MP Acct ID Gen w/Windows ME Failed! DA we need some help he

Mon Mar 10, 2003 12:06 pm by Stinger

This is going to sound arrogant, but I'll do my best to state facts, not my opinions.

1. The first time a CD that has Freelancer on it is installed and you make any attempt to utilize MP, it generates an account id that the user is instructed to copy it down. Not one person in this thread has said this failed on the first time they tried to install the game from a CD that was fresh out of the box. Not one person mind you.
2. If you're still going to content it was the first time the original CD has been touched by human hands since it was packaged, shipped and sold, then I would like to point you to this WebSite to figure out what could possible be wrong.
3. If everything in 2 above has been tried, then I would suggest you make a phone call:

If your original CD-ROM is damaged, contact Microsoft Customer Service at (800) 426-9400 to request a replacement CD. Microsoft Customer Service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Pacific time.

Be ready to supply proof of purchase, because they will need it to send you a brand new copy of the damaged game. If you don't have the proof of purchase, for whatever reason, then it may be more difficult with them but stick to your guns, someone bought a piece of software and gave you the original disk and it's not working so you ARE entitled to a refund by law.

(my opinion part)

If it's a copy, or you warezed it, or if the CD was given to you by someone that copied it or warezed it or whatever I'm sorry, but your screwed. You have absolutely not legal recourse. But this is not an operating system failure. If you can prove that it is, you might want to bring that up to the Microsoft customer service people when you call them. I'm sure they'd be interested.

If anyone reading this still thinks I'm off my rocker, please contact me via email be sure to include all verifiable FACTS that you possess the original disk, I'll have my attorney review the FACTS and get back with you on where you stand legally. I'm that confident in this refund procedure set by Microsoft. (no I don't work from Microsoft, but I have never heard of people having this much difficulty with original disk and Microsoft not bending over backwards to satisfy their customers.)

Edited by - Stinger on 10-03-2003 12:16:48

Mon Mar 10, 2003 1:08 pm by SolomonGrundy

OK..THIS ONE PERSON says it failed the first time.And the second, third, exc.
Using the little cute app in the freelancer dir, UserID Not found.
I have my product ID number- but entering that does not seem to work, not the CD Set thing on the sleeve of the disk...nor the barcode from the box. OK the last one was a bit sarcastic...

Sorry chief , nasty bug.
I'm sure there is just some whacky *.dll that we need to be updated, but shame on M$ for not seeing this.

You are new here aren't you?
Uh huh.

Edited by - SolomonGrundy on 10-03-2003 13:12:52

Mon Mar 10, 2003 2:25 pm by SolomonGrundy

Just thought of this:

XP/NT and 2000 all look at the System32 folder for dll's
ME and if I remember right 98 look at System...could this be a simple mapping problem?
Maybe the key generator looks in system32 for something , doesn't see it (cuz it doesn't live there) and just decides not to generate a key?

Just installed it on a machine at work, a 2000 machine, and it did generate a key, so it is not my disk. It is not a first install issue. Interstingly enough, it generated a whole new product ID.

I'm going to have to compare registries when I get home, so far I see no difference, but it only takes one number so...

You are new here aren't you?
Uh huh.

Mon Mar 10, 2003 2:52 pm by Stinger

SolomonGrundy, then I woul suggest number three above. I do find some interesting things you said though that have me scratching my head.

Using the little cute app in the freelancer dir, UserID Not found.

But in the very next sentence you say you have it? Are you saying you printed out the screen or you copied it down? Where did you get your unique user ID? I've copied down numbers before and staked my life on the fact I did i right...only to find out I did it wrong later. Things happen.

Interstingly enough, it generated a whole new product ID.

You should expect this behavior because you are generating a new ID with the new installation. This is where I had a similar issue as stated above and I had to put in the original ID that was generated in order for the software to function.

Call Microsoft at the phone number listed above, have you receipt / proof of purchase in hand and I'd be absolutely shocked if they didn' send you a brand new CD. You do have the proof of purchase?

This is not a bug! Windows ME operating system was tested during the beta, there were no major problems encountered specific to that operating system. (certainly nothing like this) The odds of you being "the one person" to experience this issue are astronomical. Even so, I'm sure Microsoft would bend over backwards for you....call them!

Mon Mar 10, 2003 3:54 pm by SolomonGrundy

I have my product Id,
But the Multiplayer id is non existant.
Entering the product ID for MP does not work.

I'm already in progress of talking with M$...hopefully will have it solved tonight.

Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:11 pm by Stinger

You have an product ID, how many characters long is that??

Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:34 pm by SolomonGrundy

I'll get back to you tonight...only part I can remember is 4 sets of numbers second set is 3 numbers. At work. no time to go reinstall it again.

Mon Mar 10, 2003 4:43 pm by Stinger

That could be the issue my friend.

MP Account ID's have a much different format. 8x8x8x4 I believe. I'm at work too and can't check mine.

Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:33 pm by auxout

Stinger I think you are overlooking something here, this isn't WPA this is just a multiplayer ID it only serves for identification to servers you connect to. This is a generation bug on some systems. How can people print there key if it never gives them one? The key doesn't identify you, it doesn't get sent to microsoft. You could go install this game on a 100 computers and each would generate a different ID. It's just a generic ID generated probably by a combination of your hardware for a seed and something else to make sure nobody will have the same account ID on a server they join. This is a bug there is nothing on it at tech support and if you call I'm sure they will have no idea what you are talking about or send you a new cd and you'll have the same problem. Expect a patch sooner or later.

I also find it interesting not one person with an NT kernel has posted as having this problem. Which should only enforce the fact it is a 9x issue and definetly a bug.

Account id is 8x8x8x8x4

Edited by - auxout on 10-03-2003 20:37:50

Mon Mar 10, 2003 8:40 pm by The Blazer

New CDs are not going to fix this issue. It clearly a bug, because it generate keys in 2k and XP.

Why, didn't the stick with good old CD-Keys ?

Mon Mar 10, 2003 9:48 pm by Stinger

*shrugs*

(firmly place the tongue in the left check)

I give up, everyone else is correct. Windows ME was not testing during the beta process at all, the only operating systems that was tested in Win2000 and WinXP, it's really just a typo on the box where it lists Windows ME as one of the operating systems this game is compatable with, and no one would get anywhere asking for a brand new CD from Microsoft (with a proof of purchase in their hands).

I'm convinced...no good deed goes unpunlished.

I've said my peace, flame on....just take a number will ya?

Mon Mar 10, 2003 10:04 pm by Newt

Just stating the obvious here, but based on the observations
1) The 'unique' MP id is partially based on the user logged into the PC, as demonstrated by another forum post that stated the ID was different when installed from the SAME CD under different ID's under Windows Xp/2000.
2) Windows 98/ME don't necessarily have USER accounts the same way NT/XP/2000 do.

Mon Mar 10, 2003 10:41 pm by The Blazer

After getting a key in Windows XP (my system is dual boot, check my previous post), I now have absolutly no problem playing the game (SP and MP) in Windows 98 SE. It's the only bug I've seen in the game ! The problem is that most player don't have dual boot computers...

Mon Mar 10, 2003 10:53 pm by SolomonGrundy

or user accounts at all.

Interesting point Newt.

Will experiemnt with that.

As for 'it didn't happen in the beta'
Come on- every game gets tested, but some things fall through the cracks, this, the DOS security hole in Unreal games, strafe jumping in Quake games...ok that one was a good thing....leaks, and even crashers. Give me any game out of the box and an hour and I will find a bug. Usually a small one but no game software is even close to perfect.
Freelancer has them, none that are a big deal, some are even a bit funny like the ships flying into planets...cracks me up every time. I have broken a mission, partly out of my own impatience...just do not hit break formation in mission 2 when what's his name is talking. nothing like flying around in a circle until the prison ship calls. 'Trent we are taking too long what's your problem?' Made me laugh. Game puts me in a spin then yells at me...classic. Again no big deal, i can continue playing and it doesn't break the fiction for me...maybe Trent had one too many liberty ales ore something...

Mon Mar 10, 2003 11:08 pm by Newt

Beta is never an excuse. There are plenty enough problems MANY people are experiencing to realize either a) they didn't fix all the REPORTED bugs in beta or b) They added more stuff after beta but before relase.

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