Limited activations

[alhudson]

Hello this post is specific to moderators.

 

I frenquently review Games for Windows forums... and I see a lot of complains about Exceeded Usage allowed by Product Key some modern games like Sector 8 and Dirt 2 use Server Side Authentication that links the product key to the gamertag that is very useful.

 

However Halo 2, Shadowrun and GTA IV burn activations and when these games are uninstalled the GFWL key is not revoked.

 

Now the Microsoft "solution" to this is call them (make a international phone call) + wait 3 days and they assing you a new key... the problem is that this process can be done only 1 time... so If I've reinstalled windows many times eventually I might not play GTA IV anymore.

 

I'm wondering if Rockstar could integrate in their next patch Server side Authentication to avoid this issue.

 

 

Thanks

 

[nicotin3]

The last time i uninstalled GTA IV my key was revoked, if im not mistaken at the end.

If your going to wipe out your HD, uninstall the game first..

[wesley123]

you can use the key unlimited times, it only is gonna give problems if you activate once in australia, once in europe, one in africa and once in america.

[AmbiquitY]

you can use the key unlimited times, it only is gonna give problems if you activate once in australia, once in europe, one in africa and once in america.

So actually you could give your key to everybody you know personally, and they (or you) won't have any problems with it? :S

[mkey82]

you can use the key unlimited times, it only is gonna give problems if you activate once in australia, once in europe, one in africa and once in america.

Where did you get this info?

 

The activations number may be limited depending on the game publisher/provider for your area. Also, the GFWL might cause problems so that you can activate the game as far a Securom is concerned, but you can't play online anymore as GFWL refuses to accept your activation.

[radioman]

 

Now the Microsoft "solution" to this is call them (make a international phone call) + wait 3 days and they assing you a new key... the problem is that this process can be done only 1 time... so If I've reinstalled windows many times eventually I might not play GTA IV anymore.

 

For one, How is it an International Call, when Microsoft is located right here in the United States?

Also, Why would you need to re-install windows multiple times?-It doesn't make sense. Just Curious on these issues.? Also, Microsoft has International Numbers too, so, just use them if outside of the USA.?

 

But you have Unlimited Activations, so as long as you un-install it first, you can easily re-activate later on. There is no need to re-install windows unless you get a new PC, in my opinion.

 

 

So actually you could give your key to everybody you know personally, and they (or you) won't have any problems with it? :S

 

For one, that is illegal and if you are caught, you can/will be notified by these guys. Also, that would not work, as each disk/(game) has a different activation code.

Edited December 9, 2009 by radioman

[mkey82]

It actually has nothing to do with the disk.

[truehighroller]

I have been trouble shooting my Lag issue with this game as of late and now I'm seeing this issue that the OP has posted about. I have used all my activations is what GFWL is telling me yet R*s activation process let me revoke all my installation keys and had no problem letting me activate through it. I should have all of mine left.. I can't save the f*cking game now so I can get past the first part of the game so I can troubleshoot easier rather then going through the f*cking beginning of the game every time. I have revoked every single one of my keys during uninstallation and R*s activation doesn't complain it is GFW bitching when I go to sign in telling me that I have used all my activations. Is this legal? Can I sue the sh*t out of Microsoft ? I haven't read this action in a clause any where that I know of..

Edited December 9, 2009 by truehighroller

[wesley123]

you can use the key unlimited times, it only is gonna give problems if you activate once in australia, once in europe, one in africa and once in america.

Where did you get this info?

 

The activations number may be limited depending on the game publisher/provider for your area. Also, the GFWL might cause problems so that you can activate the game as far a Securom is concerned, but you can't play online anymore as GFWL refuses to accept your activation.

read the back of gta4, there it stands that the code can be used unlimited amount of times.

[xxCrowTechxx]

Also, the GFWL might cause problems so that you can activate the game as far a Securom is concerned, but you can't play online anymore as GFWL refuses to accept your activation.

So this is guaranteed to happen to everyone eventually? How many re-installs are we talking about?

[truehighroller]

you can use the key unlimited times, it only is gonna give problems if you activate once in australia, once in europe, one in africa and once in america.

Where did you get this info?

 

The activations number may be limited depending on the game publisher/provider for your area. Also, the GFWL might cause problems so that you can activate the game as far a Securom is concerned, but you can't play online anymore as GFWL refuses to accept your activation.

read the back of gta4, there it stands that the code can be used unlimited amount of times.

I just talked to R* support and they told me to call GFWL and I told him that I can't even save locally because it is telling me that I have used all my activations and this is GFWL telling me this sh*t not, Secure Roms activation. They state that I should be able to activate as much as I need to like he said on the back of the box. I told the guy I said look I am trouble shooting an issue that they caused with this new patch for my system for them and now I am being punished for their f*ck up so as far as I am concerned especially considering that I can't even sign in offline to save without achievements then I am pointing my finger at R* because I should be at least able to save the game offline.... I scanning down the back of the box where it says unlimited activations.

[mkey82]

read the back of gta4, there it stands that the code can be used unlimited amount of times.

No, this is left for the publisher to choose, depending on the area/whatever.

 

xxCrowTechxx, it's not guaranteed, it's not even likely to happen, but it has been reported a few times (there are some threads on that topic) that it did happen. It has also happened for some they were unable to activate the game at Securom. Not common, but worth keeping in mind.

[viometrix]

@ Radioman

 

as a die hard gamer and system enthusiast i reformat my systems every three to four months to eliminate background clutter and keep my system running at their peak perfomance to enjoy my games.

[PecanFrost]

I think there is an issue with the way the game box is worded, yes the game does have unlimited activations through Securom, but you will eventually run into the GFWL limit of 10 installs. This does not only affect GTA IV but also other GFWL titles. As a quick get around you could use a code from another GFWL title, but to get by you would have to contact GFWL and ask them to supply you with a code for their system, I think it's unfair if they're going to limit this also.

Before GFWL 3 came out there was talk of this install/activation limit being removed and a code being locked against your account like Steam does, but that might have been a good idea so they didn't do it.

[truehighroller]

I think there is an issue with the way the game box is worded, yes the game does have unlimited activations through Securom, but you will eventually run into the GFWL limit of 10 installs. This does not only affect GTA IV but also other GFWL titles. As a quick get around you could use a code from another GFWL title, but to get by you would have to contact GFWL and ask them to supply you with a code for their system, I think it's unfair if they're going to limit this also.

Before GFWL 3 came out there was talk of this install/activation limit being removed and a code being locked against your account like Steam does, but that might have been a good idea so they didn't do it.

You can't save the game at all, with it doing this so they shouldn't even say unlimited installations because that is false advertisement period..

[xxCrowTechxx]

but you will eventually run into the GFWL limit of 10 installs

Thank you, I was wondering what the magic number was.

 

[FireItUp]

The OP is 100% correct. I haven't been able to sign into live for months now, because of the max key usage exceeded bs. MP is pathetic in GTA anyways, so I just use Xliveless now.

 

EDIT: I should also add... That I haven't given my key out and only used one account with my key.

Edited December 10, 2009 by FireItUp

[mkey82]

but you will eventually run into the GFWL limit of 10 installs

Thank you, I was wondering what the magic number was.

Again, this one is not hard coded. If you browse through the troubleshooting section you will find

 

* there are people who reinstalled and reactivate the game a large number of times and they still work fine

* there are people who can activate the game with Securom but not on GFWL (that 10 as limit sounds right)

* there are people who can't activate the game with Securom anymore.

[Lodis]

@ Radioman

 

as a die hard gamer and system enthusiast i reformat my systems every three to four months to eliminate background clutter and keep my system running at their peak perfomance to enjoy my games.

There are much better ways of accomplishing the same thing in a fraction of the time. Why would you do a full system format and reinstall when instead you could do a low level Drive Snapshot of the system down to the very sector, save this when your system is known clean and optimised and then instead of reformatting and reinstalling, just restore this backup image.

 

It does exactly the same thing. I use Drive Snapshot, others use Acronis or other imaging software. Also, you will not need to reactivate any games or software when you do this.

[mkey82]

A clean install with the latest drivers and bullsh*t is the best option. With 7 it takes about 30 mins to install the OS and another 30 to isntall dirvers and crap. Most games don't need reinstalling anyway.

[alhudson]

Thanks guys for your concern

 

GTA IV for PC uses 2 kinds of activations

a) SecuROM (you install first then activate and if you uninstall correctly no problems here)

b) Games for Windows Live Activation (when you type your serial key) when you install the key is burned (is not released after uninstall)

 

You can find people on Games for windows forums with this problem:

http://forums.gamesforwindows.com/p/8768/81979.aspx#81979

 

Outside of United States (regards that you live in a supported country) the XBOX support numbers (yeah you read clearly XBOX) don't have people to solve Games for Windows problems. the last time I spent 2hrs on phone + wait 4 days to recive an answer that I must call a support number in U.S to get another Halo 2 key. (Halo 2 only supports 3 activations)

 

Q-Why uninstall multiples times?

 

A- I'm MSDN software developer so I frequently install/format/reinstall windows (desktop or server)I install a lot of beta software too, sometimes I build custom PC for sell it. In summary I change PC and Windows like 20-30 at year.

 

No I don't sell or use pirated copies.

 

My concern is because if you are not logged into GFWL you can unblock achievements and of course play online.

[truehighroller]

I too have concerns over this and feel that we should stand up and voice our oppinions on this issue and be heard. I just finished talking with Microssoft and they gave me another key. I asked them why they are even doing this instead of just clearing the keys as we go like with a revoke tool. Just like securom is doing with this game and the guy said that they will be changing things allot on the fifteenth of this month as far as Games For Windows goes and that we will see what he is talking about on the fifteenth.

 

 

He sounded very excited about it, of-course he didn't give me any details as to what he might be talking about though. The tech also added that they would like for GFWL to be sorta like steam eventually as far as activations go. This was a first level tech that told me this information but, he sounded like he knew what he was talking about.

 

Something is going to happen on the fifteenth so look out for that but, back to the issue at hand here. I spent allot of time being passed around on the phone to different departments when I started asking questions and it took about an hour and a half to finally get to some one that wanted to answer my questions. Then I managed to get promised a call back from a higher level person and he was supposed to be able to answer my questions better which are the following. Where does it tell me this will happen on the game in plain site for when I make my decision whether or not to purchase the game "which ended up being no where at all"? Also, why waste time with this silly second activation thing that is obviously flawed any way "something along the lines of to thwart hackers"? Give us a revoke tool like Securom!

 

There were some funny things mentioned to during all this and one was, he said that they were able to thwart the hackers with this new patch, I started laughing and told him that they had it hacked in like four hours and he remained silent as a mouse LMAO. The guy just seemed like he could care less about my money that I spent on this game and time wasted trying to make it run better and then to have this happen.

 

He basically said that if I don't like the service to not use it in the long run... I told him that if they want to get big like Steam and make money like them then they need to handle little things like this better. This issue can be easily fixed with a revoke tool or just have it automatically removed from their server when uninstalled. Some one there inside Microsoft has access to these game keys that are on a server on Microsoft's network and they can do this with little to no effort if they really care and want to make money and not just piss customers off. You should see the list of things you have to do just to get another key. I would rather just keep using the one that I purchased thank you very much.

 

I told the tech that if he couldn't get some one on the phone that could do something or some one who would at least look more in to the issue and tell me that they are and be serious about it. Then I would just have to take a different approach and I told him thank you for his help and he hung up with out saying thank you or sorry, or anything. My question is who here thinks that this is within legal grounds because I don't. I bought this game thinking I had unlimited installations like it is advertised and yet they have this silly issue?

 

The tech that hung upon me did say that it says in the agreement when you download Games For Windows Live that they can make any changes etc etc.. I told him that's great but where is it on the box or in the manual? I think some one with more money then me should file a class action lawsuit against-em.

 

 

 

 

I went back over this to fix some grammar errors and I added some more details. I finally, had some more time to look it over. Sorry that's why I'm not a writer .

Edited December 12, 2009 by truehighroller

[David.]

I recently installed GTA IV (after formatting)after 4 or 5months. I had to enter my product key then.

However,I had to uninstall & reinstall in a week or so as I modded it way too much. Now,the second time I installed GTA IV,GFWL did not ask me for the activation key.

 

This leads me to think that the secondary activation is only required if you uninstall the GFWL client(which I did while formatting).

[truehighroller]

Check out my last post. I don't think that they can legally do this and it pisses me off that they are doing it right in front of our faces. Things that get ignored like this are the things hurting America because it is just the man stepping on us more and more and we are sitting back watching it happen like, oh well. I seriously think we should all voice our oppinions on this one and be heard.

 

The manager that I talked to was like, we have never had some one call back in complaining after getting their new KEY. I told him because they must be gullable and I'm not. Something is not right here and it needs to be fixed and that is why I am calling back to complain and ask questions.

 

We need to tell them that this is not acceptable behavior.

Edited December 12, 2009 by truehighroller