Backup activation?

[REVHEAD]

I format a fair bit , playing with Windows 7 has a lot to do with it, and I allso upgrade a few times a year.

 

Now I just purchased Black Shark, and sighed when I seen the max of 7 activations, is there any way I can buck up may activation?, is there a file or something, as I am about to format again, going to Intel i7 next week and I will max out my activations in no time, this is a real big pain in the backside.

 

Mybe you guys should look at maybe using Steam to disstribute this game that way this activation thing can be overlooked, just a thought.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Distiler]

You also have 10 deactivations. But if you are just resintalling windows you don't need to reactivate.

Edited June 4, 2009 by Distiler

[EtherealN]

Also, the system has built-in tolarances. If memory serves the only hardware change that will - on it's own - force a new activation is CPU change. OS reinstalls are also bets-off but I don't recall anything official on that for sure.

 

I'll see if I can find the relevant FAQ post to paste in here.

 

EDIT:

 

Q: What form of copy protection does the product utilize?

 

A: The currently available English download and boxed releases of DCS: Black Shark both utilize StarForce ProActive copy protection technology. The products require online activation, which is done automatically if internet connection is available. Black Shark can also be activated via eMail or the StarForce website.

 

If StarForce detects changes to your computer hardware/software as described below, an activation will be required. The English versions include 8 (eight) activations and 10 (ten) deactivations. It's important to note that deactivations are utilized to save your activations when altering your PC hardware/software. Before conducting a PC upgrade/OS re-install, you can deactivate the product and when complete, reactivate without a loss of activations.

http://www.star-force.com/support/users/deactivate/

 

An activation will be required if the hardware/software changes exceed 12 points as rated below:

 

CPU ID: 13

Windows PID: 3

Computer Name: 3

Hard drive volume serial number: 3

MAC address: 6

RAM amount: 6

 

If you just uninstall Black Shark and then reinstall it again on the same PC without reinstalling your operating system or changing hardware, you do not need to use a deactivation.

 

From here: http://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=568704&postcount=3

 

In my own case, that works pretty nice. The changes I make to my systems are mostly very incremental, so so far the only time I've actually been asked for a new activation was when I was installing on a completely new from-scratch (exepting the DVD-RW) system.

 

Should be noted for transparency that the only change so far done on that system is repetitive swapping in and out of some old harddrives from older computers. So nothing major thus far, even though there was quite a few HDDs being thrown around that day.

Edited June 4, 2009 by EtherealN

[supergdog]

Yea, I'm now down to 1 activation and 7 deactivation. Be careful if you deactivate you'll get an extra set of numbers to use on the next activation. If you reinstall the game and activate without the extra numbers you lose an activation. I did not see that mentioned in the manual nor does the activation screen include info on when to put in the extra numbers. :(

 

I also have been reinstalling Win 7 quite a bit and I also change my PC quite often. This type of activation stuff sucks for people like us. I don't know that I'll buy anymore DCS add-ons if they continue with this crap. Why can't they just do a key check and only 1 activation per key is allowed at 1 time. Yeah, maybe you quit playing the game and give your key away, but this is a pain the *&^%.

 

I'm hoping that Eagle or the distro or Starforce will allow more activations though I won't hold my breath.

Edited June 6, 2009 by supergdog

[Kurtz]

Oh well Superdog we all know DCS Blackshark is like a beautiful woman that farts a lot. We are Captivated by her beauty, yet repelled by her starforce. Best purchase a peg for your nose, and love her for the beauty she is ;)

[REVHEAD]

How do you deactivate?

[Distiler]

Check the quick start manual, there is a whole chapter for deactivation.

[Cyb0rg]

Well.. after some installs/uninstalls/reintalls/dual-installs of WinXP, Vista, Win7 Beta (32 and 64) and Win 7 RC1, i don't know how many activations/deactivations i have left. :music_whistling:

 

Is there a way to know this without loose another deactivation?

 

Thanks.

[REVHEAD]

Ok I can understand 10 activations, but 10 deactivations wtf.

[supergdog]

Yea, it's confusing believe me. I forgot to deactivate 2 or 3 times and lost activations. WTFH. I really don't understand this can't they just blacklist keys that are activated on more than 1 machine? I have my receipt from Amazon for my purchase, I'd be happy to fax that to them to get rid of this SF crap.

[supergdog]

You also have 10 deactivations. But if you are just resintalling windows you don't need to reactivate.

I've had too activate every frikin time I've reinstalled the OS. Not sure where you got that.

[GGTharos]

Have you tried saving the SF registry key and restoring it after you reinstall? I don't know if that works though.

[EtherealN]

Ok I can understand 10 activations' date=' but 10 deactivations wtf.[/quote']

 

Nothing strange about it IMO. You have X amount of activations, and to save activations there is also a feature that allows you to move the activations between machines. Simple.

 

I forgot to deactivate 2 or 3 times and lost activations. WTFH.

 

While I understand that it's tempting to blame TFC/ED for the fact that you had not read the quick-start that accompanies the product, it's not an argument that's going to win you anything.

 

I really don't understand this can't they just blacklist keys that are activated on more than 1 machine?

 

No.

I had a review code of a game ages ago, where it had that very protection system, plus some time-based ones. I just ensured that I wasn't connected to the internet whenever I touched it after the review deadline was over. (Fortunately I later was tasked with an expansion, and for that one they sent me a regular box version of the original since the original review code couldn't accept the expansion...)

 

It's either that, or pair the system with a requirement of being online whenever you are to play it. Guess how popular that would be.

 

I have my receipt from Amazon for my purchase' date=' I'd be happy to fax that to them to get rid of this SF crap.[/quote']

 

And here comes the real irony and the illustration of how counterproductive anger is. I know for a fact that ED has given new keys before to a lot of people who have run out for legitimate reasons. Usually what's required is pretty much just good manners and the ability to explain one's case.

 

Bad manners in that circumstance usually just means they'll wonder who elected that guy to be their new boss and then go off to a customer that's talking nice.

 

A word of warning though: mentioning your anger at you having lost activations due to you forgetting to use a feature that is extensively covered in the quick-start... Don't do that. ED is not, never will be, and never could be asked to be (by a sane person) responsible for anyone's inability to read the readme. If the deactivation procedure was too complex, there's a forum on this site where one can get help by a tonne of nice guys with anything that is causing issues or being problematic. Simple.

 

I've had too activate every frikin time I've reinstalled the OS. Not sure where you got that.

 

Distiler mispoke in that. The exact details are in the post below the one you now quoted, where I quote the FAQ available on this board.

 

Further, if you are reinstalling the operating system it's pretty logical that stuff might happen. That's when you use the deactivation feature that is extensively described in the quick-start.

[Acedy]

Well.. after some installs/uninstalls/reintalls/dual-installs of WinXP, Vista, Win7 Beta (32 and 64) and Win 7 RC1, i don't know how many activations/deactivations i have left. :music_whistling:

 

Is there a way to know this without loose another deactivation?

 

Thanks.

 

Enter the serial here:

 

http://proactive.star-force.com/2.0/activate.php

 

and press "Serial Number Parameters" :)

[TheMoose]

The best backup solution http://www.acronis.com/ works like a charm :thumbup:

[Cyb0rg]

Enter the serial here:

 

http://proactive.star-force.com/2.0/activate.php

 

and press "Serial Number Parameters" :)

 

I guess iam an happy camper with 8 activations left. :megalol:

Thanks.