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FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:14 am
by limeyfox
Hi All,

New to the forums so please bear with me.

I recently purchased a new sealed copy of FSX from a Game store in the UK. I installed the game this morning, and attempted to register it. However I was getting a registry error message, so I followed the link to the MS site and downloaded SP1 and SP2. However now I am getting another error message, 'Invalid Product Key - The provided value is not recognized as a valid product key...'

I have attempted all the MS suggestions of restarting my system, clearing temporary files etc. The product key I've used is the 25-character key from the inside of the DVD case, marked 'Product Key' so I'm pretty sure no problems there! I have a FSX-Standard edition of the game and my PC is running a 64-bit Windows 7 Professional OS.

Been browsing through online boards for 2 hours and loads of people seem to have this problem, but I can't find a solution beyond the unhelpful scripted MS solutions that don't work!

I don't want to resort to a crack, but I'm seriously frustrated and needing some advice...

Any help appreciated.

Thanks

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 6:36 am
by Bass
Welcome on SimV ;)

This problem has been up here a while ago, and as far as i remember, you need to phone Microsoft to get the sim working.

Microsoft has stopped everything concerning their own "most flying" product! Only God knows why.

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:14 am
by limeyfox
Oh my god, I'm shaking with anger at how MS have just treated me. I rang their helpline to try and get this activated, they passed me on to a certified third-party technician who took remote control of my PC to diagnose the problem. He gave me a load of techno-jargon about errors in my registry and how they will be replicating and corrupting my boot (complete rubbish - my pc is fine!) and then tried to hard-sell a certified diagnosis & repair service, prices starting at £129.99 per year!!!! And refused to sort out my problem until I signed up.

1. There is NO problem with my PC
2. MS need to learn the concept of product support
3. WTF!?!

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:50 am
by Bass
Well, no wonder we call 'em M$!!

I'm a little shocked on that treatment, and the pass on to a "third-party technician"! Maybe a new politic, or you got some "unknower" on the phone! Surely dont sound as a M$ supporter.
All they have to do is validating your sim. You paid for it!

See this
http://www.justanswer.com/computer/7awz ... -when.html

I would try again, and ask for a phone activation.

Good luck.

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 8:07 am
by Hagar
limeyfox wrote:Oh my god, I'm shaking with anger at how MS have just treated me. I rang their helpline to try and get this activated, they passed me on to a certified third-party technician who took remote control of my PC to diagnose the problem. He gave me a load of techno-jargon about errors in my registry and how they will be replicating and corrupting my boot (complete rubbish - my pc is fine!) and then tried to hard-sell a certified diagnosis & repair service, prices starting at £129.99 per year!!!! And refused to sort out my problem until I signed up.

1. There is NO problem with my PC
2. MS need to learn the concept of product support
3. WTF!?!

Hi there. Which number did you ring? There is a special number for product activation depending on the country you're in. Try this one --> 0800 018 8354.

I haven't used it so I'm not sure it's still valid. I got it from a file named Phone Activation.xml in the FSX root directory folder. This can be opened in Notepad.

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:57 am
by logjam
Don't feel bad about cracking a discontinued product.

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 11:56 am
by limeyfox
I tried the 0800 number (which still exists) but it requires me to have successfully entered the Product Key and reached the activation screen, because only then do you find out the installation id number which the phone activation process requires.

Does anyone have a UK phone number for the replacement product key service? I'll pay for a new one if I must.

Cheers

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:13 pm
by Hagar
limeyfox wrote:I tried the 0800 number (which still exists) but it requires me to have successfully entered the Product Key and reached the activation screen, because only then do you find out the installation id number which the phone activation process requires.

Does anyone have a UK phone number for the replacement product key service? I'll pay for a new one if I must.

Cheers

If you purchased a new copy of FSX from Game there should be no further charge. I would be inclined to return it for a refund.

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:23 pm
by Fozzer
Something very strange must be happening here!... :shock: ...!

There must be many newcomers to FSX every day?, purchasing brand-new, Jewel-cased Copies, who don't appear to be having any problems getting them installed successfully, (on various Flight Sim Forums)?.... :o ...!

I would be very surprised to know that new FSX copies can no longer to be installed on purchasers machines!

Is anyone else having similar problems here?

Paul...FS 2004 and FSX.

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 12:24 pm
by garymbuska
Fozzer wrote:Something very strange must be happening here!... :shock: ...!

There must be many newcomers to FSX every day?, purchasing brand-new, Jewel-cased Copies, who don't appear to be having any problems getting them installed successfully, (on various Flight Sim Forums)?.... :o ...!

I would be very surprised to know that new FSX copies can no longer to be installed on purchasers machines!

Is anyone else having similar problems here?

Paul...FS 2004 and FSX.


I agree with Fozzer on this one sounds like something is rotten in Denmark. I purchased the gold edition of FSX back in January and had no problems installing it on Windows 8.
<<t

Re: FSX Invalid Product Key

PostPosted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:06 pm
by jandjfrench
Hi,
If the problem hasn't been resolved yet I suggest Googling "MS Software Reset Licensing". It sounds like something got messed up during the installation.
Jim F.