Activation lost due to Win crash

[BitMaster]

Hey ED,

 

unfortunately, upon booting my Notebook last afternoon, I wasn't welcomed by a KA-50 Desktop picture but some nasty Windows errors that I couldn't fix with all the tools and expertise I have.

 

Long story short, I had to reinstall Win7 from scratch last night and reinstall DCS with my 4 Modules via Steam.

 

 

After starting the game I was prompted to reactivate the Modules and later on I saw that my first activation from the crushed Win7 is lost and so I only have 9 keys/activations left.

 

 

How can I regain my lost activation ? I am now over 150 € for this game and tend to take this serious since I can see myself playing this game many years....and usually Windows goes without a warning, thus loosing an activation every time your NTFS folds together or any other reason why you cannot reboot the system and deactivate.

 

 

Please, give me instructions on what to do.

 

Personally, I hate this kind of CopyProtection. I lately spend 20€ phone costs to fix an ElectronicArts License error for BF games, now this. Why do we always have to fix things

regarding licenses. Why do the paying Customers get the SH'*LOAD of problems ?

 

Honest Players are always the ones who pay the bill, in cash and effort.

 

 

For that amount of money that DCS costs, make a Dongle available like any CAD or Industrial Software uses for 250 € and up !!!

 

Unchain us Users from this ridiculous copy protection.

 

 

Bit

 

Am I forced to play in VMware to eliminate the "I lost my 10th Activation through to NTFS BS".

[BitMaster]

also, if Starforce was any clever, it should have seen that it is the EXACT same Hardware, my MacBookPro Retina with SAME chip serials and etc... the only thing being changed is a Windows ID, even User and machine have same names.

 

I really get upset bout this !!!!!!!!!!! I paid I own MY SOFTWARE FREE FOR MY PERSONAL USAGE

 

no telling me 10 times and then buy again :(

[Tone71]

Do you really think you're going to get through all of your remaining 9 activations!? That aside, maybe send an email to customer support, I'm sure they'll be only too happy to reimburse you an activation.

[GodsPrototype]

You can deactivate your modules, but since you formatted your computer, you must contact ED to reset all you activations. TBH, I think you shouldn't worry about it and only start to contact ED when you are low on activations and then ask ED to reset them. ED is a good company, they will reset it for you if you explain the situation, it happens more often than you think.

 

And as Tone71 said, do you really think you're going to use all 9 of them?

 

I did notice there is a manual product deactivation page on the DCS website, but I'm not sure what it does, nor do I know what the hardware code is: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/personal/licensing/deactivate.php

 

Otherwise, contact ED by starting a new ticket: https://www.digitalcombatsimulator.com/en/support/new.php

 

Good luck!

[cichlidfan]

ED is not likely to replace your activation, the system is designed so that is not necessary.

 

EDIT: Btw, you don't own your software. Read your EULA.

 

I paid I own MY SOFTWARE FREE FOR MY PERSONAL USAGE

 

Edited November 30, 2013 by cichlidfan

[Atkara]

Each module comes with it's own application, used to activate it and in cases like this of a system reinstall, deactivate it. A10C's for example, is: ".\DCS World\mods\aircrafts\A10C\bin\a10_protect.exe"

 

This won't get you back the -apparently lost- activation. But this way ensures you won't lose any more.

[BitMaster]

ED is not likely to replace your activation, the system is designed so that is not necessary.

 

EDIT: Btw, you don't own your software. Read your EULA.

 

 

IT'S A SHAME THAT YOU ARE RIGHT

 

 

When I look at my Mac games, bought through Apple Store, I don't have such fancy chains on me.

 

1 more reason to just go the easy way and stay in the Apple world and Apple terms of licenses.

 

 

Don't get ne wrong. I feel like I always have to proof I legally payed to use it, over and over.. and that aint right, no matter what.

 

BTW. What is 10 activations in 3-4 years time on a technicians PC and changing hardware, Graphic cards etc..

 

I think it is more common than uncommon that an active players outruns his 10 activations over some years by hardware changes and OS reinstalls. Only way to counter act is deactivate when u can and pray when u can't.

 

I don't like to be dependent on the mercy of a company I already payed for. maybe that puts it clear.

 

 

I think fair should be fair, on both ends and over years, and trust only comes when you have had a few experiences and seen how one reacts, or doesn't.

 

The solution used puts the customer in a corner of mercy and dependance.

 

Maybe this can be thought of when redone sometime in the future. I rather have a dongle on USB than this 10-Activations Starforce stuff. If u do it, do it right.

 

Bit

[cichlidfan]

BTW. What is 10 activations in 3-4 years time on a technicians PC and changing hardware, Graphic cards etc..

 

Did you actually read how the activation process works? Unless you rebuild your PC more that once a month, you will never run out of activations.

 

From the Quick Start Guide, page 2.

Each game license (disk) has 10 activations and 10 deactivations. You can activate

your game up to 10 times. The number of installations is unlimited!

This game also allows Activations Automatically (“AAA”) technology that enables

you to create a new activation once every 31 days. This ensures that you

can still play the game, even if Eagle Dynamics no longer exists someday. This

function is enabled after all 10 default activations have been used.

 

In my experience, a good tech, doesn't experiment on the PC he actually needs to keep functional.

Edited November 30, 2013 by cichlidfan

[karambiatos]

 

 

In my experience, a good tech, doesn't experiment on the PC he actually needs to keep functional.

 

a good tech doesnt use MAC, he uses linux

 

OOOOHHHH!

 

 

but in all seriousness you could have just used steam, but here you are complaining about things that really dont need complaining.

Is DRM a dumb thing? yup, but you have to give it to ED theres still no pirated versions of DCS world out there :)

and a dongle would just raise the price of the product.

Edited November 30, 2013 by karambiatos

[cichlidfan]

a good tech doesnt use MAC, he uses linux

 

OOOOHHHH!

 

Where is a high-hat when you need one!! :D

[G00dnight]

Apart from anything else I think the OP is being really abusive to ED for no reason at all maybe he/she just likes trolling for attention, maybe they should sit back for 10 mins and think before posting maybe using the 10 mins to read the way DRM works. In a perfect world we wouldn't need it but as there are lots of Thieves about we have to put up with it.

[SkateZilla]

also, if Starforce was any clever, it should have seen that it is the EXACT same Hardware, my MacBookPro Retina with SAME chip serials and etc... the only thing being changed is a Windows ID, even User and machine have same names.

 

I really get upset bout this !!!!!!!!!!! I paid I own MY SOFTWARE FREE FOR MY PERSONAL USAGE

 

no telling me 10 times and then buy again :(

 

The Hardware ID wont be the same if you re-install windows because certain things may be put on a different port/address, the windows install time stamp changes.

[Atkara]

Apart from anything else I think the OP is being really abusive to ED for no reason at all maybe he/she just likes trolling for attention, maybe they should sit back for 10 mins and think before posting maybe using the 10 mins to read the way DRM works. In a perfect world we wouldn't need it but as there are lots of Thieves about we have to put up with it.

 

He's not trolling -he's just angry.

[BitMaster]

a good tech doesnt use MAC, he uses linux

 

OOOOHHHH!

 

 

but in all seriousness you could have just used steam, but here you are complaining about things that really dont need complaining.

Is DRM a dumb thing? yup, but you have to give it to ED theres still no pirated versions of DCS world out there :)

and a dongle would just raise the price of the product.

 

 

I am using Steam, this is a Steam purchased DCS. It doesn't matter if its is Steam or not I guess.

The Starforce lock applies to it, be it Steam or non-Steam based.

 

 

And yes, I use Linux since it was on the scene and my Mac boots all 3 of them or any one in VMware. I just run Mac OS X since I personally like it best among those 3, but I have to work with all 3 so I don't bitch about neither one, I use the one that best suites the need I have.

 

I cannot use the deactivation feature/tool as some suggested, the partition was unaccessible.

If I would change HW I would always de-license before but this was unplanned. I just hoped Steam would iron that out but they didn't.

 

 

I just find it wrong that we, the customers, have to act. Are we customers or beggars ?

 

Anyway, I am gonna mail Support and ask to reset the lost activation. As long as this works without trouble it may be OK for the sake of it.

 

A dongle costs about 20-40 €, acceptable, considered that a full blown DCS combo easily goes beyond 200 € as of now.

 

I would buy the dongle if it would eliminate that stupid Copy Protection thing that haunts any game that uses it ever since.

 

Make the dongle and an AC as a Pack, like P-51D + Dongle 54,99 € etc... something that fits both demands, ED's and ours.

 

Most Professional software uses dongles to not risk such scenarios. I consider DCS with 200+ Euros a professional software with professional price tag.

 

 

Bit

Edited November 30, 2013 by BitMaster

[cichlidfan]

Make the dongle and an AC as a Pack, like P-51D + Dongle 54,99 € etc... something that fits both demands, ED's and ours.

 

Most Professional software uses dongles to not risk such scenarios. I consider DCS with 200+ Euros a professional software with professional price tag.

 

 

Bit

 

:megalol::megalol:

 

When ED can email you the dongle, I am sure they will get right on that.

[pacotito]

I can see the forum posts now. "I lost one of my 7 dongles...how can I get a new one." Maybe they could make a dongle you could update. Buy a module and it automatically adds it to your dongle.

[ALDEGA]

a good tech doesnt use MAC

No matter what OS you're using, making frequent backups is a best practice.

[Dagger71]

Wow! The crazies are out lately! I am away for work and haven't played in a while, then saw this thread and the other complaints of a Vista 32 bit user.

 

Sometimes I have a feeling they are all the same person (remember the so called real life A10 technician (and real life pilot) who couldn't comprehend even the most basic a10 terms and claimed it was much too complex?

 

 

Anyways, I never liked DRM due to some of the issues involved, but DCS has one of the best balances between copy protection and user friendly processes.

 

We aren't impressed by your tech prowess when you fail to comprehend that your activations will be essentially limitless.

 

Dongles are outdated, obsolete and needless technology due to the great DRM tech that can now be implemented without the need for hardware solutions. Dongles are so 2003!

 

Now you can go back to your Apple Genius Bar and tell them how crappy pc games are.

Edited November 30, 2013 by Dagger71

[AtaliaA1]

Is DRM a dumb thing? yup, but you have to give it to ED theres still no pirated versions of DCS world out there :)

and a dongle would just raise the price of the product.

 

That speaks volumes to the DRM issue.

 

 

No one uses "Dongles" anymore the vulnerability proven about 4yrs. ago all Fortune 100s dropped the use of them. along with not being cost effective based on modern methods.

[BitMaster]

Now you can go back to your Apple Genius Bar and tell them how crappy pc games are.

 

Why so angry about Apple ?

 

Have you ever come over the point of bitching about OS's you don't have, own or run but only bitch about.

 

I tell you one thing, this damn Mac runs more games flawless in OS X than most windows systems I have seen. Wargames EEC, Wargame ALSB, Assassin's Creed Series, F1 2012, DiRT2, etc etc...

 

Before u bitch about Apple, make it better than they do. I game on PCs since there was an 386 SX 20 out, don't tell my anything about A-10 Life, I built and sell networks for a living and if I wouldn't be good I would be out of business for years.

 

I don't see the point why some of you get mad or personal at others fighting for some of their rights too.

 

You may have to ripe another 10 years before allowed to talk to adults without going there wrong way with words.

 

There is a fine line, you may not have noticed.

 

Maybe you just don't understand what is a customer and how you treat them.

 

 

..and no, I don't go Apple Bar, I am usually the one on the other side :)

Edited December 1, 2013 by BitMaster

[lanmancz]

Maybe you just don't understand what is a customer and how you treat them.

 

I think it was already explained to you but I'll try one more time, ready ? Here we go :

 

>>> You get back your last activation every 30 days <<<

 

= this means that you will NEVER run out of activations

[sobek]

As has been pointed out, SF ProActive AAA replenishes your last activation a month after you have used it. There is no real reason for ED to grant you an activation back. You can try your luck with official support though.

 

And to whom it may concern, go easy on the gutter talk. This is not an officers club but a forum rated for everyone. I'm going to close this now as i don't see it going well.

Edited December 1, 2013 by sobek