends of my friends on Xfire. Can I see their profiles (e.g. who are they friends with)?

Profiles are a huge part of the Xfire experience. If you go to the Xfire website www.xfire.com and log in, you'll be able to access your profile and make any updates necessary (your name probably isn't a blank space, for instance.) You'll also see a list of your friends and can link to their profiles, and then to their friends, and then to their friends, etc etc, all the way down the line. We encourage you to fill out at least some basic user info for yourself. It makes it a lot easier for your friends to search for you.
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* I'm just way too popular. How do I delete friends from Xfire?

If your initial enthusiasm with Xfire now has you responding to messages from your newfound friends 24 hours a day, it may be time to pare down the list a little. Simply right click on a friend in the "Friends Online" or "Friends Offline" section, hit delete, and that person will be removed from your list. However, since the "Friends of Friends" section is created from your friends' buddy lists, there's no way to remove people individually from that section. You can collapse the entire section by going to the Tools menu in Xfire, clicking Options, and unchecking "Show Friends of my Friends" on the Privacy Tab.
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* What does it mean if my Friend is online but has no status displayed next to their Username?

It means they have logged onto Xfire, but are not currently playing a game. To start a chat, make contact by double-clicking on their Username.
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* I know my friend has a lot of friends signed up on Xfire, but why don't I see them under my "Friends of Friends Playing" section?

Only friends of friends who are playing a game will appear in your Xfire interface. Look for them under the Friends of Friends category on the Friends tab in the Xfire client.
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* How can I set a customized status (e.g. I'm up for Halo right now!) for myself once I log on to Xfire?

Xfire gives you the ability to put up whatever custom message you want, so you can tell your friends exactly what they need to know. At the bottom of the Xfire client, note the little arrow button next to your default status. If you click that and select, Set Custom Status, you can type in whatever status message you like.
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* How do I erase my custom status messages?

There is no way to delete the custom status messages with the Xfire user interface. However, once you have five custom status messages and you create a sixth, the oldest custom status message will be erased automatically.

This will happen each time a new custom status message is created and you already have five custom status messages. The oldest message will be bumped off and the newest one added.

Your other option is to delete them out of the XfireUser.ini file. Here's how:
  • First, make sure Xfire is not running.
  • Locate the XfireUser.ini file. On WinXp it is located in C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Xfire. *Note* You will need to have show hidden files enabled to find the XfireUser.ini file
  • Once you have found this file open it with Notepad.
  • Inside this file you should see a section that looks like the following:
[Status]
Custom1=Example 1
Custom2=Example 2
Custom3=Example 3

Simply delete the status line that you no longer want. When you delete them however, make sure that you change the Custom# so that the list is still in order.

Make your changes and save the file. Start Xfire and check your status messages, they should appear exactly as you left them in the XfireUser.ini.
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* I have a game installed on my computer that is supported by Xfire, but when I start playing my status never shows the game. Why does this happen?

If you are running a game on your computer that is on our list of supported games, it will not show up in Xfire if the Windows registry tags are missing or incorrect. If you have relocated the game on your hard drive without doing an actual installation, or installed on a Windows NT-type computer but not as an administrator, this could cause the problem. Xfire uses the game's registry tags to know where a game is installed, and how to detect it.
  • To fix this, go to your Tools | Options | Games tab.
  • Find the games you have on your system in the 'Not installed' list.
  • Highlight the game name and the "Manual Setup" radio button.
  • Click 'Browse'.
  • Find the folder that contains the .exe file for that game and click 'Ok'.
  • Click 'Apply'.
Check your Tools | Launch menu to verify that the game is now detected.
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* Does Xfire support mods and expansion packs of games?

We support some mods and expansion packs, but it does depend on how well the mod was designed. For instance, many mods call identical .exe files and resources, with the only difference being in loading certain maps or skins. Xfire is unable to distinguish between this usage and playing the base game. We're working on some better ways to detect the usage of mods and expansion packs for almost any game, but for now we're only able to support certain mods. This is why, for instance, you'll be see "Battlefield 1942" when you play Desert Combat, or "Battlefield2" when you're playing BF2: Special Forces. We're continually working to provide better detection and launching of mods and expansion packs!
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* My friend is playing a game online in multiplayer mode as indicated on Xfire. When I double click on his Username, I only get an IM pop-up but do not have the option to join him instantly. Why is this happening?

There's a couple possibilities. First, the online game your friend is playing may not be currently supported by Xfire's "One Click Join" feature. Xfire is proud to support many of the most popular online titles, with more being added all the time. However, in instances when Xfire displays the name of the game your friend is playing (plus his or her status with the game), and you can't instantly join him, you'll have to begin your game the old fashioned regular way. One Click Joining (double-clicking your friend's Xfire UserName and clicking "Join") is an incredibly cool Xfire element, and we're striving to add Xfire with Instant Joining functionality with as many online games as possible.

Second, if Xfire does support the game you're trying to join, but your join button is greyed out, make sure there is a valid IP showing for your friend in the "Expanded Info View" pane. They may be playing single player, or on a server that is not joinable. Once you've ensured there is an IP, make sure that Xfire detects you actually have the game installed. If it doesn't know where the game is, it can't launch it to let you join! The fastest way to check is to add yourself to your own friends list, launch the game, and then alt-tab or alt-enter out and see what your status says. If Xfire isn't detecting your gameplay, see the FAQ Here!! Follow the instructions to get your games showing up in the Xfire Launch menu.

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* My friend is playing a game online in multiplayer mode as indicated on Xfire. When I click Join, I get an error message and can't join him. What's wrong?

Be sure that you have the game loaded onto your computer and have the latest build of it. Another reason for this error message may be that the game itself has a problem that is preventing you from joining. For instance, if it has had a server time-out, or if the server filled up with other players as you were joining.
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* Sometimes when I hit the enter key (or the "send" button) to send an IM to a friend, nothing happens. I suspect that my message is never sent. Why does this occur?

When sending IMs, Xfire waits patiently for confirmation from your friend's Xfire client. Then it sends over the message. You won't spot the message in the upper part of the chat window until your friend's machine has informed your client that the message was received. If your compadre is having network predicaments, the message text may stay in the lower window of the chat session.
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* My friends say they can't see any of my server info. What's going on?

There's a couple things that could be going on here. First, ensure that you've connected to an external server. If you start the server in the game itself, then there is no IP address to send to your friends (127.0.0.1 isn't very useful!) You need to connect to a server outside of your machine in order to allow Xfire to detect the server info and send it to your friends. You MAY be able to launch a separate dedicated server on your own machine, and then connect to that, but you'll have to try it and see if it sends the proper info to your friends - each instance is a little different.

If you're connected to an external server but your friends can't see the IP address, make sure you're moving around and interacting in the game. If you're dead or otherwise just spectating in the game, there is no IP traffic from your machine back to the server, and hence no way for Xfire to know you are actually playing.

Also, make sure that you've enabled the ability of other people to see your server info (which is on the Privacy Tab of the Options Menu.) If you're active in the game, however, and you've allowed people to see your server info, the problem may be in your Xfire installation. Try hopping onto a couple different servers - we have seen some servers that aren't able to be detected, so make sure it's not just the one server you happen to be on. If that doesn't work, you may want to try uninstalling Xfire, rebooting your machine, reinstalling, and then rebooting again to ensure Xfire is able to be properly installed.

Finally, if your IP address is showing but there is no list of players, it may be that we're still working on parsing out the server info for that game. While we generally support server info as soon as we support the game, it may need some tweaking, particularly if the game developers have changed the communication protocols in a patch or upgrade. We'll have that info working as soon as we can!

If none of this works, feel free to post in the Technical Support - OPEN forum and we'll see what we can do. We haven't worked out all the possibilities here yet, but we'll try to get you up and running if possible!
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* Why can't I join games like JointOps and Ravenshield?

These developers do not allow their multi-player servers to be joined using a "command line". This is the way Xfire allows you to "one click join" into servers.

Since there is no joining, there is no server list in the Xfire servers tab. You should still be able to launch the game from Xfire and track your hours.

Visit our Games page to see which games have "one click join" support from Xfire.
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* Why doesn’t my server show up in the Xfire “All” servers list?

We track every time someone joins your server via their Xfire client. Once enough Xfire users have joined your server we recognize it as a “good” server. Then it should be added to the “All” servers list.

We will send out a query every week to verify your server is still active.
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* How do I set up a Game Lobby?

The Chat Room admin (or whoever is "hosting" the game) sets the Chat Room as a Game Lobby for their installed game.

Your friends in the Chat Room click the Join Game button. This puts them in the Game Lobby "ready state". (In the Info View) They should remain there and not click the button again. If they click the button, they will un-ready themselves and not join.

Once everyone is "ready", the host clicks the 'Join Game' button. Your game should launch and bring you to the in-game lobby screen.

Your friends in the Xfire Game Lobby in the ready state should then be automatically launched into the game created by the host.

The limiting factors would most likely be firewalls. The easy way to test this is can the host go onto other sites like Gamespy or MSN Zone and host this game online.

In order to host a lobby, you must open some ports in your firewall or router. For Directplay 7 games you need to forward TCP and UDP traffic on port range 2300 to 2400 and port 47624. For Directplay 8 games you need to forward TCP and UDP traffic on port range 2302 to 2400 and port 6073.

Here is the Microsoft knowledge base article on this topic: Ports required to play on a network.

Click the link below to see games that are supported by Xfire Game Lobbies:

http://www.xfire.com/supported_games/lobby/
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* Xfire does not detect my Private server or No-Cd version of a game. Why?

Xfire only supports full retail versions of games.

We do not test with or support "no-cd" cracks or Private Server versions of MMO games.
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* Why does my game server show up in Xfire as the wrong country?

We use the database from http://ip-to-country.webhosting.info/ which is updated about once a month.

If you find an IP address that is displayed incorrectly in Xfire, you may want to report it in the IP-to-Country Bug Report forum.
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* When I try to join Call of Duty 2 MP (Steam) from Xfire, it launches single player. Why?

Call of Duty 2 uses two different exe files. One for Multiplayer and one for single player.

Steam changed their applaunch command to use the same applaunch # for both MP and SP.

There is currently nothing Xfire can do about this to our knowledge.
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Xfire In Game Messaging

Questions




Answers


* I really want to use Xfire In-Game but I do not have a Scroll Lock key on my keyboard. Is there a way fix I can change the keys?

Yes! You can define your own two key combination to bring up the Xfire In-Game interface.

Here's how:
  1. Go to your Tools menu in Xfire.
  2. Choose Options.
  3. Click on the Chat tab.
  4. Find the Key Binding button and click it.
  5. Now press and hold a two key combination and release them to set it.
  6. Press OK and you're done.
The next time you run a game the new key combination will take effect. You will also need to press the keys in the order you set them.
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* When I receive messages in game or try to send one the Xfire In-Game interface is blurry. What can I do to fix this?

This issue happens if Anisotropic Filtering is enabled in your game. Currently, the only work-around for this problem is to turn off Anisotropic Filtering in your game(s).

We realize this is a less than ideal work-around, which is why we are digging into the problem. If we can find a fix we will certainly put it out with an update.

On a side note, apparently Anti-Aliasing seems to not cause this problem to occur.
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* I'm running Windows 98/SE/ME and I can't get Xfire In-Game messages or use Scroll Lock + X. Why?

Xfire In-Game is no longer supported on Win9x systems
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* How do I enable or disable Continuous In-Game messaging?

Start up a game. Press Scroll Lock + X (or whatever your key bind is) to bring up the In-Game Menu.
  1. Press F2 (Menu). Selection 2 (Game you are playing options).
  2. Selection 4 (Enable Continuous/Alert mode).
  3. Press Enter to confirm.
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* Xfire In Game messaging does not work for me at all. Why?

There are a number of factors that allow Xfire to run along with your games and send and receive messages from within the game. Things to check on your system are as follows:
  • What OS? 32bit or 64bit?
    Xfire In-Game messaging is currently only supported on Windows Vista, XP and 2000. If you are running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista or XP, some games will run in 64-bit mode and Xfire will not be able to detect them at all.
  • What Xfire Skin?
    Some older User created skins do not have the latest In-Game support if any at all. The Xfire skin (default), Standard and Combat skins were created and tested by Xfire and always guaranteed to work with Xfire In-Game.
  • What game is not working? (list them if more than one - do not say 'All games')
  • Is this game on the Supported Games page? (Currently over 200 with In Game support)
  • Is the game on your Xfire Tools | Launch menu and can it be launched from there?
  • What is your key bind set to? (Tools> Options> Chat tab.)
  • Is In Game messaging enabled? (Tools> Options> Chat tab> 'Enable Xfire In-Game'. Requires Exit and restart of Xfire.)
  • Can this game be run in different render modes? (Example: CS 1.6 runs in both OGL and D3D9)
  • If so, what renderer are you running?
  • What renderer do you have Xfire set to for this game? (How do I change the Xfire in Game renderer for my game?)
  • Are you running Fraps?
    Fraps is a software video recording application. Older versions did not work well with OGL games and Xfire which could cause low fps or lockups. If you are running newer versions of Fraps, Xfire will detect it and not hook into your game. This will cause XIG and Screenshots to stop functioning
  • Are you running a “No CD” patch or a mod to launch the game?
    If your game is using a different .exe to launch the game, there is a possibility that Xfire will not detect it.
  • Does Xfire In-Game work for any of your other games? (list them)
  • What video card are you using?
  • What driver version for the video card?
  • What version of DirectX?
If you run through the steps listed here and still can't get In Game messages, copy and paste the above questions with your answers in theTechnical Support - OPEN section of our Forums with the subject "XIG not working - " so we can troubleshoot the problem further.
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* What is the new In-Game interface and how do I use it?

As of Xfire 1.77, we have added Xfire In-Game 2.0 support for Dawn of War as well as the Winter Assault and Dark Crusade expansion packs. We plan to add a few games at a time until all of our *possible XIG supported games are using XIG 2.0.

XIG 2.0 looks and functions more like the Xfire client outside of game, including the ability to use the mouse to drag the skin around the screen, resize your friends list, chat window and alert window.

*some games which currently support XIG may not be able to use the new In-Game system.
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* Nothing happens when I try to send a message in All Chats view. Why?

The All Chats view allows you to see all of your incoming messages in one window. To send a message in this view, you must specify which user you want to send a message to by using a /t (tell) or /msg (message) command (/tell also works). You must use your friend's user name, not nick name when typing to them. Here's an example:

If you are in game chatting with "[Xfire] mfive" and "[Xfire] Wyndairn" at the same time and want to reply to a message from "[Xfire] mfive", you would type:

/msg mfive "your message here"
Or:
/t mfive "your message here"

Without the quotes.
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* What skins support Xfire In-Game 2.0?

Currently, the three skins that come bundled with the Xfire software are the only officially supported XIG 2.0 skins.
These skins are Shadow, Xfire and Standard.
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* When I play Starcraft with Xfire In-Game enabled I get black bars on my screen. How can I fix it?

You are likely running on a DirectX 10 supported graphics card. This is currently a known issue with Xfire In-Game's DDRAW rendering mode and dx10 supported cards.

Unfortunately, the only workaround is to turn off Xfire In-Game messaging.

To disable In Game messaging for individual games:
  • Make sure you exit any games that are running.
  • In Xfire, go to the Tools | Options | Games tab.
  • Under Installed Games, highlight the title of the game you wish to disable In-Game messaging for.
  • Click the Advanced Options button.
  • Check "Disable Xfire In-game."
No Exit or log off is required for this change.

The next time you launch that game, XIG should be disabled.
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* How do I change the Xfire in Game renderer for my game?

Xfire in Game messaging features will only work if both your game and Xfire are using the same renderer. Some games can be rendered in multiple modes (D3D8, D3D9, D3D10, OGL, etc…). First determine which renderer your game is running in. You can usually find this information in the video options within your game.

Then make sure Xfire is set to that same renderer:
  1. Open Xfire and go to Tools | Options | Games.
  2. Highlight your game on the ‘Installed Games’ list by clicking it.
  3. Once your game is highlighted you can use the 'In-Game Renderer' drop-down menu to select from the available render modes.
  4. Click Apply.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Restart Xfire (Xfire | Exit).
Keep in mind that only render modes that meet the following two criteria will appear in the drop-down list:
  1. Your graphics card must support the render mode and,
  2. Xfire must support the render mode for that game
If only one renderer meets both of the above criteria, the drop-down menu list will be grey (disabled) and the renderer that Xfire uses will be displayed but you will not be able to change it.

Remember, some games can be rendered in modes that Xfire does not support yet (for example Lord of the Rings Online can be rendered in DX10 mode, but Xfire does not support DX10 for this game yet). In this case you can still use Xfire in Game features if you run your game in the render mode that Xfire does support.
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Xfire Download System

Questions




Answers


* I'm trying to download files from Xfire. Whenever I click "download now" it just opens up Xfire? Why?

The first thing to look at is what Xfire skin are you using? Most older or User created skins do not have a "Files" tab and do not support the Xfire download system.

The "Official" Xfire skins are guaranteed to work with the Xfire download system. Those skins are Shadow (default) and Xfire.
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* My Xfire download says 99% complete but is still in the Active category and requesting sources. Why?

If a file you downloaded from Xfire says “99 or 100%” try right clicking on the file name and selecting “Stop Download”, then right click again and “Start Download”. This will cause Xfire to immediately look for new sources or move the file to its completed state. You can also do this by logging off of Xfire and logging back on.
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* Why is Xfire downloading files I did not ask to download?

Check the categories in your Files tab.

You may have inadvertently subscribed to a channel which automatically delivers content via the Xfire download system. Simply right click on it and 'Unsubscribe Channel'.

Delete any unwanted files from the C:\Program Files\Xfire\downloads folder. Set your download options to 'Disabled' to avoid this in the future. The download throttle settings are found in Tools> Options> Files tab.
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* Can I add or upload my own files to the Xfire Download system?

No. We control all the content for the Xfire download system to ensure that we are providing clean files to the Xfire Users.

Feel free to post a link to something you have created and we can review it. If the content manager feels it is appropriate and something the Xfire Users will enjoy, we may contact you and add it to the download system.
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* What are these .dat files in my downloads folder?

When you select a file to download, the first thing you see in your Xfire Files tab is "Getting Metadata". This adds an entry to the fileids.ini files.

Then we add a temporary file to your downloads folder. That is the .dat file. What this .dat file does is reserve the hard drive space necessary for the file you are downloading. This way you no matter what other functions or files you are working on on your machine, you will not run out of hard drive space for your download.

If you still have that download active in your Xfire files tab, you will not be able to delete the .dat file as it is "in use" by Xfire.

Once the download is complete, the .dat files are deleted automatically.
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* Why is Xfire uploading data? What is it uploading?

The Xfire File system is a P2P system. If you download files from Xfire and leave them in the default directory with your download settings on, they are eligible to be "shared" with others using the Xfire File system.

If you do not wish to share files:
  • Move the files out of the downloads folder when they are complete.
  • Set your Tools | Options | Files settings to 'Disabled'.
If you disable your Xfire downloads, you will still get interim game updates for the latest game support and Xfire Updates via P2P but they will not be shared with the Xfire network.

Remember, if everyone just downloaded the files they wanted and then set those options to disabled, the file system would be considerably slower.
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* Why can't I send a file using Personal File transfers?

There are two likely cases where sending a file through Xfire would not work for you.
  • You or the person receiving the file are running an older Xfire skin that does not support Personal File transfers.
  • You are behind incompatible firewalls.
The way to check if it is firewall related is by finding out what "NAT type" both users are. To check this, go to your files page, open the info view, scroll to the bottom, you should see NAT Check Failed. If both users are NAT type 3 it will not work either. For more info on how to fix this see here:

How to forward a port to allow Xfire P2P.
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* I have Automatic Patch downloads on but I'm not getting any patches, why?

You will get automatic patches when a new patch is released for a game that your Xfire client detects.

A new patch usually stays in the system for about two weeks. So if you install a game while that patch is still live, it should be pushed to you automatically in the Patch channel.

If there are no patches currently in the channel, you can go to the Xfire Files page and search for your game title. We try to have patches available for most games we support and we will usually have the latest patches for the most popular titles on Xfire.
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* I can't download files at all on Xfire, why?

See more details in the Advanced FAQ here:

http://www.xfire.com/faq#170
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* How do I send a file directly to a friend with Xfire?

Xfire Personal File Transfers use the same P2P network as the Xfire Download system.

Here's how to send a file:
  1. Right click on a friend in your friends list
  2. Click Send File.
  3. You should get a window to select the file you wish to send. Browse to the file and click OK.
  4. You then get the File Transfer Confirmation window. Here you can add some text to describe the file and select to "Use your rate cap". This means the Personal File Transfer rate will respect your download settings in the Tools | Options | Files tab.
  5. Click Ok. You should get a chat window to your friend that says "Requesting file transfer. Waiting for response"
At this point, your friend clicks Ok and selects a directory to save the file in. The file transfer should begin.

If at any point either user gets disconnected or logs off, the partial file transfer can be resumed if the sender re-sends the same file.
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* Xfire tried to download an update but gets stuck halfway and won’t finish the download. What can I do?

Sometimes users with dial-up or unstable connections are unable to complete Xfire updates through the client itself. The good news is there is another way to update your Xfire client!

If you are having trouble updating through the Xfire client, try the following:
  • (Without uninstalling) Download the full installer from here.
  • Install it over your current copy of Xfire.
  • If there have been any ‘game updates’ since the last client release, you’ll need to download the game update as well to have support for the most recently supported games.
And that's it! You should be all up to date without waiting for the Xfire client to download it.
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Xfire Voice Chat/Chat Rooms

Questions




Answers


* How do I use the new Xfire Voice Chat feature?

First of all you must have a working microphone and speakers (or headphones/headset mic) attached to your computers sound card. It is a good idea to test your microphone and speaker levels before starting a voice chat. You can do this by going Tools> Options> Voice tab and clicking the ‘Test’ buttons there.

There are several ways to start a voice chat but they all start by highlighting a Friend in your Friends list. Left clicking the “Mic” button on the Info View of the main client or an IM window will instantly open a chat window to your Friend with an incoming voice call. Once they accept the call, you can start voice chatting!

You can also get to this menu by right clicking on a Friend or selecting Tools | Friends | Call.
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* Why do I hear my voice echoing on my headphones when I voice chat with someone?

It is likely that the Friend you are voice chatting with has a combination of loud headphones and a sensitive microphone. What you hearing is the sound from their headphones coming back through their microphone.

The best way to tone this down is to have your Friend adjust their headphone volume and possibly the microphone input sensitivity as well.
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* My friend sent me a voice chat invite and I didn’t get it. Why?

Xfire Voice Chat uses a peer to peer system. It is possible that you and your Friend are both behind firewalls that aren't compatible. If you think this may be the case, try forwarding port 25777 in your router or firewall. Details in this FAQ here.

Another possibility:

Are you already in a voice chat with someone else? You currently can only voice chat with one Friend or Chat Room at a time on Xfire Voice Chat.
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* How do I voice chat with more than one person?

As of version 1.46 we have implemented Xfire Voice enabled Chat Rooms.

To enable it, start a new Chat Room or join a persistent room from your servers tab. Select the "Actions" menu in the Chat Room window. Then select "Host Voicechat".

You are now the Peer to Peer host of the Voice Chat. You can use the "Actions" menu to disable and enable your microphone, but continue to host the others in the room.

If you select "Stop Hosting", all voice chat stops until someone else in the Chat Room selects "Host Voicechat" and becomes the host. Only those with a permission level of Power User or higher may host voice chat.

This feature is brand new and still under active development so your feedback in the Feature Suggestions and Tech Support forums will help us improve Voice Chat in future updates of Xfire.
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* My headset microphone is not working with Xfire Voice chat. Why?

Check the drop down menus in Tools> Options> Voice tab. Make sure the device you are trying to use is selected in the “Input and Output” fields.

If you have a device that is installed properly and working with other programs but Xfire is not finding it, please post some details including the brand and model number of the device in our Technical Support - OPEN forum and we will check into it.
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* How do I disable the "phone ringing" sound when I receive a voice invite?

To disable the ring sound, go to Tools | Options | Chat tab. Uncheck "Play a sound when: I send or receive voice chat requests."
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* Why does Xfire say 'Low quality' when I voice chat even though I have set my options to the highest quality?

Xfire will negotiate the setting between the two users voice chatting. An example would be if your options are set to 'Highest' quality and you send an invite to a friend who is set to 'Medium' quality, Xfire will set the voice chat to 'Medium' to accomodate the user with the lower bandwidth setting.
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* Xfire is set to play a sound when I get a voice chat request, but I don't hear it in my USB headset. Why?

In order to hear the ring sound when you get an Xfire voice call, you must set the USB headset as the default device in Windows XP.

To do this:
  • Go to your Windows Start menu | Settings | Control Panel.
  • Double Click Sounds and Audio Devices.
  • Click the Audio tab
  • In the pulldown menu for "Sound Playback Default Device:" select your USB headset.
  • Click OK

You should now hear the ring for incoming voice calls in your USB headset.
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* How do I start a Chat Room?

Start by right clicking on any Friend and selecting 'Invite to new chat room'. Your friend must be using an Xfire skin that supports Chat Rooms in order to receive the invite. The default Xfire skin will always work.

Once you get a Chat Room started you can invite more friends, set up permissions, set voice options and save it in your Xfire Servers tab (persistent room) so you can always rejoin the conversation. This is all done from the Actions menu in the Chat Room window.

For a more visual explanation of these features, check out Chat Rooms in the Xfire Product Tour!
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* I can't voice chat at all on Xfire, why?

See more details in the Advanced FAQ here:

http://www.xfire.com/faq#170
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* Can I answer a voice call while in a game?

If you are running a Xfire In-Game 2.0 supported skin (Shadow, Standard, Xfire) in an Xfire 2.0 supported game, then you can answer 1 to 1 voice calls by clicking the phone icon on the XIG interface or pressing Scroll Lock + T.

You can customize the key bind under Tools | Options | Chat tab.
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Screenshots

Questions




Answers


* How do I add screenshots to my Xfire Profile page?

First launch Xfire and any game that has Xfire In-Game messaging support. Then while in game take screenshots by pressing Scroll Lock + S. (This can be reassigned to a single key or a different key combo in Tools | Options | Chat tab.)

When you quit the game, you will be presented with the Xfire Screenshots dialog. Here you can preview the shots you just took, choose which ones to upload, and even add captions! If you want to upload at a later time, click Cancel you may upload them from the Screenshots tab of the Xfire client (for older skins check the Files tab).

In the Screenshots tab, you have the Local and Remote screenshots categories. From here you can simply right click any screenshot and choose to upload it or remove it from your Xfire Profile. You can also change the caption of a selected screenshot in the Xfire Info View.

Please note the upload rate is not the same as the P2P rates you set in Tools | Options | Files. Screenshot uploading will use whatever your maximum available upload speed is.
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* Can I add other images not taken with Xfire In-Game to my profile?

No you cannot upload images not created with Xfire. Xfire adds encryption to the file to show what game you were playing, time and date and server IP.
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* Help! I can’t take screenshots at all. Why doesn’t Xfire screenshots work for me?

Xfire can only take screenshots in games that have Xfire In-Game messaging support. For a list of those games, see our Games Page.

If Xfire In-Game messaging is not working for your supported game, see here: http://www.xfire.com/faq/#178

Xfire In-Game is no longer supported on Windows 98/SE/ME systems.
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* Why does it take so long to login to Xfire now that I have taken some screenshots?

If you have a virus scan program that has real time file scanning or protection, it will attempt to scan all the files residing in your screenshots and downloads folder. This causes Xfire to appear stuck when logging in.

To prevent this, check your virus scanner options for an exception list for real time scanning. Add Xfire.exe to the list and you should login much faster.
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* What is the maximum number of screenshots I can add to my Profile page?

The maximum data storage is 1 GB. So if you run in a very high resolution, you will have fewer screenshots on your Profile page.
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* How do I add captions or comments to my screenshots?

You can add a caption in the Xfire Screenshots dialog prior to uploading.

You can also go to your Profile page, click "View full screenshot gallery" then click the "Edit screenshot description" button to edit the caption directly from the website. You can edit them on the website by clicking the screenshot and then clicking the 'edit' option (looks like a little pencil).

In Xfire, you can go to the Screenshots tab (Files tab for older skins). Under the 'Remote' category highlight the one you wish to edit, in the Xfire Info view type in the 'Description' field and click Save.
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* What key do I use to take Xfire Screenshots?

The default key combination is Scroll Lock + S. You can change this in Tools | Options | Chat tab. Click ‘Screenshot key binding’ and set a single key or two key combination.
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* Can I take screenshots using a button on my mouse or joystick?

If the mouse or joystick included software for mapping buttons to keyboard keys or macros, then yes you should be able to.

Set your Screenshot key or key combo in Tools | Options | Chat tab. Then using your mouse or joystick configuration software, map that key to a button on the gaming device.
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* How do I delete a screenshot from my Profile?

Go to your Xfire Profile page. Click "See all screenshots". On the Screenshots page you can delete, lock and edit captions for your screenshots.

You may also delete them directly from the Xfire software. Click the Screenshots tab (Files tab on older skins), under the Remote category right click any screenshot file name and select Remove.
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Game Statistics

Questions




Answers


* Why aren’t my stats being tracked on my Xfire Profile?

There are a few factors that may cause your stats to not track.

From the Xfire client, check Tools | Options | Privacy tab. Make sure the checkbox for “Track Kill/Death stats for display on Profile” is checked. This option globally disables Game Statistics.
You can also go to Tools | Options | Games tab, under the 'Installed Games' list highlight the game name, click Advanced Options button and make sure “Disable Kill/Death tracking” is not checked for that game. This will disable Game Statistics for that game only.

Xfire Game Stats also rely on other components of Xfire to get the stats to your Profile page. Make sure these things are functioning as well:
  • Does Xfire In-game messaging work (hit scroll-lock + X)? If this is not working, we will not get data.
  • Do Screenshots work for you (hit scroll-lock + S)? Can they be uploaded to your profile page? If these are not working, then Game Stats will likely not work either.
  • Are you running FRAPS? FRAPS is known to cause conflicts with Xfire, so we do not attach to your game if we detect that it is running. This, in turn, means that we don't collect Game Stats information.
  • Have you edited your xfire_games.ini file? Supported Games are set up to work by default now and do not require editing the internal files.
If all of these things are working correctly, make a post in our Tech Support OPEN forum and give us the IP addresses of the servers you play on so we can take a look at them. There may be server side mods we aren't aware of that prevent Xfire from collecting stats.

Lastly, for Quake 3 there is a server-side setting that can completely disable the information in the console that allows Xfire to track your stats. That command is:

cl_noprint 1

When set to 0, console logging functions normally and Xfire can track stats. When set to anything else, it causes the console log to not get any information whatsoever. If you are playing on a server and your Game Statistics aren't being recorded on your Xfire profile, notify the server administrator about this setting if possible.
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* Why doesn’t Xfire track stats for my favorite game?

Currently we are tracking stats for:
  • Quake 3 Arena
  • Quake 4
  • Jedi Academy Multiplayer
  • Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
  • Medal of Honor: Allied Assault | Breakthrough | Spearhead
  • Call of Duty MP
  • Call of Duty UO

Of course we want to support as many games as possible. We will add stat tracking support to more games as this new feature is being developed.

If you would like to see Kill/Death tracking added to your favorite game, let us know by posting in the Feature Suggestions forum.
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* How do I disable Xfire Game Statistics tracking?

From the Xfire client, go to Tools | Options | Privacy tab. Uncheck the checkbox for “Track Kill/Death stats for display on Profile”.
You can also go to Tools | Options | Games tab, under the Installed list highlight the game name, click Advanced Options button and check “Disable Kill/Death tracking”.

The first option disables Game Statistics for all of your installed games. The second method disables Game Statistics for individual games.
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* My stats are showing up but appear to be incorrect, why?

If you are playing on multiple servers this may be related to mods or server-side settings that can disable console information. See the FAQ here for more details.

If you have found a problem or bug with Game Statistics, please post in the Tech Support OPEN forum with the subject “Game Statistics”.
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* How can I stop the console information from scrolling on screen while I'm playing Quake 3 or Jedi Academy?

If you are playing Quake 3, press the tilde key ~ to drop down the console and type in this command:

/con_notifytime -1

When set to -1, this prevents all console messages from appearing on-screen. When set to anything higher, it sets the amount of time that console log lines appear on-screen.

If you are playing Jedi Academy MP, use this command:

/con_notifytime 0
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* What is Skill Rating?

Skill Rating takes your total hours played of a game, kill death ratio, number of rounds played and some other magic ingredients to create an average rating for you to compare against other users.
If your rating seems low, just keep playing and fragging and after a few hours you will notice that it goes up.
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Xfire Clans & Guilds

Questions




Answers


* How do I start a Clan or Guild?

Head over to the Xfire Clans & Guilds page and under the ‘Your Clans’ box, click Create Clan.

Enter a Full name. Think of the Full name like your Xfire nickname. This will be the name displayed on your Clan or Guild Profile page.

Enter a Short Name first and check availability of the name. Think of short name like your Xfire username, this will be the permanent Clan or Guild name. The Short name must only contain lower case letters and numbers.

Click Create! Congrats! You are now the founder of a Clan or Guild.
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* How do I join a Clan or Guild?

First, the email address listed in your Xfire Profile must be a valid email address that can be verified.

Select the Clan or Guild you wish to join from the directory. Click Apply for Membership!

If you wish, enter a message for the Clan or Guild founder and then click Submit Application!

The Guild or Clan founder will then decide whether or not to approve your membership. Once approved, all of the members of the Clan or Guild will automatically be added to a custom group in your Xfire client.
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* How do I leave a Clan or Guild?

First make sure you are logged into Xfire.com with the correct user name.
  • Go to the Clans & Guilds home page.
  • Under the "Your Clans & Guilds" box, click the name of the clan or guild you wish to leave.
  • On the left side of the page click 'Leave Clan' (or Leave Guild)
You will get a confirmation dialog to make sure you want to leave your clan or guild.

Once you select Yes, the clan or guild group will be removed from your Xfire Friends list.

Note: If you are the administrator of the clan or guild, you must assign Rank 1 permissions to someone else before leaving or remove all members and pending invites/applications.
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* My Clan name is taken. What can I do about it?

Make the Short name a slightly altered version of what you wanted and use the Long Name to display the real Clan or Guild name on your Clan or Guild Profile page.
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* How many Clans or Guilds can I be in at one time?

You can be a member of five Xfire Clans & Guilds at one time. This includes any outstanding invites or applications you may have.
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* How many members can be in a Clan or Guild?

The current maximum number of Clan or Guild members is 300.
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* What is the difference between a Clan and a Guild?

Currently nothing. We will be adding more functions and features to the Clan and Guild Profiles to make them more distinguishable in the future.
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* Why can’t I apply to any Clans or Guilds?

You can only be a member of five Clans or Guilds at one time. This includes any outstanding invites or applications you may have.
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* Where can I make suggestions for the Clans & Guilds feature and web pages?

Head over to the Feature Suggestions forum to post your suggestions, ideas and comments about this Xfire feature.
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* I left my clan. How do I get back in?

You must be invited back by a ranking member of the Clan or Guild with permission to invite and/or approve new members. If there are no members in the Clan or Guild to invite you back and you are the Founder, apply to the clan and you should be automatically accepted back in.
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* How do my clan or guild mates accept the invitation I sent them?

Your clan or guild mates must first have a valid registered email attached to their Xfire username.

See the FAQ here for how to validate their registered email address.

If their email is working and valid they will receive a notification that they have been invited to the Clan or Guild you created on Xfire. They simply click the the link in the email which takes them to http://www.xfire.com/clans

Under 'Your Clans & Guilds' they will see their pending invitations and can choose to accept or reject them.
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* How do I set a different nickname for my clan?

Go to your Clan or Guild homepage. Click Roster.

At the bottom of the Roster there is a field for you to set a Clan nickname. This is separate from your Xfire nickname and will be displayed to your clan mates in their Xfire client.

If you do not use a clan nickname, your normal nickname or user name will be shown.
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* How do I set up member ranks in my Clan or Guild?

From your Xfire Clan or Guild homepage, click the "Edit Preferences" button on the navigation bar on the left side of the page.

Click "Set Up Ranks".

You will see that by default the Ranks are numbered one through ten. Click the 'Edit' link next to each one to change the title and assign permissions to each rank.
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* How do I add Games to my Clan or Guild page?

From your Xfire Clan or Guild homepage, click the "Edit Preferences" button on the navigation bar on the left side of the page.

Click "Clan Games".

From here you can add, remove and sort your Clan or Guilds favorite games!
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* How do I change the Clan logo?

From your Xfire Clan or Guild homepage, click the "Edit Preferences" button on the navigation bar on the left side of the page.

Click "Clan Logo".
From here you can delete the current logo or click the browse button to select an image from your PC and upload it to your Clan page to use as the Clan or Guild logo.
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* Can I prevent other users from viewing or applying to my Clan?

From your Xfire Clan or Guild homepage, click the "Edit Preferences" button on the navigation bar on the left side of the page.

In the General Preferences you can set up a number of options:
  1. The full name of the Clan or Guild.
  2. The type of Clan (Clan, Guild, Cult, Squad, etc.).
  3. Private Clan (This means only approved clan members can view clan pages).
  4. Invitation Only. (This means no one can apply to your clan or guild).
  5. Clan description (Tell the world what your Clan or Guild is all about).
  6. Clan site URL (Add a hyperlink to your Xfire Clan site or other homepage).
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* How can I delete a clan?

Much like usernames, we do not delete clans.

You are always welcome to create a new clan with an altered short name.
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* My clans ‘Founder’ isn’t around anymore. Can someone from Xfire change the founder or give another person in my clan permissions?

No. Xfire adheres to a strict policy that leaves all clan responsibility up to the founder and those that are assigned the requisite permissions by the founder. We do not assign or change permissions for clans or otherwise.

If you’re unable to get in contact with your clan leadership you can create a new clan or wait until you are able to contact them. Ultimately, it is the clan founder’s responsibility to ensure that permissions are passed on when that person decides to leave.
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* I am the founder of my clan and I set my clan to ‘Invitation Only’ and then left my clan. How can I join my clan again?

No worries! You can still get back into your clan by going to http://www.xfire.com/clans/YOURCLANSHORTNAMEHERE/apply/.

Be sure to insert your clan short name into the url before visiting the link.
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* How do I remove a member from my clan?

First, you will need to have the appropriate permissions. Only a Clan Founder or a clan member with 'Administer' permissions will be able to perform this function.
  1. Log in to the Xfire website using your Xfire username and password.
  2. Navigate to your clan's web page by clicking on your clan's name under 'Clans & Guilds'.
  3. Click 'Members' on the tool list on the left side of the screen.
  4. Click 'Edit Members' on the tool list on the left side of the screen.
  5. You will now see a list of all Clan members. Click 'Kick Out' next to the member you would like to remove.
  6. If you are sure you want to kick that member out, click 'Yes' on the next screen.
If the removal was successful you will receive a message confirming that the member was removed.
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* What are Clan Screentshots and Videos; how do I add them to my Xfire Clan's page?

Clan screenshots and videos are a collection of screenshots and videos which are automatically added to your Xfire Clan's page as Clan members upload them to the Xfire website. Screenshots and videos will only show up for "Favorite Games" that are associated with the Clan

*NOTE* The Clan page will not automatically add screenshots and videos that have already been uploaded to the Xfire website prior to this feature being added to Xfire (5/7/2009). If you want screenshots and videos that existed prior to this date added to your clan page you will need to upload them again to the Xfire website.
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* How do I remove screenshots or videos from my Xfire Clan page?

There are a couple of ways in which a screenshot or video can be removed from your Xfire Clan page.
  • The Clan Admin or any other clan rank that has the "Remove Screenshots and Videos" privilege can remove individual screenshots and videos by using the "Edit" button on the screenshots and Video module.
  • The Clan member that added the screenshot or video can also use the "Edit" button on the screenshots and video module to remove the screenshots and videos they have uploaded.
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* I just added a new "Favorite Game" to my Clan but I don't see any Screenshots or Videos for that game. Why won't they show up?

Screenshots and Videos are added to the Clan on the time of upload to the Xfire website. Screenshots and videos that are already on the Xfire website will not be automatically added to your Clan screenshots and videos section. You can however, upload the screenshot or video again (if you still have the files locally) to the website and they will then show up on your Clan page.
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Troubleshooting

Questions




Answers


* While using Xfire I tried to launch/join a game and my game crashed. Why is this happening?

This problem is likely caused by Xfire In-Game messaging. Xfire In-Game is the technology that now allows you to send and receive messages inside your games (if they're supported). Because this is a very complex feature, there is a possibility that some of our users could run into compatibility problems.

The first test we recommend is for you to try disabling the Xfire In-Game system to see if this fixes the crashing problem. To do this, follow these simple steps:
  1. Log into Xfire, click on the "Tools" menu, and select "Options".
  2. When the options screen appears, click on the "Chat" tab.
  3. Find the check box that says "Enable Xfire In-Game" and uncheck it.
  4. Click the "Ok" button at the bottom of the options screen
  5. Exit Xfire completely. A logoff will not be enough to make this change occur. You must exit Xfire for the setting to take effect.
  6. Restart Xfire, log in, and relaunch/join a game to see if it works.
If after performing the steps above, your game works fine, then the problem was with the Xfire In-Game system. In order to help you troubleshoot why your system doesn't work with In-Game, we need a bit of information about your system. There are 2 log files that you can post or send to us that will help us to diagnose the problem.

The first file is generated by Direct X. To create this log file, you will need to follow these steps:
  1. Go to your start menu
  2. Select "run"
  3. When the run dialog window appears, enter "dxdiag.exe" in the "open:" field and click the "ok" button.
  4. When the Direct X Diagnostic Tool window appears, click on the button that says "Save all Information".
  5. Click "Save" on the "Save As" screen that appears to create a file on your desktop that's named Dxdiag.txt

The second log file is generated by Xfire, but you will need to follow these steps in order to create it:
  1. Make sure you exit the game. It may even be helpful to reboot the PC before creating the log file.
  2. Turn Xfire In-Game messaging back on. (Tools | Options | Chat tab. Check Show chat messages in game. Exit and restart Xfire)
  3. In Xfire click Tools | Options | General tab.
  4. Click the Advanced button.
  5. Check the box labeled "In-Game debugging".
  6. Click OK | Click Ok again.
  7. Exit Xfire completely and restart Xfire.

    You will receive a message that Advanced Options are enabled. This is to remind you to turn them off when you are done creating the debug log.

  8. Launch the game you are having trouble with from Xfire Tools | Launch.
  9. Once in game, press your key combo to activate XIG (Scroll Lock + X)
  10. Exit the game and exit Xfire.
  11. After the game fails, exit Xfire, and go to your Xfire application data directory (For XP users the path is C:\Documents and Settings\your windows user name\Application Data\xfire. For Vista, c:\users\your windows user name\AppData\Roaming\xfire), and there should be a file called "xfire_toucan_log.txt". Copy this file to your desktop along with the Dxdiag.txt file you created in the steps above.

Now that you have both of these files created, send an email with both logs as an attachment, the game title, a link to your thread in our Tech Support forums and a brief desciption of what exactly occurs (error reports, etc.) to support@xfire.com with the subject line of "in game logs - title of the game". Once we've received the log files, our engineering team will look through them to find out why this is happening.

Be sure to go back into the Advanced options and disable In-Game debugging once you have sent off the log files. Continuing to append the debug log can cause performance issues in Xfire.

Once we complete our investigation into the issue we'll post back to your forum thread with more information.
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* Whenever I try to send a message to a friend or they send me a message Xfire crashes. Why is this happening?

Unfortunately this problem is nearly always linked to a virus or spyware known as a browser helper object (BHO) on your computer. The reason we say nearly is because the only other instance of this happening has been from a conflict with Earthlink's Total Access 2005. Earthlink has since released a patch for their software which corrects the problem.

If you are not using Earthlink and have this problem, a virus is trying to inject itself into any Internet Explorer windows or controls which is crashing Xfire.

Let us explain further. The expanded infoview (the pop out window on the side of Xfire and chat windows) in Xfire is an Internet Explorer control. By default the expanded infoview is open on a chat window. This is when the virus tries to inject itself into our IE control window, causing the crash, and displaying an exception report.

We do not have a definitive fix to this problem since we are not virus removal experts.

If you have a virus scan application, get the latest updates and try to clean it and remove it. You can also try SpyBot S&D, Adaware, or HiJack This! to remove spyware at your own risk.
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* I think Xfire is not tracking my gameplay hours. What’s causing this?

There are a few separate things that can affect this. The first thing to do is to make sure the game is supported by Xfire. Simply visit the Xfire Games page on this site to confirm if the game is supported.

The next thing to do is to determine whether or not Xfire knows you have the game installed and is tracking the hours for you. To do this, add yourself as a friend, start up the game in question, now Alt + Tab out of your game and view your status on Xfire. Does it show you playing the game that is running?

If it does not show you playing the game, then Xfire likely has no idea that you have the game so it will not record your play time. Go to Tools | Launch, and view your games installed. If you cannot find the game on the list:
  • Go to your Tools | Options | Games tab.
  • Find the games you have on your system in the 'Not installed' list.
  • Highlight the game name and the "Manual Setup" radio button.
  • Click 'Browse'.
  • Find the folder that contains the .exe file for that game and click 'Ok'.
  • Click 'Apply'.
Check your Tools | Launch menu to verify that the game is now detected.

If the game is being detected while you are playing and you found it on the launch list, it is being tracked. The reason your Xfire.com Profile page doesn't seem to display your hours is because the stats do not update until you exit your game and Xfire stops detecting it. When you start a game it begins a “session” and when you exit the game finally it will end the “session.” Once that happens your amount of time played is sent to Xfire and your Profile page should be updated instantly or within a few minutes.

Lastly, if the game shows up on your launch list but doesn't get detected when the game is run, please post in the Technical Support - OPEN section of our Forums describing the problem and with which game it happens to so we can troubleshoot the problem further.
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* When I view my mini-profile it has different played hours than my actual profile does. Which is correct?

Your main profile should always have the correct amount of hours played as long as the game is being detected by Xfire. To serve up the mini-profile more efficiently they have been cached unless you are playing a game at that time. The correct stats will be displayed on your mini-profile shortly after they have been updated to your main profile.
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* I am receiving parse errors while I run Xfire. Why does this happen?

Your install of Xfire may have not been updated properly the last time it was patched.

Try the following:
  1. Exit Xfire completely if it is running.
  2. Go to your base Xfire install directory (default location is C:Program Files\Xfire).
  3. Find and open the xfire.ini file. For Windows Vista users see here: http://www.xfire.com/faq/#228
  4. Change the Version=XX to one integer lower than it currently is.

    Example: Your current entry is Version=30. Change this to Version=29.

  5. Save the file.
  6. Now run Xfire, this change will force you to re-update and correct any problems that may of occurred the last time you updated.
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* Why does my mini-profile say I have "chosen not to display this data"?

The mini-profile is linked to your privacy settings in the Xfire client.

To show your mini-profile information simply do the following:
  1. Start up Xfire.
  2. Go to the Tools menu.
  3. Select Options.
  4. Select Privacy tab.
  5. Under Game Status make sure "Show on my profile and miniprofile" is checked.
Your mini-profile will now display all of it's information.
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* I am trying to use a custom Avatar for your website. It only shows up in my Profile and not in my Mini-Profile, why?

Actually this is correct behavior. If you are using a custom Avatar it will only be displayed on your profile page. It will not be displayed in your Mini-Profile as you have noticed. We have done this for multiple reasons. One is because doing this can possibly slow down our webservers. Also allowing it can cause problems if the image is too large or is of something that is inapproprate, etc.
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* Why can't I use Xfire to join a server when my game is already running?

The way Instant Joining works is through what are called command line parameters. These command lines need to be used in conjunction with the launch of the .exe file for that game. If the game is already running there is no way to pass a command line statement to that game.

Some games handle this better than others. Most will let you know that you already have an instance of the game running. Simply shut down the game and use Xfire to join the intended server you were about to join.
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* How do I join a friend in Teamspeak or Ventrilo from Xfire?

Currently, Xfire supports two voice chat programs, Teamspeak and Ventrilo. You can download these programs here:

Teamspeak

Ventrilo

Once you get them installed, run Xfire and Teamspeak and/or Ventrilo should appear in your Launch list just like a game would.

Teamspeak and Ventrilo have “one click join” support through Xfire. So if you have a Friend already in a Teamspeak or Ventrilo chat server, right click their name and select Join Teamspeak (or Join Ventrilo). You can also get this menu by going to Tools | Friends | Join Teamspeak or the Actions menu in a chat window.

If the Join option is greyed out, there is no IP address showing. Make sure you or your Friend talks for about 10-20 seconds in order for Xfire to see the network traffic to the TS/Vent server. Also check the Xfire Tools | Options | Privacy menu and make sure you have "Show my voice chat server to my friends" checked.
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* My Join Game button is greyed out and I can't join any games. Why?

The first thing to check is whether or not the game you are trying to join is supported by Xfire as a joinable game. Some games like Everquest, Diablo II, and Ravenshield are not joinable through Xfire. For a complete list of what games are supported by Xfire and which games are Joinable go to the following link:

One Click Join

The next thing to do is make sure that Xfire knows you have the game you are trying to join. The easiest way to find this out is to go to the Tools | Launch menu. Does it display the game you are trying to play there? If the game is there, can you launch the game from there? If the game is not listed or able to be launched from that menu:
  • Go to your Tools | Options | Games tab.
  • Find the games you have on your system in the 'Not installed' list.
  • Highlight the game name and click 'Browse'.
  • Find the folder that contains the .exe file for that game and click 'Ok'.
  • Click 'Apply'.
Check your Tools | Launch menu to verify that the game is now detected.

If you can launch the game through Xfire, that is a good sign. Now when you highlight your friend that you want to join, does the expanded info view show the IP address of the server they are playing on? If there is no IP address listed there you will not be able to join.
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* How do I change the Xfire auto reconnect time?

You cannot change it at this time.

The idea of auto-reconnect is so people who are AFK get a random time that they will be reconnected and people who are at their computer can click "Connect now".
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* When I run Xfire my computer loses network connectivity along with other computers on my network. Is Xfire causing this?

This is caused by a limitation in a network device like a router. This is commonly seen on wireless devices.

When you log in to Xfire it sends out queries to all the servers your Friends and Friends of Friends are playing on. When those queries get returned, the routers internal tables cannot handle the data properly and shutdown your network connection.

The known workarounds for this problem are:
1. Turn off the Friends of Friends option. (Tools | Options | Privacy tab. Uncheck "Show friends of my friends").

2. Turn off the typing notification. (Tools | Options | Privacy tab. Uncheck "Show people when I type to them").

3. Try disabling the Xfire download system. (Tools | Options | Files tab. Set all to "Disabled").

If these things do not improve your connection to Xfire we may ask for you to post the following information in our Technical Support - OPEN forum.

What is the exact text of the error message you get from Xfire?
When does Xfire lose connection? (Getting Friends list?, Initializing??)
What type of connection? (Cable, DSL, 56k?)
What kind of software firewall or router are you using?
Do you have a security software package like Norton or Zone Alarm and if so, which version?
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* My Counter-Strike Source and Half Life 2 cannot be applied in the Games tab. Why?

In order for Xfire to detect any Steam games, you must have run the game at least once to create its directory and gcf file. After a Steam update you may need to run them again for Xfire to auto-detect them.

The xfire_games.ini is also looking for certain criteria.
  1. A dir key in your registry pointing to where you have Steam installed.
  2. A Launcher .exe (which would be Steam.exe) located in the path specified in your registry.
  3. An "install hint" which is a common file from a given games directory.
  4. A "detect .exe" which is the executable that is running when you're playing the game.

Now, if your registry key does not match the location of your steam.exe, your Steam games will not be automatically detected and possibly will not be able to be applied using the Tools | Options | Games tab.

What we suggest is to go to your start menu, click on run, and type 'regedit' and click OK. This will bring up the windows registry editor.

The registry key that Xfire looks for to detect your Steam games is: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Valve\Steam\InstallPath

To find this key, follow these steps:
  1. Open the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder
  2. Open the Software folder
  3. Scroll down and open the Valve folder and then open the Steam folder
  4. In the right pane of the registry editor, you will see a key that says "InstallPath" (this is the original path where you installed Steam).

If the 'path' contained in the above registry key does not match where you have Steam currently installed, Xfire will not detect it. You can double click on the InstallPath registry key to edit it, and modify the path to reflect where Steam currently resides on your system.

Once the registry key matches the directory where your Steam.exe is, you will need to exit, and restart Xfire for it to 'automatically' detect your installed Steam games.

You can alternatively uninstall Steam and reinstall it if you are not comfortable or confident in your ability to change a registry key. Doing this will force the Steam installer to recreate your registry tags, and then Xfire should detect it without a hitch.

Additionally if you are running Windows XP 64, Steam will automatically force your Steam games to run in 64 bit mode and Xfire cannot detect them. We are looking into the possibility of releasing a 64-bit compatible Xfire client in the future.
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* What is this Xfire Update in my files tab and why did I download it?

Here's how the downloaded updates work and why we started using this method.
  1. We push the updater file to you automatically one day before we reset the Xfire service. You will still get it if you have Downloads disabled, but it will not be shared (uploaded) with the Xfire File system.
  2. There is NO NEED to try and run this file. It will automatically run when we reset the service and you log back in.
  3. If you rename and run the updater before we restart the Xfire service, some features will not function due to protocol changes on the server side. (Example: Chat Rooms)
We started using this method to speed up the process for those who log back in immediately after the restart and already have the updater in their Xfire folder. This also improves bandwidth on our end for those logging back in and getting the update the old way via HTTP.
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* When I double click the Xfire tray icon, nothing happens, Why?

This usually can happen when you run a game in a different resolution than your desktop or you resize your desktop while Xfire is minimized. To fix it, first locate your XfireUser.ini file. If you are on WinXP the path is something like this:

C:\Documents and Settings\yourUserName\Application Data\Xfire

The first block of info should look like this:

[WindowPos]
LoginLocation=413x226
Size=539x734
Location=325x0

Make sure Xfire is not running and delete the three lines under [WindowPos]. Save the .ini file. Restart Xfire. This should reset the main client window to it's default location.
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* How do I turn off or change the default alert sounds in Xfire?

You can easily turn the sounds on and off by going to the Tools | Options | Sounds tab. From this menu you can select specific sounds to turn on and off. If you want to manually change the sounds, navigate to your default Xfire directory and go to the Sounds folder. For Windows Vista users see here: http://www.xfire.com/faq/#228

By replacing the .wav files in that directory with your own files, named to match the proper sound event, you an customize your Xfire sounds to whatever you like. We'll be adding in the ability to customize the sounds from within the client itself in the future, but you can do this manual change anytime.
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* I get an error message that says “Xfire has detected that xfire_toucan.dll did not load.” What does this mean and how do I fix it?

This means the .dll file that controls several important Xfire functions like network detection and In game messaging is missing or corrupted. To fix this:
  • Do not uninstall Xfire
  • Make sure Xfire is not running.
  • Download the latest Xfire full installer here.
  • Reinstall over your existing Xfire directory. Confirm that you wish to overwrite the existing install.
  • Run Xfire again to be sure the problem is corrected.
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* I get an error message that says “Xfire was unable to set a Windows Hook”. What does this mean and how do I fix it?

This means that Xfire cannot interact with Windows correctly. However, it is very easy to fix. Simply restart your computer.

Run Xfire and confirm that this error no longer occurs.
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* Why do hyperlinks show up black in the chat window?

This is due to the common control settings in some versions of Windows. Xfire skin uses a black background and Windows attempts to “help” us by guessing what color to display the link.

Here is how to fix this manually in WinXp:
  • Right click on your Desktop and select Properties.
  • Select Appearance tab and click Advanced.
  • In the Item pulldown menu go to Selected Items.
  • Change the Font color.
  • Click Ok, Apply, Ok.
Hyperlinks will now show as the color you have set!
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* I can't see what I'm typing! Why has the text in the chat window turned black?

This issue occurs when you drag your mouse left over the cursor in the typing field.

There is a Rich Text control there that tells that window what color the text should be. If you accidentally delete that control by dragging your mouse over it, the color gets set to zero or black.

The normal text color will be restored once you press enter to send the message.
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* Why does Xfire give me a "No Disk" error when installing a new game?

Xfire is looking for running processes that may be a game. If the installer disc contains an .exe file that Xfire knows about, Xfire gets injected into the installer to see if you are in fact running a full screen game.

When you take out the disc during the install process, Windows gives you an error that says "Hey Xfire was using that disc!" even though we really aren't.

To avoid seeing this error message in the future, log off of Xfire while installing any software, especially games.
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* I get disconnected from Xfire every few minutes or when I join a game. How do I fix this?

Xfire uses something called a 'heartbeat' to know if you're still connected to the server. On a regular cycle, we send this 'heartbeat' to the server and then the message is received.

If you can't send the message to the server, you get an error talking to it. If you get an error reading from server, you didn't receive the heartbeat back from the server.

The most likely culprit to cause this is an aggressive firewall, router or NAT device. Firewalls and NAT's have functions that will close down unused ports when they are not used for a certain period of time. This is done to protect you from open ports being hacked.

Most good firewalls/NAT's will have an adjustment or timer that you can tweak to adjust how often this happens. Older products came with a default timer of 10 minutes, but newer ones seem to be set to 5 minutes or lower.

If you have a 5 minute timer, or do not have any clue what you have or how to adjust it, you can adjust Xfire instead. First, completely exit Xfire, it cannot be running while you make changes. Once Xfire is not running, you can edit your Xfire.ini file. You can use the "search" feature on your start menu to find it, or you can located it manually (default location for Windows XP is c:\program files\xfire; for Windows Vista it can be found at c:\programdata\xfire - this is a hidden folder so you'll need to set hidden files/folders to viewable in your Windows Vista settings before it will appear).

Once you locate the Xfire.ini file, double click it to open it in notepad or wordpad. You should see something that looks like this:

[Toucan] Build=19803
[Xfire]
Version=56
InstallVersion=43
UpdateCount=24
[I18N]
LanguageMajor=us
[Skin]
SkinName=Xfire
[DNS Cache]
cs.xfire.com=204.71.190.24

You will need to add a new line that says:
PingInterval=180
You will need to add this under the [xfire] section. After you've done this, your Xfire.ini file should look like this:

[Toucan]
Build=19803
[Xfire]
Version=56
InstallVersion=43
UpdateCount=24
PingInterval=180
[I18N]
LanguageMajor=us
[Skin]
SkinName=Xfire
[DNS Cache]
cs.xfire.com=204.71.190.24

Save the file, and restart your Xfire client. You will now have a 3 minute 'heartbeat' time, which will be below the more modern 5 minute firewall timers. If you still have problems, you can lower the PingInterval to 120 or 2 minutes, but that's the lowest it can be adjusted.

Now if you're only getting disconnected while you're playing games, the problem may not be a port closing up. To send and receive the heartbeat to the server, Xfire requires some cpu time and bandwidth. If you computer is slightly below spec and playing a newer game, you may not have the cpu time available and therefore the above suggestion might not help.

Lastly, all ISP's experience hiccups once in a while. If this happens at the right moment, Xfire will not send or receive the 'heartbeat' and you'll get disconnected. The PingInterval solution is something geared towards the user who gets disconnected many times per day or session, and not just once every few days.
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* Why do I get a High Latency message when I chat with my friend?

Here's how it works and why you get the latency message:

1. User 1 sends IM to User 2.
2. IM hits our server and is then sent to User 2.
3. User 2's Xfire client sends message back to server saying "I got the IM".

If the server doesn't get that message back within 8 seconds of User 1 sending the server the IM, User 1's client says "High Latency..".

This can be caused by anything in that networking path on your end or your friends side (router, software firewall etc.).

If you get the "high latency detected warning" when chatting with any of your friends, adjust your Xfire file transfer settings (Tools | Options | Files).

If you only get the "high latency detected warning" for one or two friends, have them adjust their Xfire file transfer settings.
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* Norton Internet Worm Protection pops up constantly while Xfire is running. Why?

This is known as a "false positive". Norton is simply alerting you that Xfire is accessing the internet to query game servers and get info from your friends list.

To stop this alert from coming up, go into the list of Allowed programs in your Norton preferences. If xfire.exe is already there, remove it and re-add it manually by browsing to the xfire.exe in your main Xfire directory. (C:\Program Files\Xfire is default)
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* I just logged off (or updated) Xfire and when I logged back in I got an Xfire exception error that repeatedly refers to 'system32\urlmon.dll'. What does this mean, and how do I fix it?

Urlmon.dll is a component of Internet Explorer. Xfire uses IE components to display graphics and data in the Xfire expanded info view, and other places around the application. When these components aren't healthy or working properly, it can cause problems for applications such as Xfire which use IE components.

If you've recently installed Internet Explorer 7 but haven't rebooted your machine, this could be the cause of your problem. Simply reboot your computer and once Windows restarts, launch Xfire to see if the problem persists. If the problem still occurs it could be either a faulty upgrade of IE7 (try a reinstall) or a conflict with another program on your system. You should also post in our tech support forum so that we can work with you to isolate and resolve the issue.
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* I get low frame rates in game while running Xfire. Why and how can I fix this?

This is usually caused by another program "hooking" into the game in a similar fashion to Xfire In- Game messaging. Examples include: older versions of FRAPS, Ati Tray Tools OSD, mouse utility applications, basically any other program that can draw on screen while you are playing a game.

To fix it, you can either disable the other application or Xfire In-Game messaging. If you are unsure which application is causing the conflict with Xfire you can also submit a debug log for us to take a look at.

Instructions can be found in the FAQ here:

http://www.xfire.com/faq/#73
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* I got disconnected from Xfire while playing a game. Are my gaming hours lost?

Xfire records your game time as "sessions". When Xfire detects that you are no longer playing a game or have been disconnected from the server, that session gets sent up to us to be recorded on your Xfire Profile.

If you reconnect while still in a game, a new session is started. So the time between being disconnected and reconnecting would not be counted.

You can now type /reconnect in the Xfire In Game menu to actively reconnect while in game to minimize any loss of your game hours.
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* How can I show my World of Warcraft Armory profile in the Xfire Info view?

As of Xfire 1.74, you can display your World of Warcraft Armory character profiles in the Xfire Info View. Here’s how:

First, make sure your character appears on the World of Warcraft Armory (that's where we get the information from). If your character doesn't appear on the Armory it won't appear in your profile.

Next, you must have some World of Warcraft hours on your Xfire Profile.

Third, you must have “Show my friends” and “Show my game server data” checked under Tools | Options | Privacy in your Xfire client. See FAQ here http://www.xfire.com/faq/#188 for detailed information.

Lastly, you have to tell us which of your characters you want to display. To do this, go to your Xfire Profile page by clicking on the Profile tab on Xfire.com or Xfire | My profile in your Xfire client. Scroll down to the “World of Warcraft Characters” section and type in your character name and the realm name that you play on. Remember, this information must be spelled correctly in order for Xfire to get the Armory data for your character.

Now when you are playing World of Warcraft, your friends can highlight your name and instantly view your characters Armory profile in the Xfire Info view! Enjoy!
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* While uploading a screenshot or video, I received an upload error stating "An error has occurred. Please visit the FAQ...." Why?

In order to correct this problem we’ll need you to create a log file and post some data from the log file into the Technical Support Forum.

Step 1. Turn on Xfire logging. Here’s how:
  • In Xfire click Tools | Options | General tab.
  • Click the Advanced button.
  • Check the box labeled "Enable Logging".
  • Click OK (Advanced Options).
  • Click OK again (Options).
  • Exit Xfire completely (Xfire | Exit).
  • Run Xfire again.
Note: You will receive an Advanced Options Warning. This is to remind you to turn them off when you are done creating the Xfire log.

Step 2. Now you’ll need to reproduce the error:
  • Launch Xfire.
  • Try to upload your screenshot or video that errored out last time.
  • Once the error occurs, simply click OK.
  • Exit Xfire completely (Xfire | Exit).
Step 3. Next, we’ll need you to extract some data from the log file and post it in the Technical Support Forum.
  • Open your newly created log file (called xfire_exe_log.txt). You can find this log file in your Xfire installation folder (default location for Windows XP: "C:\Program Files\Xfire\" for Windows XP. For Windows Vista users it is located in “C:\ProgramData\Xfire”).
  • Press CTRL+F to open a search box.
  • Search for “ERROR”. The information we need should look similar to this:

    [04:00:38] ScreenShotSubsystemImpl::NotifyHttpSuccess() - Message Body:
    ERROR
    GUID <--- this section may be different from yours.

  • Copy those lines pertaining to the error message that you found.
Step 4. Now post your data in the Technical Support Forum.
  • Create a new topic in the Technical Support Forum titled “Screenshot / Video Upload Error”.
  • Please provide a detailed explanation describing the problem and the circumstances under which it occurred. Examples of important details include but are not limited to your operating system, firewall information, etc…
  • Paste the lines that you copied from the log file into your newly created thread.
  • Post your topic and we will help you with your issue.
Step 5. Finally, you’ll want to turn off Xfire logging.
  • Repeat the instructions from Step 1, but uncheck the "Enable Logging" option instead.
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* My Xfire notification area icon disappeared. How do I get it back?

This typically happens in Windows Vista but can be resolved by following these steps:
    For Windows Vista:
  1. Right click on the task bar (the bar at the bottom of the screen).
  2. Click ‘Properties’.
  3. On the Task Bar and Start Menu Properties screen, click on the ‘Notification Area’ tab.
  4. Uncheck the box for ‘Hide inactive icons’.
  5. Click Apply and OK.
    For Windows XP:
  1. Right click on the task bar (the bar at the bottom of the screen).
  2. Click ‘Properties’.
  3. At the bottom of the 'Taskbar' tab uncheck the box for ‘Hide inactive icons’.
  4. Click Apply and OK.
If you continue to have this issue after following the steps above, please make a post in the Technical Support Forum explaining what you've tried already.
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Advanced User Topics

Questions




Answers


* I think the Xfire In-Game alert window does not stay up long enough. Is there any way to adjust how long the alert window displays?

Yes, you can set the default timer for the alert window in the xfire_games.ini file. Here's how.

First make sure Xfire is not running. Go to your Xfire base directory (default location: C:\Program Files\Xfire) and find the xfire_games.ini. For Windows Vista users see here: http://www.xfire.com/faq/#228. Open this file with Notepad. The first entry should look exactly like this:

[-1]
LongName=Unknown Game
ShortName=unknown
Icon=unknown.ico
CanBeUpForGame=TRUE

InGameInfoWindow.X=0
InGameInfoWindow.Y=0
InGameInfoWindow.AlignX=RIGHT
InGameInfoWindow.AlignY=BOTTOM
InGameInfoWindow.Hide=DOWN
InGameInfoWindow.DisplayTime=3000
InGameInfoWindow.HideTime=200
InGameInfoWindow.Alpha=235
InGameInfoWindow.Width=33
InGameInfoWindow.Height=10

InGameMainWindow.X=0
InGameMainWindow.Y=0
InGameMainWindow.AlignX=CENTER
InGameMainWindow.AlignY=CENTER
InGameMainWindow.Alpha=235
InGameMainWindow.Width=50
InGameMainWindow.Height=50

InGameToggleKey1=SCROLLLOCK
InGameToggleKey2=X
InGameEscapeKey=ESCAPE
InGameFlags=DISABLE_LSP

You need to adjust the InGameInfoWindow.DisplayTime=3000 line. This setting is in ms (milliseconds) so 1 second is equivalent to 1000 ms. The default setting is 3000ms (3 seconds), change it to what you see fit.

Now save the file, run Xfire, then run your game. The next time someone messages you the alert window should stay up for what you have specified.
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* Can I add custom command line parameters for Xfire to launch my game with?

You can now add custom command line options directly through the Tools | Options menu.

Here's an example of how to launch in a custom video mode in Battlefield 2.

  • In Xfire, go to Tools | Options | Games tab.
  • Highlight Battlefield 2 in the Installed Games list.
  • Click the Advanced Options button.
  • In the 'Extra Command line parameters' field add this line: +menu 1 +fullscreen 1 +szx 1680 +szy 1050
  • Click Ok.

The next time you launch BF2 from Xfire, it will launch in the resolution you specified.
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* How do I create my own Xfire Game Skin? (Info view graphics)

If you know a little about Html and Javascript, read this introduction and tutorial here:

Xfire Game Skins
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* How can I integrate some of Xfire’s features into my website? Example: Adding a friend or Joining a game server.

We’ve added the ability to use some Xfire features via URL commands. See the details here:

Click here!! - Xfire URLs
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* What ports does Xfire use?

Xfire uses TCP/IP port 25999 to connect to cs.xfire.com.

This is the only port that you HAVE to be able to communicate on in order to use Xfire. Xfire can and will attempt to use a myriad of different UDP ports, however, and they can be somewhat random.

Game servers use various ports, usually between 4000 and 60000 UDP, which is what Xfire is receiving data from when you log on. It does this to get the ping, playerlist, map and other info that is then displayed in your Xfire client for each of the game servers your friends are playing on.

If you have the Friends of Friends option enabled, all the queries from the servers they are playing on get sent out and returned on the ports those games use.

There are 3 other features in Xfire that use UDP as well.
  • Typing notification - This is a randomly negotiated port above 1024 using the UDP protocol between you and the user you are typing an IM to. This can be disabled in your Tools|Options|Chat tab.
  • P2P File Download system - This is a randomly negotiated port above 1024 using the UDP protocol between you and as many as 20 other users in the Xfire network. You can disable this by going to Tools|Options|Files in your Xfire client.
  • Voicechat (1:1 and Group) - This is a randomly negotiated port above 1024 using the UDP protocol between you and the user or Group voice host you are voice-chatting with.
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* I can't download or voice chat using Xfire. Why not and how do I fix this?

Chances are, if you can't voice chat or download files, you are failing our 'NAT check'. To check this, click the Files tab in your Xfire client, open the info view, scroll to the bottom, you should see NAT Check Failed.

As of Xfire version 1.55 we now support Universal Plug and Play or UPnP. If you are using a hardware router that supports UPnP (most name brand routers like Linksys, Netgear, D-Link do) open your router configuration (this is usually done through a web browser) and make sure UPnP is enabled. Once you have done that and saved the setting, run Xfire and it should auto detect your NAT device.

If your router does not have UPnP, there is still another way to fix this. Both hardware and software firewalls allow you to 'forward' a port directly to a specific machine.

If you forward all UDP traffic on port 25777 to the machine that is having the problem, and then restart Xfire, you should then pass nat check, and be shown as a NAT Type 1. To check this, go to your files page, open the info view, scroll to the bottom, you should see either NAT Check Failed, or NAT Type 1. Once your NAT type shows as 1, you should be able to download files (inlcuding Xfire updates) as well as using other UDP features such as typing notification, and voice chat.

Click here for more details about Xfire NAT Types.

To find out how to forward a port on your firewall to a specific machine, check your firewall's user manual or support website for more information.
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* Where do I find my chat logs?

You can open a chat log directly from an instant message window and select Actions | View chat log. The log file opens in notepad and you can then choose to save a copy in any location you wish.

A text file is stored for each friend that you have had a conversation with in a folder tied to your Windows logon name. The path would look like this on Windows XP:

C:\Documents and Settings\username\Application Data\Xfire\chatlog

For Vista:
C:\Users\user name\AppData\Roaming\Xfire\chatlog.
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* I'm a Game developer and want to integrate Xfire somehow. Is there an Xfire SDK?

If you are developing a video game and wish to add custom data to the Xfire info view, read all about the Xfire SDK here:

Xfire SDK!
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* Can I connect to Xfire from behind a proxy?

Xfire generally cannot be used with proxy servers. You could send this link http://www.xfire.com/faq/#158 to the network administrator and ask them to configure the network to allow the usage of Xfire.
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Xfire on Windows Vista

Questions




Answers


* Why does UAC ask to permit Xfire on every startup?

As of version 1.78, Xfire will run at a normal “user” level and launch a second process for games that require UAC elevation.

If you have games installed that require elevated permissions in order to work with Xfire, UAC will prompt you each time Xfire launches that second process.
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* Why does Xfire 'require UAC elevation' for some of my games?

As of update 1.79, Xfire runs two processes, one elevated (admin) and one non-elevated (user).

The elevated process only starts if you have games installed that we have specified to run elevated. If you one of these games installed, you will receive a message letting you know that this second process is running.

The second process is just for communication purposes, and therefore only takes about 4MB of memory, and should have no to little CPU effect on your system.
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* Why aren’t the Windows games (Pinball, Minesweeper, etc.) detected on Windows Vista 64?

On Vista 64 the default games run as a 64-bit process which Xfire cannot detect. We may release a 64-bit Xfire client in the future.
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* I can't find certain files in my Xfire folder anymore. Why?

When you update from 1.77 to 1.78 on Vista, Xfire migrates certain files and directories from the Xfire root folder to a Common data path. The default location is c:\ProgramData\Xfire.

The files that get moved are as follows:
  • Channels folder
  • downloads folder
  • skins folder
  • sounds folder
  • templates folder
  • Xfire.ini file
  • xfire_games.ini file

The XfireUser.ini file and the Chat Logs folder can be found in C:\Users\user name\AppData\Roaming\Xfire.
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* Some of my games are not detected on Windows Vista 64 or XP 64. Why?

Xfire is a 32-bit application and cannot interface with a 64-bit process. We are planning on releasing a 64-bit compatible client in the future.

This mostly affects Steam users since Steam will detect your OS and force HL2 based games to run in 64-bit mode. However, there is a command line switch you can add to force them back into 32-bit mode. Here’s how:
  1. In Xfire, go to Tools | Options | Games tab.
  2. Under Installed games, highlight the game you wish to run in 32-bit mode.
  3. In the “Extra command line Parameters” field add this line:

    4. -32bit

  4. Click Apply | Click Ok.
You should now be able to launch this game in 32-bit mode from Xfire Tools | Launch menu.
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* Why is Xfire In-Game not working on Windows Vista?

As of Xfire 1.78, Xfire no longer runs at an elevated or “admin” status. Do not use the "Right click | Run as administrator" command when launching Xfire. This may cause Xfire to be unable to detect some games or enable Xfire In-Game Messaging.

If you launch Xfire "as admin" and then launch a game from the Xfire Tools | Launch menu, you could be running Xfire and the game at two different permissions levels and XIG will not work. If a game needs to be run as admin, Xfire will launch it that way.

Another possibility is that we have intentionally disabled Xfire In-Game for Vista due to poor performance or crashes found by our QA department. To find out if a specific game has no XIG support on Vista visit this thread in our Tech Support OPEN forum.

If this is not the case for you, take a look at some of the other common reasons Xfire In-Game would not function. FAQ here:

http://www.xfire.com/faq/#178
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* My custom info views (Game Skins) are no longer showing up on Vista. Why?

When you updated to version 1.78 on Vista, several files were moved to a common data directory to improve Vista compatibility. See this FAQ item for more info.

Due to the complex nature of the data migration, we chose to not move custom templates in order to protect your data.

To fix this:
  1. Open your templates folder in the Xfire root directory (c:\program files\xfire).
  2. Copy your custom_infoviews folder (where you kept all of your Game Skins).
  3. Open the templates folder in the common data directory (c:\programdata\xfire\templates).
  4. Paste your custom_infoviews folder over the empty one.
  5. Exit and restart Xfire if it was running.
Your Game Skins should function normally now.
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* How do I know if my game needs to run elevated?

This is an easy test that should be run outside of Xfire (so exit Xfire).

Run the game from the desktop shortcut or from the start menu. If Vista prompts you for Administrative rights, whether mentioning UAC or not this means the game needs to run elevated.
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Xfire Video Capture

Questions




Answers


* How do I record videos using Xfire?

As of Xfire version 1.86, we have added the ability to record video clips while playing games.

First, go to the Tools | Options | Video tab in your Xfire client. Make sure the checkbox labeled “Enable Video Capture” is checked. Note this tab also contains all of the option settings related to Xfire Video Capture.

Now launch your favorite game that has Xfire In-Game messaging support (make sure XIG is working for you). To begin recording press the default key combination “Scroll Lock + V” and you should see the recording overlay appear in game. This indicates that you are recording. Press Scroll Lock + V again to stop recording.

When you exit your game your video files will appear on the Xfire files tab (or the videos tab/button on newer Xfire skins). You can double click a video on the list to launch it. They can be played back in most .avi compatible media players.
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* I’ve enabled video capture but I still can’t record. Why?

The most likely reason is that the game you are trying to record does not have Xfire In-Game messaging support. To see a list of games that have Xfire In-Game support click here:

Xfire In-Game supported games.
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* When I play back my video it’s just a black screen. Why?

Currently Xfire Video Capture does not support 16-bit or DDraw rendered games. Some examples of this would be Starcraft or older Need for Speed games. This can also occur if you are using VLC media player. VLC does not currently support the Xfire video codec.

The second most likely reason this could happen is a bug with our code and the specific game you are trying to record. A few known examples of this problem are Call of Duty 2 and Eve Online.

We have tested with a number of games and PC configurations, but you may uncover a game we did not test fully or a specific video card that has issues with certain renderers etc.

We want feedback from you on these issues! Please head over to the Technical Support - OPEN forum and post a new thread with the all details relevant to your issue.
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* Where can I find the videos I just recorded?

Once you exit the game, you will be presented with a small dialog box confirming the videos you recorded. Then go to the Videos tab on your Xfire client.

Here you can right click on the file name and select to open the file, open the directory where it is saved, delete it (remove),send it to an Xfire friend or upload it to Xfire.com for everyone to see!

Note that you can also change the location of your saved Xfire Videos in the Tools | Options | Video tab.
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* What do the “half size” and “full size” options do?

These options refer to the resolution your video is captured and played back in.

For example if you select “full size” and run your game in 1024x768, your video will be recorded and played back in that resolution.

If you select “half size” and run your game again in the same resolution, the resulting video captures will be played back in half the resolution and the file size of the videos will be considerably smaller.
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* My games frame rate suffers or becomes unplayable while recording. How can I fix this?

Xfire Video Capture is a fairly CPU intensive process. Translation: The better your PC is, the higher quality and resolution captures you can do. Users with dual core machines will notice significantly less of a frame rate hit while recording than users that are running single core machines.

Make sure no other programs that conflict with Xfire are enabled. See: http://www.xfire.com/faq/#217. Disabling unnecessary programs running in the background is advisable as well.

If you notice a sizeable frame rate loss or your game becomes unplayable while using Xfire video capture, here are some things you can try:

First go to Tools | Options | Video tab. Set your Video Capture Options down to Half-Size and select 25 frames per second from the drop down menu.

It may also help to try running your game in a lower resolution. If your PC is just meeting the minimum requirements to play the game you are trying to record, the added processing needed for Video Capture may cause a noticeable frame rate hit.

If Xfire Video Capture is working great for some of your games but you notice frame rate problems in others, please head over to our Technical Support - OPEN forum and post a new thread with the all the relevant details.
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* I cannot play back my Xfire videos in VLC media player. Why?

If you attempt to play back an Xfire video in the VLC media player, you will get nothing but a black screen.

The reason is VLC media player simply does not support the custom Xfire codec yet (xfcodec). Once our codec is finalized it may be included with VLC.
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* How do I upload videos I have recorded to my Xfire Profile page?

As of Xfire update 1.89, we have added the ability to upload your Xfire Videos to your Xfire Profile page. Here's how:
  • Once you have captured some videos, exit your game (this is important because the encoding process takes a lot of CPU power and writes to your hard drive).
  • Click the Videos button on the Xfire client (Files tab for older/third party skins). Highlight the file you wish to upload and select Tools | Video | Upload Video (or just right click on the file name).
  • You will be presented with a dialog to add a title and description to your Video. These are required fields.
  • Click OK and this begins the encoding process.
Once the encoding is complete, the file will automatically begin uploading. Once the upload is complete, your Xfire Info view will refresh and display a thumbnail that links to the video on your Profile page.
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* What is the maximum file size that I can upload?

The current limit is roughly 200mb or 10 minutes total.
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* How many Xfire Videos can I display on my Xfire Profile?

The maximum number of videos you can have displayed on your Xfire Profile page is nine.

The maximum data storage for Xfire Videos is 10 GB. So if you are running in very high resolutions your file size will be larger and therefore you will have fewer videos on your Profile.
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* How do I delete or rename my videos that I previously uploaded to Xfire.com?

Go to www.xfire.com/manage and you can delete Video files from your Profile or change the description.

In a future update, we will be making improvements to this page as well as adding Remote video data in the Xfire client.
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* I cannot record sound in my Xfire Videos! Why?

If you are on Windows Vista, see the FAQ here:

I’m using Windows Vista and I have no sound in my Xfire recorded videos.

If you are running Windows XP go into the Xfire Tools | Options | Video tab. Look under Audio Capture Options, if you cannot select anything in the Audio Mixer drop down menu your sound card is likely not capable of "full duplex audio".

This means record and play back sound simultaneously.

You may be able to convert your sound card to a DirectSound-compatible full-duplex sound card by installing the latest version of the sound driver for your sound card. Contact the manufacturer of your sound card to inquire about how to obtain and install the latest version of the sound driver for your sound card.
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* I’m using Windows Vista and I have no sound in my Xfire recorded videos. I’m unable to select my recording device. How do I fix this?

By default, Windows Vista disables and hides all sound recording devices.

To enable Stereo Mix (or another recording device) in Windows Vista:
  • Go to your ‘Control Panel’.
  • Double click ‘Sound’.
  • Click the recording tab.
  • Right click on the white background of the tab and click ‘show disabled devices’.
  • Right click on the device that is on the list and click enable.
  • You should now be able to select this device for recording in both Windows Vista and Xfire.
You’ll need to go to Tools | Options | Video tab in Xfire and select the newly enabled device under ‘Audio Device’. The audio coming through that device will now be recorded in your videos.

You should also be aware that if you are using a headset and your sound is coming through the headset, you must select your headset on the ‘Audio Device’ dropdown in Xfire. You cannot record from both your soundcard and your headset at the same time.

For a visual description of how to do this please see the Xfire Wiki link below:
Help: Enabling disabled sound devices in Vista. (Xfire thanks Godjonez for designing the Wiki entry)
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* What is Flashback Video Capture and how do I use it?

Flashback Video Capture is an enhanced Video Capture function that allows you to record video several seconds before you actually press the Video Capture keybinding.

Flashback Video Capture can be activated in the Xfire client by going to Tools | Options | Video tab and checking the ‘Enable Flashback Capture’ box. It can store the following number of frames in memory to record when you start a video capture:
  • Low - 150 frames
  • Medium - 300 frames
  • High - 450 frames
  • Very High - 600 frames
Depending on your Flashback Memory Usage setting, this could be only a couple seconds all the way up to a dozen or more.

Basically what this means is that if something cool happens in your game (like an awesome kill streak) but you forgot to record it on video, you can still hit your video capture keybind to capture some of the action that just happened several seconds in the past.

One thing to note is that Flashback Video Capture is an extremely CPU and memory intensive process. The better your PC is (processor and RAM), the higher quality and resolution captures you can do. Users with dual core machines and/or users with 4GB RAM or more will notice significantly less of a frame rate hit while recording with Flashback enabled than users that are running single core machines or with less than 4GB RAM. This also means that if you already experience frame rate issue with normal Video Capture without Flashback enabled, your game may simply become unplayable with Flashback enabled.
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Xfire Live Video (Broadcasting)

Questions




Answers


* What is Xfire Live Video (Broadcast ALPHA)? What does it do?

Xfire Live Video allows gamers to share a live video stream of their gaming session with other Xfire users.
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* How do I start broadcasting my gaming session using Xfire Live Video?

First you must go into the Xfire | Tools | Options menu, click the Broadcast (ALPHA) tab. Check the box marked "Enable Broadcast". Once you have set up your options, click OK.

Now go to Xfire Tools | Launch menu and launch the game you wish to broadcast from. Remember, the game you are trying to Broadcast with must have Xfire In-Game messaging support.

Once you are in game and verify that Xfire In-Game is enabled, press your key combo (Scroll Lock + B) to begin broadcasting.

Your friends can then highlight your name in their friends list and click on the Video icon that says "Live" in the info view.

You can also see an overview of all users that are currently broadcasting at http://www.xfire.com/live_video/.
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* How do I install the browser plug-in?

The first time you view a live video broadcast, you will be asked to install a browser plug-in. No other software is required.

Note: If you are using Windows Vista, you will need to run the browser as Administrator to install the Dyyno plug-in. Right-click on the Internet Explorer icon and select "Run as administrator" from the pop-up menu.

For Internet Explorer users:
  • Read and accept the Terms of Service.
  • Internet Explorer will show a yellow bar at the top of the page. Click on it to start and click "Install ActiveX control" to begin the install.
  • You will get an IE security warning. Click on "Run" to continue.
  • Enjoy the Broadcast!
For Firefox users:
  • Read and accept the Terms of Service.
  • Firefox will show a yellow bar at the top of with the message "Firefox prevented this site (webserver.dyyno.com) from asking you to…". Click on "Edit Options".
  • A dialog box titled "Allowed Sites" will appear. Click on "Allow" to permit the plug-in installation.
  • A dialog box titled "Software Installation" will appear. When the plug-in has been loaded and the "Install" button is no longer grayed out, click the "Install" button.
  • Finally, a dialog box titled "Add-ons" will appear. Click the button to restart Firefox. All of your windows and tabs will be resumed where you left off.
  • Enjoy the broadcast!
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* What platforms and browsers are supported?

The application runs on Windows XP and Vista under Internet Explorer or Firefox. In the future, we may also support other platforms and browsers.
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* How can I view the video in full screen?

To view in full-screen mode, just click on the video itself or on the full-screen icon in the lower left hand corner of the player.
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* What is the delay time between the gamer and the viewer?

There is approximately a 3-5 second delay between the broadcaster and the receivers under normal network conditions.
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* Why can't I connect to a video stream?

The application works behind most firewalls. However, if you are behind a firewall that blocks all UDP traffic, the application will not be able to build the connections it needs to view the stream.
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* When I try to view a Live Video I see a "Windows Security Alert", what do I do?

The first time you try to view a live broadcast, a Windows Security Alert may pop up, asking whether you wish to keep blocking the application. The plug-in must be unblocked to connect to a live broadcast. Click "Unblock".
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* My personal firewall software prevents the application from running, what do I do?

If you are running personal firewall software, such as Norton 360, a message may appear asking you to allow the application to run. Click "Allow". Some personal firewall software silently blocks unknown applications.

You may need to disable or reconfigure this software and reboot before viewing a live broadcast.
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* Can I view multiple streams simultaneously?

No. At this time you may view only one stream at a time.
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* Can I fast forward the video?

No. Xfire Live Video is a live streaming video.
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* My web browser suddenly closed or crashed while watching a Live video. Why?

There is a hard-to-catch bug in the browser extension that sometimes causes browsers to crash. We are working hard to squash this bug. If you are experiencing this problem, we do apologize for the inconvenience.
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* In Windows Vista, I have the plugin installed but when I try to watch a Live Video it never starts. Why?

In Windows Vista, your web browser must be run in Administrator mode (elevated) in order to view Xfire Live Videos.

Exit all your browser windows. Right click on your desktop icon for your web browser and select "Run as Administrator".

If you launch the Xfire Live Video from the Xfire info view, Xfire will automatically launch your web browser "as admin".
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Xfire In-Game Browser

Questions




Answers


* How do I use the Xfire In-Game Browser?

The Xfire In-Game Web Browser uses an embedded version of Internet Explorer so it is very similar to a web browser you may already have used.

Launch a game that supports Xfire In-Game 2.0 (mouse enabled) and the Xfire In-Game Browser. Type a keyword in the Web Search box or press the default key combination to activate web mode (Scroll Lock + W).
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* Why can’t I open the Xfire In-Game Browser when I press scroll lock + W?

There are a few reasons why the Xfire In-Game Browser may not work in some games. Here are some basic troubleshooting steps to check first:

What Xfire skin are you running? Currently the only skin that officially supports the Xfire In-Game Browser is the Xfire Shadow skin (default).

First the game must have XIG Browser support. Here is a quick test to see if your game does. Launch your game from the Xfire Tools | Launch menu. Once in game, press Scroll Lock + X to activate Xfire In-Game messaging. On the bottom left corner of the XIG menu you will see the Web Search box. If you can click in this field and type there, then the XIG Browser is enabled. Otherwise that field should be say “disabled”.

For a list of games that support XIG Browser please go to FAQ Item #309.
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* Why doesn’t Xfire have browser support for my favorite game yet?

Xfire is constantly adding support for the XIG Browser to more and more games with each update. If your favorite game already supports XIG 2.0 (mouse enabled), it’s just a matter of time before we add the XIG Browser support for it.
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* What is required for Xfire In-Game Browser to work?

The Xfire In-Game Browser uses an embedded version of Internet Explorer. You will need a working version of either IE6 or IE7 installed on your PC. *Note* Internet Explorer 8 Beta is not currently supported but may work for some.
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* How do I change the key binding to activate the Xfire In-Game Browser?

In Xfire go to the Tools | Options menu and click the Chat tab. Click the button labeled “Web mode key binding”. Now press and hold one key as a modifier key (example: Scroll Lock), then press another key (example: W), lastly release both keys to set a two key combination. Click Ok to exit the Options menu.

Setting Web mode to a single key press is possible but not recommended. It has the potential to cause a conflict or confusion with behavior in your game. Your modifier key seeming to be stuck down or Xfire rapidly closing are a few examples.
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* Can I change the home page?

There is no option to set a home page. We want to try and provide you with some useful information regarding the game you are playing or possibly introduce you to a partner relevant to the game (example: While playing World of Warcraft the home page may be wowwiki.com).
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* What type of security options are built into the Xfire In-Game Browser?

Since Xfire uses an embedded version of Internet Explorer, the XIG Browser uses your current IE security settings.
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* I cannot watch certain videos in the Xfire In-Game Browser (Apple Trailers, MSN Video). Why?

Currently any video using Flash should work properly. Quicktime and Windows Media Player are currently not supported. However, we are working on them for future releases of Xfire.
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* I can’t open any more new tabs in the Xfire In-Game Browser. What’s wrong?

The Xfire In-Game Browser is limited to ten new tabs being opened manually from the New Tab button.

If you were browsing on the tenth tab and something on that page tries to pop-up or open in a new window, the Xfire In-Game Browser will try and open that URL in a new tab for you.
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* Which games support the Xfire In-Game Browser?

All games that have Xfire In-Game 2.0 enabled unless otherwise noted.
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