Invalid Serial Number

[SturdyWings]

Was wondering if anyone could help me figure out what's going on here. I read another thread about a similar problem but the remedy there didn't seem to work for me.

 

I've had DCS World on Steam for a year or so now with the A-10C and F-15C and I wanted to take advantage of the recent sale so I downloaded the standalone and bought FC3. (My F15 wouldn't transfer).

 

My friend also bought the Blackshark (under his account - he plays on my PC) and everything has been working until I just tried to sign into Multiplayer. My account from Steam DCS World MP was already 'remembered' in the login so I hit 'login' and it says invalid serial number. I tried holding shift and pasting the keys into the activation thing but it says it's already activated? :huh:

 

Any help would be great

[SkateZilla]

make sure you are pasting the entire 26-Character License Key and not part of it, or Steam Order # Etc.

 

XX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-

[SturdyWings]

Thanks for the response!

 

Ok so I entered it correctly and made sure (it pops up with the Warthog 64 bit - Activation window) and says

 

'Activation with this Serial Number has already been performed and the license is still active. Run without re-activation?"

 

Options are Yes or Activate. I clicked yes and it still said invalid, then did the activation and it said 9 activations remaining so I thought maybe it worked - but no good. Still the same error.

[EtherealN]

Can you please elaborate on these points:

 

1) You say you are running on the same PC. Are you using separate logins to windows on the machine?

 

2) If not, are you running on the same local install?

 

The most likely cause for the issue is if you are running the same install, with the same registry entries (same login), causing the MP system to see conflicting serial number associations with the login being used - IE, you logging in to your account on an install that also tries to use a BlackShark install that uses his account.

[Interceptor]

...

 

Options are Yes or Activate. I clicked yes and it still said invalid, then did the activation and it said 9 activations remaining so I thought maybe it worked - but no good. Still the same error.

 

Your activated key is not the same binded to your ED-Account!

 

You can check the key there ---> https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/personal/licensing/

[SturdyWings]

Can you please elaborate on these points:

 

1) You say you are running on the same PC. Are you using separate logins to windows on the machine?

 

2) If not, are you running on the same local install?

 

The most likely cause for the issue is if you are running the same install, with the same registry entries (same login), causing the MP system to see conflicting serial number associations with the login being used - IE, you logging in to your account on an install that also tries to use a BlackShark install that uses his account.

 

Same login, but I didn't uninstall the Steam version when I downloaded the standalone. Could that cause the problem? When I first opened the standalone all of my key bindings and missions and settings were already there so it must have gotten some data from the Steam version or is using the same folders? I installed my standalone version on my SSD and the Steam version is on my C drive.

 

Thnx

[SkateZilla]

License Keys are held in the registry,

 

Missions and Controller settings are in /Saved Games/DCS/.

[SturdyWings]

License Keys are held in the registry,

 

Missions and Controller settings are in /Saved Games/DCS/.

 

I see, so if I uninstall the Steam version it should fix it without deleting my saved stuff?

[SturdyWings]

Can you please elaborate on these points:

 

1) You say you are running on the same PC. Are you using separate logins to windows on the machine?

 

2) If not, are you running on the same local install?

 

The most likely cause for the issue is if you are running the same install, with the same registry entries (same login), causing the MP system to see conflicting serial number associations with the login being used - IE, you logging in to your account on an install that also tries to use a BlackShark install that uses his account.

 

Ah ok wait that makes sense. Yeah he used a different e-shop login to buy the Blackshark so now I can't log onto MP at all? Is there a way to fix this?

[SkateZilla]

I see, so if I uninstall the Steam version it should fix it without deleting my saved stuff?

 

Uninstalling steam wont fix it, steam and ED Standalone installs can co-exist.

 

Ah ok wait that makes sense. Yeah he used a different e-shop login to buy the Blackshark so now I can't log onto MP at all? Is there a way to fix this?

 

Sounds like You need to move all the licenses to the correct MP Login.

 

So you need to bind your Licenses to Your ED Login, and he needs to bind his to his ED Login.

 

So when You log into MP, the Modules bound to your account will work,

When he logs into his MP Account his modules will work.

 

 

 

You need to goto http://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com

Login with your account first,

Then on the Nav Menu on the Left side, goto Personal Section, Then Licensing.

 

Enter the Serial Number(s) of your Modules and Make sure they are Bound to your ED Login.

 

If they aren’t, You can see what account they are bound to, (and it’s history).

 

If some of his modules are under your account, you can unbind or transfer them to his login from here.

 

now, if your modules are bound under his login, same thing, have him login, and transfer the binding to your account.

 

 

 

See Here:

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=116362

[EtherealN]

Ah ok wait that makes sense. Yeah he used a different e-shop login to buy the Blackshark so now I can't log onto MP at all? Is there a way to fix this?

 

Say this is true:

 

Installed modules:

Mod_A - belonging to DCS account Acct_A

Mod_B - belonging to DCS account Acct_A

Mod_C - belonging to DCS account Acct_A

Mod_D - belonging to DCS account Acct_B

 

What then happens when you start MP with Acct_A is that your simulator will try to initialize a module (Mod_D) that belongs to Acct_B while using Acct_A.

 

My suggestion is that you should have two separate logins on the computer, and separate DCS installs, such that your install won't be trying to initialize your friend's copy of "Mod_D" (BlackShark in this case).

 

So on your install you'll have Mod_A, Mod_B, and Mod_C installed, while on his install there is Mod_D. Then it should work. Mixing accounts on the same install will cause this issue, which is the reason for this statement on the E-shop: "All DCS modules should be purchased from one website account."

[SturdyWings]

You're the man SkateZilla, that did the trick. Thanks all for the help!

[SturdyWings]

Say this is true:

 

Installed modules:

Mod_A - belonging to DCS account Acct_A

Mod_B - belonging to DCS account Acct_A

Mod_C - belonging to DCS account Acct_A

Mod_D - belonging to DCS account Acct_B

 

What then happens when you start MP with Acct_A is that your simulator will try to initialize a module (Mod_D) that belongs to Acct_B while using Acct_A.

 

My suggestion is that you should have two separate logins on the computer, and separate DCS installs, such that your install won't be trying to initialize your friend's copy of "Mod_D" (BlackShark in this case).

 

So on your install you'll have Mod_A, Mod_B, and Mod_C installed, while on his install there is Mod_D. Then it should work. Mixing accounts on the same install will cause this issue, which is the reason for this statement on the E-shop: "All DCS modules should be purchased from one website account."

 

I see, that makes sense. We just bound his key to my account and it cleared it up. Thank ya!