The un-official ''My CD Key is INVALID'' thread.

[HoarFrost]

Huh? I don't quite follow, Unrealkry.

I see there is a tool on gamecopyworld that "Auto-removes the encrypted product key from your UT3 install...useful if you want to switch keys without reinstalling."

Anyone want to try it to see if it works? I'm always hesitant to D/L files from there.

UPDATE:
I tried the above tool, it didn't seem to have any effect.

[lord_lethris]

Installed this last christmas. Excelent game, love it to bits.

However, I reciently updated my PC (new hardware) installed Vista. Installed UT3, Key worked fine. patched. all good.

Vista killed my PC. Compatability issues with my mobo, so untill they fix that, I returned to Windows XP.

About a month later (now) I install UT3. Enter key... "invalid Key"...

Ok. Maybe patch 1 will work, as this worked with other peeps. Enter key... "invalid Key"...

OK, i thought. Maybe the key is now registered with the 1.2 patch, since thats the last patch I used. Enter key... "invalid Key"...

Hrm... I though... Hrmmmm.

Then started installing all my old Addons. Enter key... "invalid Key"...

Patch 3. Enter key... "invalid Key"...

uninstalled the game. Removed games directory, removed "my Games" directory. re-booted. Disabled NIC.

Installed game... Enter key... "invalid Key"...
patch 1 - "invalid Key"...
patch 2 - "invalid Key"...
patch 3 - "invalid Key"...
Addons - "invalid Key"...

Monday I will be taking a trip into london, with my game box (Limited Collectors Edition, so its a nice size), A wooden chair leg, and a small jar of abrasive swarfega

Anyone wanna meet up and watch me make a game dissapear where the sun don't shine?, Midway's UK address is :-

43 Worship St
London
EC2 2DX

Here is a pictured map of there smugg little building

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl...=18&iwloc=addr

[lord_lethris]

Update.

After seeing my Tub of swarfega and a lightly lubricated game box, and failing to be able to install the game, they desided to take my CD-Key and "esculate" it too 2nd level support.

...Waiting...

[lord_lethris]

God damn it... they sent me here -> http://www.midway.com/us/SupportCust...p%3Fkbid%3D888

Oh well... another call to there offices then

[lord_lethris]

I recieved this, this morning.

Thank you for contacting Midway Tech/Customer Support. Please see below for
details about your inquiry to Midway.

****, <- My name, Note: there is no formal greeting... how rude

Creating a new Windows User Account has been known to fix the "Invalid CD Key"
issue. The steps to create a new account are very similar between Windows XP
and Windows Vista:

a) Click on Start > Control Panel
b) Click on User Accounts

Windows XP:
c) Click on Add. (or Create a New Account)
d) Follow the instructions to create a new Standard User Account or Admin
Account.

Windows Vista:
c) Click on Manage Another Account
d) Click Create a New Account

After creating your new account:
e) Log off the account you are currently using. (Note: Do not 'Switch Users'.
You will need to be Logged Out of the account.)
f) Log in with the newly created account.
g) Run the game and try your CD Key again.

Regards,
Midway Tech/Customer Support

I told them I already tried that, and it didnt work. And Besides, that is just an "under the carpet" fix. I meen, after all, they did know about the issue at Patch 2 yet did nothing to impliment a propper fix for patch 3.

[lord_lethris]

They then sent me this cr@p

Hello, <- again, how rude.

It is unlikely replacing the key/game will work, as you have already
ascertained that the key itself works, as it worked with your previous
installation. Please try doing a selective startup to reduce the
possibility of third party software interfering with the validation process:

Selective Startup

Use the System Configuration Utility to perform a clean boot:

1) Click Start
2) Click Run
3) Type MSCONFIG
4) Click OK

This will load the System Configuration Utility.

On the General tab, click Selective Startup, and then click to clear the
following check box:

· Load Startup Items

5) Click Apply.
6) Click Close. Then Reboot your PC

This will stop most of the extra software loading when windows boots, this is
simply to check if it is another program on your PC that is causing this.

If this does not work, please send us a DXDiag report and an MSInfo report
(please generate the MSInfo report whilst under the selective startup)

MSInfo:
1. Click Start > Run > Type in: msinfo32
2. Once system information has loaded click on File > Save and save the file
onto your desktop and name it as msinfo.nfo.
3. Attach this file to your reply email

DXDiag:
1) Press your Windows Start button normally found at the bottom left hand
corner of the screen

2) Press Run

3) Type dxdiag in the box and press OK

4) Click the Save All Information (you may be asked to check if the drivers
are "digitally signed"; if this is the case answer YES.)

5) Save the file to a place on your machine where you can locate it again.

6) Attach the file to an e-mail and send this to us.

Regards,
Midway Tech/Customer Support

Get a grip Midway Tech/Customer Support. I'm not altering my startup settings "just" for one game

Idiots.

Besides, that didn't work. I'm starting to feel a bit patronized....
"Press your Windows Start button normally found at the bottom left hand corner of the screen"...
If I didn't know where that was on my system, be it bottom left or top right, I probably wouldnt own a computer, I would probably be twitching and dribbling in the corner of the room and complaining that my shoes hurt.!!

The're also telling me Sh1t3 I've already tried.

Its so simple, here is what I want to do. I put in code -> game works.

I should... no, sorry, NOONE should have to fk about with there system so intensly just to get a "key code" to work.

I could understand if it was a graphics issue... but fking about for just a "key Code".... jess' - FLAWED!

[lord_lethris]

*SOLVED*

...kinda... Here is what I did.

Right click on desktop and select "NEW->Shortcut"
In location type "explorer.exe"
-> Next
-> Finish
Right click on the new Icon and click "properties -> shortcut tab -> Advanced"
tick "run with different credentules"
-> Ok -> Apply -> Ok.
Run the new Icon, and select "following user"
leave as local admin, and enter password for admin.
Now, anything in this window will act as administrator.
use this window to brouse to games location and right click -> properties on the root directory of the game.
Security tab -> select Users -> Tick "Full Control"
-> Apply -> Ok
Goto "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Unreal Tournament 3"
Right click on the Unreal Tournament 3 Icon and click "properties -> shortcut tab -> Advanced"
tick "run with different credentules"
-> Ok -> Apply -> Ok
now run the game from the start menu.
select "following user"
leave as local admin, and enter password for admin.

Game now excepts the Key! Wooo!

Bit of a pain having to run the game as admin, and the games saves and stuff endup in the admins documents folder, but then this is a "quick Fix!"

I think the devs need to know its definatly a security Issue....

[Jmcc202]

I am really getting frustrated now..........

I have read through this entire thread and I still can't get this thing to work.

lord lethris, I tried your method but I can't find the security tab after I go to the root directory of the game (I'm using XP if that would matter)

Anyways, I installed UT3 when I bought it, no problem. Played for whatever amount of time it was.... then I got a trojan.

Now this is why I am so confused. Other people in this thread say that their key just stopped working after disconnecting the internet, etc., etc.
WELL, in my case, I reformatted my hard drive to get rid of the trojan and when I reinstalled UT3, I got the invalid key error.
When I looked up this problem, it struck me as odd that people reformatting hard drives actually FIXED the problem.

Now that it's almost a year since release, I'm getting pretty pissed that I can't find any fix from Epic. Everything I have tried hasn't worked, and I'm not about to reformat my HD or reinstall windows.

If anyone knows of a fix or anything else I could try to fix this damn key, I would greatly appreciate it.

I just never thought that I wouldn't be able to play a game due to a CD key not being accepted, especially from a company such as Epic....

[HoarFrost]

Well holy sh**!! Lord Lethris, your solution finally worked for me!!

My solution was slightly different. I think it just came down to running UT3.exe with different credentials. My primary windows account was already administrator. I created a new administrator account with a password. Then by running UT3 with this new account, it would finally accept my CD key!

[HoarFrost]

Jmcc202, to get the security tab, you need to turn off simple file sharing:

Run explorer.exe. Click Tools -> Folder Options -> View tab -> unselect "Use simple file sharing"

[Jmcc202]

i tried all this and still nothing...

i found the security tab and changed everything but still invalid...

[Jmcc202]

also, something else i think you all should know....

My bro got a new computer for Christmas, so i installed UT3, figuring it would work on a brand new computer as it had for others...

I was prompted to enter the key, and sure enough....

it was STILL invalid.

i have no idea what the problem is, but i pretty much give up at this point.

[HideInLight]

I reinstalled Vista32bit today and I'm also getting the invalid cd key problem. I have a dual boot setup and in WinXP 32bit it still works fine.

[HideInLight]

Problem solved for me.

control panel - user Accounts - Turn user Account control on or off

I'm the only one working on my computer so I don't need that annoying crap anyways.

UT3 now accepts key