Your CD key appears to be invalid. You will need to reinstall the game... WTF???

[legacy-T2k]

Now I'm really pissed off: I was playing then I quit the game for 10 mins (I ate something).
Started again... and voila':



WTF is this? I'm not gonna reinstall - I have a lot of settings and custom maps.

This is VERY frikkin annoying!

[legacy-Ms Black]

Could just be a problem with server which auths CD keys.... Guess you could leave it a few hours and try again. If it's still broken after a day or so, I guess it'll be time to phone Atari.

[legacy-bandenchef]

@ T2k,

you don't have to reinstall UT2004 just because of invalid cd key. In Windows fix the key by 'start' > 'execute' > 'regedit' > 'hk local machine' > 'unreal technology' > 'installed apps' > 'ut2004'. There a key can be found containing the cd key. Maybe your system screw the reg key.
In Linux there is a file named 'cdkey' in 'System' folder.

Btw, i exported the key to a '.reg' file just in case it gets screwed. My UT2004 is very moded too