Here are a few things to try:
First when you start the game hit the tilde key (the ` key, it’s next to the 1) and check what it says in the bottom left. It should say ET 2.60 if you’re updated, although you might want to run the patch for 2.60b anyway just in case.
Second, were you ever able to see servers? When you first installed did you have servers and then they stopped showing up at some point, or have you never been able to see them?
Third, make sure that next to SOURCE it says INTERNET and not Local or Favorite, you’ll get no servers if it says that. Make sure everything is unchecked as well to make sure you’re not excluding anything.
Fourth, be sure to look at the screen while checking for servers. Many people make the mistake of looking at the wall or a particularly beautiful painting instead of looking at their computer monitor. It’s a very common error, so don’t be embarrassed.
Fifth, assuming you have access to it (and that you have one in the first place), turn off your firewall. If you have a router, try bypassing that and see if you still don’t see any servers.
Sixth, are you looking at your monitor? Don’t forget to do that! I’m not kidding, it’s really important.
Seventh, CHALLAGE!
Eighth, click Start, choose Run, type CMD and then hit ok. Then type “ping etmaster.idsoftware.com” and hit enter. You should get 4 succesful replies. If you don’t, something is blocking you from connecting to the master server, most likely a firewall or router.
Ninth, make sure you look at the ENTIRE monitor. Not just a part of it. Many people mistakenly think that all the information shows up in the upper right corner of the screen. This is not true. For maximum results look at at least 95% of the monitor at any given time.
Tenth, call a random technical support line and just repeat “It’s broken” over and over again.
CHALLAGE.
(each time you patch it will ask for permission because it has changed)