My Cd Key Doesnt Work Anymore!

tyr4tyr4 Join Date: 2003-04-23 Member: 15785Members
in Tech Support
<div class="IPBDescription">Plz help!</div> OK, I have been playing natural selection (and other halflife mods) online for a while now. Occasionally I used to get an eror when I tried to connect to a server. The console would crash and I would be left looking at the server list with an error window saying "You Half-Life CD key is currently in use, please try again later". This was irritating, but usually it would work if I restarted the game or the computer.

Recently, however, and quite suddenly, I get this message every time I try and have a game! No amount of restarting or waiting will solve it! I even tried reinstalling HL.

To make this clear, my copy of HL is 100% LEGITIMATE . It was bought with the box, manual etc. Also, I have not redistributed it or anything. SO HOW CAN IT BE TELLING ME I'M TRYING TO PLAY A PIRATED COPY!!??

As I seem to have tried everything (BTW other mods don't work either, its just that I mainly play NS ATM), it seems that unless I manage to fix this I will be stuck with single player <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> And I want my multiplayer action!

Is it possible that someone randomly generated my CD key by chance? If so, why would I never be able to connect at all? (presumably they wouldn't play it 365/24/7)

<!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
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Comments

  • PaqPaq Join Date: 2002-12-15 Member: 10876Members
    edited April 2003
    It is possible that someone has managed to regenerate your cd key.
    Or then it has been "stolen" from your computers registry. I have heard about some virus or email message which can steal cd keys.

    I think that the only way to fix it is to buy a new half-life. It doesn't cost much nowadays. ~10$
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  • XzilenXzilen Join Date: 2002-12-30 Member: 11642Members, Constellation
    It still must suck, I know a few people who used to be ragers and who could give you a few cd keys if you need them :-\
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  • Scum_of_the_UniverseScum_of_the_Universe Join Date: 2003-02-06 Member: 13174Members
    edited April 2003
    <!--QuoteBegin--Paq+Apr 24 2003, 07:06 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Paq @ Apr 24 2003, 07:06 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It is possible that someone has managed to regenerate your cd key.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Unlikely

    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Or then it has been "stolen" from your computers registry. I have heard about some virus or email message which can steal cd keys<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I'd expect some cheats to be trojaned. Another posibility is that you're sharing the contents of your harddisk with the world....
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I think that the only way to fix it is to buy a new half-life. It doesn't cost much nowadays. ~10$ <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    True.
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    other idea is to contact sierra and tell them what happened, you might even be able to get a new opne for free if you can provide proof that you own it (ust email em and ask <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->)
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  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    I would have to agree with the last idea, that seems the best
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  • BalanceBalance Join Date: 2002-12-24 Member: 11457Members
    He is not only one who has found that his CD key is suddenly invalid.

    I was playing yesterday DoD and NS like mad, but suddenly this morning I just couldn't get WON authentication from servers. I hope that WON servers are messed up and they will fix the problem. If not I just have to e-mail them.

    It is possible that someone has generated my CD key too, but very unlikely.

    I hope there is better tomorrow with my WON identification.
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  • PaqPaq Join Date: 2002-12-15 Member: 10876Members
    The problem is not your cd key, if you can't get the WON authentication.
    There has to be something wrong with WON servers or your internet connection.

    If someone is using your cd key, you will get an error message from it.
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  • ImmacolataImmacolata Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2140Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    edited April 2003
    tyr4, I suggest that you do as they say - contact Sierra Tech support if you get "CD key in use". I've had mine for 4½ years now and never had that problem once, so most likely someone nicked it or accidentially hit it by a generator (low chance, but possible).

    Of course, compare the hassle of getting in touch with Sierra and just forking out $10 for a new HL cd. I got a backup cd-key somewhere that was bundled with pair of headphones <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.natural-selection.org/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> It means I have a backup against stuff like this.
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  • ThinGThinG Lord of wub and vlaai Join Date: 2003-04-11 Member: 15400Members, Reinforced - Supporter
    Agreed

    Contact sierra, show them your cd-key and a proof of ownership, they can ask you details from the manual or something else that was in the box or so, I don't know exactly. If you can prove to them that you have a legitimate copy of HL they will be glad to help you out. Keep in mind that you have to be able to present some actual proof of having bought a copy of the game, don't get me wrong, but anyone can say they have a legal copy and so on, so as long as you have some proof, your in the safe zone <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->

    G'luck

    *wishes bad things to happen to all who copy games, cheat or do other mean stuff to other ppl <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • tyr4tyr4 Join Date: 2003-04-23 Member: 15785Members
    Well I'm back, and I finally have some time to try and get this problem sorted.
    Thanks to everyone for being so willing to help, I had half expected flames along the lines of: "STOP USING WAREZ U FREELOADING SCUM!!!!!"

    From the replies ppl have given so far, it seems that this problem isn't going to be so easily fixed <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> .
    I will first try contacting Sierra as has been suggested, but TBH I'm not too optimistic about that.

    If it does turn out unsuccessful, I will either have to buy a new copy or find a less than strictly legal solution. Without blatantly asking any of you for help on the latter option (which I admit will be tried first), feel free to PM / email me if you are willing to provide any info.

    I still don't understand, though, why it will <i>never</i> let me log in. If someone else was using my key, for example, shouldn't I be able play while they are not? Could it be that the system has in some way screwed up, that by somehow not logging out properly, it treats my key as permanently logged <i>in</i>?
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  • SupernornSupernorn Best. Picture. Ever. Made. Ever. Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7608Members, Constellation
    i had the same problem a few months ago, and didnt get to play NS for 4 weeks. in the end i got fed up of mailing valve and asking for a solution and just ordered another HL. At least it solved the problem <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • ZiGGYZiGGY Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12479Members
    its only £10 anyway, thats like 2ft of sandwich
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  • Jabba_The_HuntJabba_The_Hunt Join Date: 2003-01-05 Member: 11850Members
    If you've got a legitimate copy then I don't think Valve would mind you using a cd-key generator to get a new one.
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  • JowerJower Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13448Members
    edited April 2003
    mmmmm...
    Sandwich....
    Anyway the chance of you getting a won-working and non-used CD-key ( lots of - ) is like 1 in a billion
    Just order a new one
    You can live without 2ft of sandwich can't ya ?
    hehe
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  • ThansalThansal The New Scum Join Date: 2002-08-22 Member: 1215Members, Constellation
    hmmm, the odd thing is that it shouldn't be down all the time

    it sounds like the wonder of when WON servers go down (they were having some probs a month or so back) but no one else has mentioned this.

    Again contact sierra give the the low down and ask em whats up

    BTW you have reinputed your key right?
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