This thread is to centralise solutions for problems that usually happens when you are running Battlefield, and also answer some questions that might have arose when gaming. If you have a problem and an answer for it and you don't see it here, please do post as other people might also have the same problem and would like a solution as well

Please do not SPAM this thread.

First and foremost, the developers usually develop a game expecting there is an OS, the game software, the hardware to run it, and directx. In reality, you have a lot of junks on your PC, especially if you have been using Windows without reformatting for a long time. Thus sometimes things does not always go as the developers hope that it would. But it helps if you can have a clean installation of windows (Windows 7 64bit preferred unless you MUST use 32bit), all the latest drivers and the latest DirectX installed.

Battlefield 3 crashes when I ALT+TAB to desktop
This happens when the graphic memory (read: The memory in your video card, NOT your PC) run out due to the caching that BF3 does. You can lower down the settings in game, eg: using medium/low, or change your windows theme to basic. It's also highly recommend to turn off background apps so that you won't be suddenly thrown back to the desktop due to some pop up

DirectX Error (When starting the game)
Usually occurs for nVidia card. Change the game's compatibility to Windows Vista should fix this

DirectX Error (Crashes in game)
- If you are using an nVidia GTX560Ti, please see the solution on this thread
- If your graphic card is factory overclocked, try underclocking the card using MSI Afterburner and running the game again

I can't download the patch from Origin/patch too big
Direct download the latest patch from this thread

Game seems to lag and stutter randomly
If you are not using a GTX560Ti, this might be due to your system itself is using up too much RAM. While people say 4GB is enough, BF3 caches a lot of information on the RAM, and from my personal experience 8GB of RAM is the sweet spot for BF3 for now. Please note that you NEED a 64bit distribution of Windows to use more than 3GB of RAM. Alternatively, if you are using Firefox/Chrome, try switching to IE9 to launch the game and do not run any other browser in the background

I have been disconnected from the game, will my stats stay?
Your stats will be saved if you are disconnected from the game UNLESS
- The server itself crashes
- You have been kicked by Punkbuster

I can't join server as I keep being kicked by Punkbuster
Check your task manager. If you click on Show Process From All Users, you should see a process named PnkBstrA.exe running. Also you can manually run/update Punkbuster by browsing to your BF3's installation folder, and running pbsvc.exe. Also Punkbuster communicates with it's own server, thus your connection might have a problem communicating with PB's server. Try resetting your modem and see if this fixes your problem.

I keep getting Disconnected from EA Online (1)
This is EA's problem. Reset your router for a new IP and hope that it works.

aaa
still no solution for my problem

I keep getting Disconnected from EA Online (1)
This is EA's problem. Reset your router for a new IP and hope that it works.
disabling the UPnP at router setting there.
work for me and some of my friends.

black screen fix

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=2498905

solution : reformat pc and clean install bf3. worked for me