Windows 7 Internet Games Error 0x80041004
Internet games that Microsoft distributed with its Windows 7 operating system throw the error code 0x80041004 right now when you try to play them.
Microsoft distributed local and Internet games with the company's Windows 7 operating system. Games came preinstalled or needed to be installed by the user before they became available.
The games Internet Backgammon, Internet Spades, and Internet Hearts are played against opponents on the Internet.
The games connect to a Microsoft Server when you run them which is used for matchmaking and management.
When you try to play one of the games above right now, error 0x80041004 is returned to you.
Windows 7 Internet Games Error 0x80041004
The Internet game displays status information when you run it. It begins with "connecting to the game server." The game tries to establish a connection to the game server. This process takes 10-or-so seconds and ends with an error notification.
A network error occurred while communication with the game server.
Error Code: 0x80041004
You can try again by clicking on "new opponent" or quit the game instead.
Internet games have two fundamental requirements: the user's PC needs to be connected to the Internet, and the game server needs to be online as well (if the game does not use direct connections).
A quick check with CurrPorts reveals the IP address the games try to reach when you start them. It is 168.61.188.58, a Microsoft IP address. It is possible that Microsoft uses multiple IP addresses for Windows 7 Internet games, but all should return the same error.
A simple ping returns a timeout, and so does a tracert. In other words: the game server that handles the matchmaking for Internet-based Windows 7 games is not reachable.
That's bad news for Windows 7 customers who like to play the affected Internet-based games as there is nothing that can be done about it on the user's side.
The incident is not the first time that Windows 7 game servers stopped working. Günther Born published an article about this in November 2015 (in German). Microsoft fixed the issue back then eventually.
Closing Words
Windows 7 is in the extended support phase which means that it is still supported by Microsoft. While it is clear that Microsoft focuses its efforts almost entirely on Windows 10, it does have an obligation to customers who run Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 as well.
It is unclear whether Microsoft turned off the game server for good, if it works on the server to repair the issue, or whether it noticed the issue at all.
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I’m not impressed that for some reason GNU backgammon does not want to start on my Win 10 anymore.
The last release was only:
GNU Backgammon 1.06.001 (December 16th, 2017)
http://www.gnubg.org/
Anyone else play this version and now cannot?
Anyone have a fix for this problem (it just says incompatable)?
Microsoft do what they can to get people over to the Windows 10 Malware Edition.
On the other hand i have never played any games online due to i don’t trust the security on the gameservers – it has also been the fact that many times the security is lousy (kindly said).
Interestingly, Windows XP online games still work.
Dan, do the XP online games work with Win7?
GNU Backgammon is an offline game.
One of the few good person vs computer free backgammon software’s.
This happens far too often, but this time it’s been down for 2-3 wks. I agree it seems Microsoft is either ignoring the problem, is (neglectfully) unaware of the problem or has purposely shut out Wins 7 users, which would be unethical, particularly while it’s still in support. First, they dropped internet Hearts and now internet Spades seems to be gasping its last ….and they wonder why so many are hesitant to eagerly and immediately upgrade when MS puts out a new operating system. Somehow, problems seem par and complaints never fully addressed. What users want falls further and further behind corporate objectives to grab users’ money and move on, until it starts to feel more like extortion than improvement of a product or fair trading with a customer.
I have intermittently searched the internet for over a year, trying to find a resolution to this problem – as it equally intermittently but regularly surfaced.
This site and in particular, this article, has been the most truthful, succinct and accurate response I have ever come across.
Although I myself knew the problem lay with MS’s games servers and their controlling of access to them, the sheer amount of BS answers or supposedly working fixes proffered on the internet, for this small, but equally important and frustrating problem is absolutely staggering – including so called verified workaround’s from some reputable tech sites who really should know better.
Rant over – but I just had to state this.
The sad part is that I am on Windows 10. Someone wrote a games pack that puts the Windows 7 games on Windows 10. Every time I install a Creators Update I have to reinstall the games but that is no big deal. What is frustrating is that MS shut the server down but never told support so you can spend hours and dollars troubleshooting a shut down server.
If Microsoft Windows 7 does not want to have backgammon, then it should make same or better backgammon available online for Windows 10 games, even more sophisticated. For example, that you can play with any person as well. Backgammon is plentiful on the internet, unfortunately none is as good as Windows 7 backgammon. I only play backgammon, under a thousand games.
Wenn Microsoft Windows 7 spiele –Backgammon- nicht mehr haben will, dann soll er gleiche oder bessere Backgammon für Windows 10 spiele online Verfügung machen, sogar weit entwickelte. Zum Beispiel das man mit bestimmte beliebiger Person auch spielen kann. Backgammon gibt es genügend im Internet, leider keine ist so gut wie Windows 7 Backgammon. Ich spiele nur Backgammon, unter tausend spiele.
Have Microsoft commented on the situation at all?
We are being bullied by BS…sorry..MS.
I sent an email to MS execs regarding the constant server problem and received a response from [email protected]. He “wanted to know more about the problem” I suggest we ALL email him and let him know! I have already sent him a link to this article.
So someone responded to you and seemed willing to assist or at least understand the problem and you make them a target by posting their contact information here. Shrewd.
I don’t understand what your issue is Jam Track? This server side problem with backgammon has been an irritant for users of Windows 7 for a long time now.
I agree with a previous commentator that it is annoying considering that Windows 7 is still being supported and MS seem unwilling to permanently fix this recurring problem.
I therefore don’t see what the problem is in posting a MS representative’s email address, especially if they are willing to look at the problem, in fact it may well illustrate to them how many people are affected by this and how annoying it is.
If MS had bothered to fulfill their obligations and fixed the problem then people wouldn’t turn to forums such as this to express their frustrations.
The techs always seem “willing to assist”, then waste your time and their by running you through a series of “fixes” to try on your computer in order to remedy the problem that they’re always so sure is yours. Of course, none of it works because it’s never the user’s computer, it’s MS game server, but I’ve seen it again and again and again on forum after forum. So, empathy or sympathy for an MS tech who appears interested in the problem but never investigates enough to find out from where it sources? I don’t think so, any possibility of that ended YEARS ago!…and I’m back here today, hoping for answers I know aren’t there, because Spades is down again, has been all day, maybe longer since I’ve not attempted to play it for several days.
I don’t understand what your issue is Jam Track? This server side problem with backgammon has been an irritant for users of Windows 7 for a long time now.
I agree with a previous commentator that it is annoying considering that Windows 7 is still being supported and MS seem unwilling to permanently fix this recurring problem.
I therefore don’t see what the problem is in posting a MS representative’s email address, especially if they are willing to look at the problem, in fact it may well illustrate to them how many people are affected by this and how annoying it is.
If MS had bothered to fulfill their obligations and fixed the problem then people wouldn’t turn to forums such as this to express their frustrations.
When a tech company provides a product that is enjoyed by so many, globally they need to keep it going and respond with quick assertive action, and when they do not then by all means put in out on blast, this is bringing accountability to a firm that already has slipped accountability on far more serious issues.
internet checkers error code 0x80041004 plz remove my grievances, I would be very grateful to u
I know how to make the network error :-) It’s your turn :-) Since the servers will be shutdown in February, I’d be happy to share. Just ask me nicely :-)
Do we have any firm information on when/if the servers have been shut down?
Currently getting this error on multiple machines, seems to be a server side problem currently.
Today it would seem!
https://www.ghacks.net/2019/07/09/microsoft-to-shut-down-windows-7-games-servers-on-january-22-2020/
I used to play internet backgammon many years a go. Suddenly the game server stoped responding. What to do ?
Thanks to inform me.
For some reason I am not able to play Internet Spades now for a while already. I keep getting Error Code 0x80004104 after it tries to connect to other players. What can I do to remedy the problem?