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

[Crzmsl]

Welcome,

Since there are so many threads on this topic, & to make it easier for 'adminstrators' to track, I've taken it upon myself to create the ''My CD Key is INVALID'' thread.


This place is the 'One stop shop' for all your CD Key errors.


I badly want to play this game, not only because I paid for it, but I have enjoyed all the other UT games before it. I also bought a second copy of UT3, which I have now returned because it also came up with the invalid key message.

Here are the previous threads on this issue, none of which have been resolved;


http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=593648

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=593083

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=589190

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=589511

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=589683

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=591468

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=587410

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=586201

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=585924

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showthread.php?t=589742

I think there's even more...


[Warning - Your issue is unlikely to be fixed, but post here so Epic might take note]

[Crzmsl]

It's also strange that some people have had the game working for a little while, & then get the Invalid key message. Whereas others including me haven't even been able to play it right after installation.

Btw my specs are:

Windows Vista 64 bit
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 3.6GHz
Asus P5K Deluxe
4GB (4x1GB) Corsair XMS 800MHz 6400C4
Asus 8800GTS 320MB
X-Fi Platinum



Things Iv'e tried;

Re-install 4 + times - FAIL

Re-enter key 10 + times - FAIL

Buy new copy & try again - FAIL

Uninstall Norton 2008 & disable firewall - FAIL

Reply from Epic - FAIL

Unreal Tournament 3 - EPIC FAIL



Any other Suggestions are welcome.

[Ultron]

I will be keeping an eye on this issue, as well.

[DarK_Slash]

Man.. I would kill myself if that happened to me..

..maybe try replacing all the zeros in ur cd key with O's or the other way around?

[Crzmsl]

Iv'e tried that numerous times Dark Slash, thanks though. I have a nice $90 box collecting dust ;(

[G-Force]

Is it possible to just purchase a new cd key that works straight from epic?

[T@F]

Is it possible to just purchase a new cd key that works straight from epic?

But the point it`s he has two valid games in front of him,why purchase another key?
That`s even more money,when really the two keys he has should work.

[NickDoThis]

It's gotten to the point (and went way past) of this being ridiculous. I haven't seen a reply from Epic offering any help. Are they just completely ignoring this handful of us that have this problem, I'm on my third copy and no such luck.

[Crzmsl]

I returned my 2nd copy at EB Games for a full cash refund.

At the very least I hope Epic aknowledges this problem.

[dcfan60]

I use to have that problem.... but then I decided to buy the game and delete my torrent. lol

[Lunix]

Usually cd-key problems are resolved though the publisher. Have people been in contact with midway at all?

[Crzmsl]

I use to have that problem.... but then I decided to buy the game and delete my torrent. lol

Are you implying all the people that are getting invalid key errors have pirated copies? I bought the damn thing and I want my $$$ worth!

I can send a photo of the game and me with an angry face, or answer questions about the box/manual to prove that I have a legit copy!

[T@F]

Originally Posted by dcfan60 View Post
I use to have that problem.... but then I decided to buy the game and delete my torrent. lol

That just proves that he`s the one that pirates games.
Also just another troll looking for a rise out of you.

[Brad.G]

just a thought..... but has anyone looked to see if someone has cracked the algorithm and made a keygen for UT3 ? .... just if they have, you may find that serial numbers being used on cracked copies.... are still sealed in retail copies. so once purchased and tried to be used, it reports it as already in use. just a thought,,,,

[Crzmsl]

Yep. I've downloaded 2 different keygens, and guess what, they didn't work either! Is it Illegal to use a keygen on a game you paid for?

So I think it's something in the game that's conflicting with the software on my pc.

By the time Epic realises there's a problem Unreal Tournament freakn 4 will be out!

[goknights]

Please try to understand everyone that this issue has nothing to do with piracy. Most of the time when there is an issue with a game saying invalid key, it means that when that person tried to connect to a server to play online, the server rejected their key.

THIS IS NOT THAT ISSUE.

There are two times a key gets checked.

1) When you enter a key for the first time after installing a game, it will usually just validate the key by checking it against whatever algorithm was used to create them. It does not need internet connectivity for this. Once the game passes this check you can play the game offline.

2)There is a separate check however each time you want to play said game over the internet. The key gets checked this time not against some generic algorithm but against a database of all the keys that have been published so far. This is what prevents pirates from playing games online. They can know the algorithm used to generate keys, but if they dont have a key that matches one on a list of all the keys every put out for that game, they cannot play online.

The problem here lies with the first part of validation. We cannot even get to the main menu. Even all pirated games pass this check provided the algorithm for generating keys has been discovered.

ok, anyway i have to go do holiday shopping. later dudes.

[Crzmsl]

Thank you godknights for clearing that up. Enjoy your shopping and remember, don't buy another Epic game.


Surely Epic has a way around the validation key. If they could get in contact with everyone having the issue, we can send them details to prove we have legit copies & they can send us back info on how to bypass the key entry screen.

EPIC do you read your own damn forums?!!?

[nfleming]

Have you tried emailing the abuse@epicgames.com (if that is the right one) maybe. Since it is 'sort of' related to potential abuse. Not that you are, but the key is in the realm of abused things, if you get my drifitng there...

Or as suggested try midway, they are really the ones in control of customer support issues I would expect.

I think the back of the box might have something useful but I can't even read the frickin small print

[Crzmsl]

Thanks I'll try that. I think I get your drift lol.

[Crzmsl]

SIGH, no UT3 for me.

[FACEST0MPER]

Try this:

Type the first 4 letters/numbers and hit tab, repeat. Dont start typing the next set of 4 in the box before it or hit the "-" key. If you hit anything (besides tab) after you type the 4 numbers/letters that fit in the box, it will say your key is invalid. (even though no numbers/letters show up).

I know this because i have a bug since i installed the first patch that makes me enter my cd key every time I start the game. I got the "invalid key" error on and off until I made absolutely sure that the only numbers/letters going in each box were the correct ones.

Hope that works. If not I feel for ya.

[DeepGoat]

Usually cd-key problems are resolved though the publisher. Have people been in contact with midway at all?

I have contacted Midway - this is their reply:
Response:
Thank you for contacting Midway Tech/Customer Support. Please see below
for details about your inquiry to Midway.

What CD Key are you using? Can you send us a digital image of the CD
Key too?


Regards,
Midway Tech/Customer Support

Sounds like they haven't heard of this problem. Weird thing is I tried my CD-key on a friends computer and it worked fine. Seems to be a conflict with installed software or hardware that is the problem.

[Crzmsl]

Thanks for letting us know DeepGoat, I'm still waiting for an email back.

Do you think you could mention that there's a lot of people having this exact problem if your going to email back. Maybe refer them to this thread.

Cheers

[Ultron]

I have contacted Midway - this is their reply:
Response:
Thank you for contacting Midway Tech/Customer Support. Please see below
for details about your inquiry to Midway.

What CD Key are you using? Can you send us a digital image of the CD
Key too?


Regards,
Midway Tech/Customer Support

Sounds like they haven't heard of this problem. Weird thing is I tried my CD-key on a friends computer and it worked fine. Seems to be a conflict with installed software or hardware that is the problem.

No they are asking for a digital image so they can confirm it's accuracy. Anyone can just type in a random key and ask them to check it. They want to see the key on the back of the manual to verify legitimacy.

The problem is, if you can't even use a serial that came from a torrent (those are legit, someone bought a copy and posted the serial, the algorithm isn't hacked) but even that serial should work in authenticating with the game.

So it's a different issue. I believe that no serial number will work, because there is something else that is the issue. Which is why I don't recommend anyone swap out games at the store, because the other copy will do the same thing.

As to what specifically is going on, I don't know. I am thinking it's related to how people need to sometimes re-enter the serial or can't save any settings. I think somehow, internally, the game isn't setting up the config file which is used to verify the serial, so when you input the serial, no matter what it is, it's not going to match up with however that system works.

Think of it this way. Let's say some config file is created, and within it has the algorithm or whatever that is used to verify the legitimacy of the serial key. If everything works, then that file will be created and/or the contents of it will be accurate. If the file is not created, or the contents are not complete, then that could cause this issue.

So what is the source of this?

a) the installation had issues the user might have been unaware of

b) there is something different about how the system is set up. Maybe the root drive letter, the location of My Documents,

c) whether or not the user is an Administrator or some other account type.

I just don't know exactly, because I'm not privy to how the game does it's internal serial number validation process. But I generally recommend people try to install their copy of the game on someone else's system entirely, to help weed this issue out. If it works, then they might have to do an OS Reload on their PC to resolve this issue.

If you do an OS Reload and you have something like a "media reader card" then you need to unplug that before the install is done, so that you don't end up with like drive letter F as your root drive. I've seen so many PC's like that as a technician it's silly. And many of those people end up suffering from a variety of issues because of it.

[Crzmsl]

Yeah that's right.

I tried installing it on my other pc which is pretty old, and it says '''UT3.exe encountered an error and has to close''. SIGH.

[Ultron]

You could try swapping the drives and see if it installs on the older PC that way.

Another method would be to enable file sharing on the newer PC, and copy the contents of the CD over the network, or copy the CD onto your hard drive in a folder, then copy that folder over the network.

I don't generally recommend network installs, particularly from CD, on applications this big, so it's copy first then install second.

[Phineon]

;/ I wanna play ... oh it sucks! Why Midway didn't just make little bugfix? It is so wierd....

[$.H-5]

If u get it working on one comp,open engine.ini.
Find that line:
[OnlineSubsystemGameSpy.OnlineSubsystemGameSpy]
bHasGameSpyAccount=True
EncryptedProductKey=00100001.....
StunServerAddress=stunserver.org

Copy paste it in the engine.ini on the comp where u get the invalid key message.
Maybe that would do the trick.

[Ultron]

Ah the encrypted key is like a few dozen characters long, and does not fit in the serial key entry fields provided. Furthermore this hash that you see in the UTEngine.ini is created after the serial key has been entered.

[$.H-5]

I removed my engine.ini from the config folder.
Started a game.
Have been prompted for the cd key.
Exited game without entering it.
Opened the new generated engine.ini.
Found these lines
[OnlineSubsystemGameSpy.OnlineSubsystemGameSpy]
bHasGameSpyAccount=false
EncryptedProductKey=NotForShip
Turned them into
[OnlineSubsystemGameSpy.OnlineSubsystemGameSpy]
bHasGameSpyAccount=True
EncryptedProductKey=00100001.....

Restarted the game:
No more prompted for entering key.

I have looked for registry entries,there was one for the UT2k4 key,didn't find one for UT3.

[Ultron]

Okay help me out there, because this is important. You may have found the golden goose.

That line:

EncryptedProductKey=00100001.....

Is the "00100001....." that you list the actual Serial Key that is listed on the back of your manual, or something else?

[Lupus]

I don't think that (in most cases at least) the invalid cd key error is actually an invalid cd key. I had this problem, sent it back to the online shop I bought it from and explained, they sent another one back, I tried that, same error. Decided to try it on my computer at work and it accepted, first go, entering the same way as I did at home.

So the problem, at least in my case and probably the people who have had the error with different copies, seems to be something with the computer and replacing the game or getting the key checked will most likely not fix the problem.

At this point it seems my best bet of actually being able to play the game is when I get a new hard drive and new install of the OS. An upgrade I'm doing anyway, not just for UT3.

[$.H-5]

No,it's a line which is generated after u entered ur key in game for the first time.
If u set that line that way
bHasGameSpyAccount=True
EncryptedProductKey=
letting it blank and set ur engine.ini in read only,u will have to enter key everytime u start a game.

[Ultron]

Ah ok that helps some. TY.

[Evariuda]

another person who bought the game and got the error is reporting in =(. That would be me and i'm sad about it.

[Crzmsl]

[OnlineSubsystemGameSpy.OnlineSubsystemGameSpy]
bHasGameSpyAccount=false
EncryptedProductKey=NotForShip

That's in my UTEngine config file as well, I'll try changing it to True & leave the product key blank. I have to go to work now so I'll give it a go when I get home.

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated.

[Phineon]

did this method work? i mean to insert the "generated" key in the new installed game?

[Ultron]

[OnlineSubsystemGameSpy.OnlineSubsystemGameSpy]
bHasGameSpyAccount=false
EncryptedProductKey=NotForShip

That's in my UTEngine config file as well, I'll try changing it to True & leave the product key blank. I have to go to work now so I'll give it a go when I get home.

Thanks for all the help guys, much appreciated.

Whatever the generated encrypted product key that is generated, save it into a text file somewhere, just for safe keeping.

And I think the fix he's talking about is set that to true, and when a key is generated, then write-protect that UTEngine.ini file by setting it to read-only, and you should not have to re-enter the key any longer.

How this will effect the Invalid Key business, I don't know.

[$.H-5]

Maybe it depends on the 'ini version' number
[IniVersion]
Patch=4
0=1196944664.000000
1=1195228608.000000

This what I got in engine.ini after patching official 1.1 deleting config folder files and starting game.

[goknights]

I looked into it but maybe someone else could give it a shot. this microsoft program shows you all the registry keys and files a process accesses. I spent some time analyzing the ut3 exe but got frustrated and stopped after a while. Link is below

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s.../bb896645.aspx

maybe someone else will have better luck.

Also anyone have any thoughts on this line in utengine.ini?

StunServerAddress=stunserver.org

its right below the encrypted key.

-Ben