Ticket 24356 A10-C Activation Problem

I purchased A10-C Warthog through Gamefly. The retail version it downloaded appears to have been 1.1.0.5 (checked the properties on the .exe file to get this) , this version crashed completely after install- Specifically at the Protect.exe file when trying to activate the software before use. I downloaded the update files, but they did not seem to recognize the version I have. After reading several forum posts I downloaded DCS World software and loaded the A10-C module. The module seems to work fine but will Not accept my Gamefly activation key in any way- I attempted to enter it - cut and paste method - and when it failed I hit cancel a number of times and it dumped me into what appeared to be a demo of the mission I selected. I have rebooted several times, and have hand entered the key both with and without hyphens just to be sure. It tells me I must have a valid key every time, and it doesn't matter which activation type I choose. I opened a ticket on this on August 10th, the day after I purchased the software, but I have received absolutely no response to the ticket outside of the normal auto response notifying me that I had opened one. I included my activation key by both copy/paste and by a Screenshot of it from my Gamefly client. I also included a cut/paste of the error message the standalone version threw at me when I tried to register with it. Is there any way to get someone to respond to this ticket? I am sure it is a simple activation problem, but I have found no posts detailing how to resolve it. Is there any way I can get help with this? I am literally 48 hours away from requesting a refund for the product, which would be sad indeed, as I have been interested in this sim for quite some time.

I purchased A10-C Warthog through Gamefly. The retail version it downloaded appears to have been 1.1.0.5 (checked the properties on the .exe file to get this) , this version crashed completely after install- Specifically at the Protect.exe file when trying to activate the software before use. I downloaded the update files, but they did not seem to recognize the version I have. After reading several forum posts I downloaded DCS World software and loaded the A10-C module. The module seems to work fine but will Not accept my Gamefly activation key in any way- I attempted to enter it - cut and paste method - and when it failed I hit cancel a number of times and it dumped me into what appeared to be a demo of the mission I selected. I have rebooted several times, and have hand entered the key both with and without hyphens just to be sure. It tells me I must have a valid key every time, and it doesn't matter which activation type I choose. I opened a ticket on this on August 10th, the day after I purchased the software, but I have received absolutely no response to the ticket outside of the normal auto response notifying me that I had opened one. I included my activation key by both copy/paste and by a Screenshot of it from my Gamefly client. I also included a cut/paste of the error message the standalone version threw at me when I tried to register with it. Is there any way to get someone to respond to this ticket? I am sure it is a simple activation problem, but I have found no posts detailing how to resolve it. Is there any way I can get help with this? I am literally 48 hours away from requesting a refund for the product, which would be sad indeed, as I have been interested in this sim for quite some time.

I would try that "Windows registry clean-up"-fix. Maybe the first install of 1.1.0.5 left a messed up hardware code in the registry and if you clear it, DCS World might be able to start (or be reinstalled+started?) with it's own, correct hardware key. Have a look here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=94531

PS: I don't want to sound like an ass, but If you split your texts into paragraphs, they would be much easier to read ...

I have tried the registry keys, sorry that I forgot to mention that. I've worked on it quite a bit, I can't even get to where it issues you the hardware key as it just flat denies me. I have opened up the key you suggested, and it is the same one I've tried. The attached screen shot is the error I received after running the suggested key. I appreciate you taking the time though, thank you :)

I have tried the registry keys, sorry that I forgot to mention that. I've worked on it quite a bit, I can't even get to where it issues you the hardware key as it just flat denies me. I have opened up the key you suggested, and it is the same one I've tried. The attached screen shot is the error I received after running the suggested key. I appreciate you taking the time though, thank you :)

Unfortunately I am unable to help you in this matter. But I've seen that seemingly you are not alone with this kind of problem. I.e. keep also an eye on this thread perhaps: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=111565

Some additional information:

I have uninstalled and reinstalled both versions of the game - including fresh downloads to address the possibility of corrupt downloads.

I have been running under Administrator and have tried every Compatability mode setting I could think of.

I have tried the registry key fix

I have attempted the Other option on the registration screen, which kicks back the same invalid key error - I have never gotten a hardware key because I cannot get that far.

I have updated my ticket to ask for updates - I have received zero responses. I am now moving towards 9 days since the ticket was opened - 5 of them business days.

I have opened a ticket with Gamefly to see if they were aware of a key incompatibility between versions - they answered within 24 hours and stated they were unaware of any issue of that nature. They then directed me back to DCS.

I am at my wits end. I am giving this until Tuesday, then I will seek a refund from Gamefly and I will lodge a complaint with them about DCS. No customer should be subject to this kind of neglect from any company, and it has become all to clear that this is the rule rather than the exception with DCS - all you have to do is look at the forums to see the proof.

I just went through a similar thing with BlackShark 2 from GameFly. It wound up so borking my install that even my activated A10c wouldn't work anymore.

Here's the link to how I finally got everything working.

http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=1842297&postcount=12

I think what mattered the most was getting the standalone version download from GameFly activated before ever messing with DCS world.

Hopefully you'll have some good luck!

I'll do a fresh install on an XP box I have just to be certain. The Protect.exe file that provides the activation doesn't seem to like win 8 much, even with compatibility mode settings on. Hopefully that will solve the problem.

Well, I believe I'm done. I did do a fresh install on an old XP unit I have here that isn't even used for gaming under normal circumstances, its a pretty barebones install. It let me activate the key, and then proceeded to completely crash every time it was launched. being thoroughly demoralized at that point I worked on my main rig further, here is what I did:

Did a Clean Boot - just in case something was conflicting with Either DCS or Standalone A10C, this was ineffective.

Ripped the .reg entries again. No progress.

Booted into Safe Mode and attempted to launch the Standalone version...It launched the Protect.exe file without error! I registered! I attempted the DCS World version....and it threw an invalid hardware code error. Referring back to the forums I ran the registry rip again...and it totally lost the key and started kicking back with the Invalid Serial Key error again. Re ran the stand alone registration, and a new hardware code came up....and I got the invalid hardware code error again.

I could write more, but I believe I have wasted more than enough time on this "Product". I didn't pay for Beta grade software. I will be pursuing a refund through Gamefly this evening. I will also lodge a complaint about this company with them, though clearly DCS could not actually care any less - I never actually did receive any acknowledgement of my issue from DCS.

If I sound like I am being harsh - Good. I feel pretty harsh. I've wasted a huge amount of time on this game, and I bought a HOTAS setup for it as well, so I'm feeling pretty harsh. The HOTAS works at least, so I'll give it that. Thankfully it can be used in MWO and a few other games that actually register when you legally purchase them. In the end, for anyone reading these forums prior to purchasing a DCS Product, I have these simple words of advice: DON'T DO IT.

Well, I believe I'm done. I did do a fresh install on an old XP unit I have here that isn't even used for gaming under normal circumstances, its a pretty barebones install. It let me activate the key, and then proceeded to completely crash every time it was launched. being thoroughly demoralized at that point I worked on my main rig further, here is what I did:

 

Did a Clean Boot - just in case something was conflicting with Either DCS or Standalone A10C, this was ineffective.

 

Ripped the .reg entries again. No progress.

 

Booted into Safe Mode and attempted to launch the Standalone version...It launched the Protect.exe file without error! I registered! I attempted the DCS World version....and it threw an invalid hardware code error. Referring back to the forums I ran the registry rip again...and it totally lost the key and started kicking back with the Invalid Serial Key error again. Re ran the stand alone registration, and a new hardware code came up....and I got the invalid hardware code error again.

 

I could write more, but I believe I have wasted more than enough time on this "Product". I didn't pay for Beta grade software. I will be pursuing a refund through Gamefly this evening. I will also lodge a complaint about this company with them, though clearly DCS could not actually care any less - I never actually did receive any acknowledgement of my issue from DCS.

 

If I sound like I am being harsh - Good. I feel pretty harsh. I've wasted a huge amount of time on this game, and I bought a HOTAS setup for it as well, so I'm feeling pretty harsh. The HOTAS works at least, so I'll give it that. Thankfully it can be used in MWO and a few other games that actually register when you legally purchase them. In the end, for anyone reading these forums prior to purchasing a DCS Product, I have these simple words of advice: DON'T DO IT.

When in safe boot mode, parts of the windows registry are not loaded and/or replaced with a temporary registry. That the activation/hardware key/serial number is screwed up after that does not surprise me.

Regarding the crashes after you were able to install and activate everything on the XP box ... well, afaik Win XP is not supported anymore. But there are a couple of threads here on the forums concerning Win XP and fixes for several problems. How or if those would apply to your case, I can't say atm, though.

I wished, you would not give up ... this game is such a gem - if it runs. :o) But I fully understand your position on this, especially after the amount of patience you already invested in this.

Whatever you do - fly safe!

edit: regarding XP/Win32/crashes - http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=107315

I didn't really intend to run it on Xp, the box doesn't have the horsepower to make it enjoyable. It was simply a test step to see if I could get the key to work at all. I am quite familiar with the nuances of safe mode, I am an IT Director you see. I tried Safe Mode just to see if it would work, god knows I can't remember the last time I had to boot that for anything but BSODs or the like. There are a lot of things I tried that aren't listed here, just got tired of writing them out as nothing worked lol.

In the end I might not have abandoned the software - I have in fact requested a refund - were it not for the complete neglect that DCS shows it's customers. They make precisely zero effort to support the product they sell to people. It seems to me they rely on the users in these forums to provide that for them. I've read enough on here to know that mine is in no way an isolated case. I just don't see the point in working harder than the developer I Paid for the product to make it work, it is an obscenity. Unfortunately that is the reputation they will carry with me from this point forward. Hey, at least I got a decent throttle setup out of the deal....now if they'll only load up support for it in Hawken.....

I do thank you guys for your help, it was very much appreciated. Have a good one, Mahalo.

I guess I'm not quite done with this game after all. I got a partial refund, however they allowed me to keep the game. I suppose I'll watch and see if the ticket receives a response. Today marks two weeks with no acknowledgement of the ticket outside of the autoresponse when I opened it.

Honestly, this is why I will only ever buy ED products from their own website. If you are really intent on getting it working, I would just do a complete uninstall and remove all registry files, then use the money from the refund to buy it directly from ED's website (http://www.eagle.ru) and download all of the game files from the torrent they list on their website (first DCS world, then download and install A-10C after).

Sorry you haven't gotten any response from ED, they are a small company. But when ED's products do work, I've had huge amounts of fun, so much so that I don't even have any other games installed on this computer. DCS is the only game/sim I use.

The uninstall is already done, I run enough things on this machine that I will not spare space for something that doesn't work. I suppose I will probably end up ripping the registry for any DCS related entries and then I'll reinstall clean - after I hear back from DCS.

Small company they may be, but they were still paid for the product. Purchasing it a second time is not going to happen. I already paid them for the key once. If they cannot manage their keys through a third party, such as Gamefly, then they probably shouldn't sell them that way.