Bloody DCS Activation Problems

JudgeDredd · October 14, 2015, 02:16:29 PM

Had to rebuild my PC from a failed Windows 10 rollback and now I can't get BS or BS2 Upgrade activated. All my other modules activate.

I'm unsure whether the problem is due to the new BS2 module I have downloaded (when installing the old one I was told I needed a newer module) or whether it's because it's the BS2 upgrade and I've not activated BS1...I just installed BS1 and then installed BS2 upgrade

Once again though - activation, DRM and general BS for gamers who have paid for software

Jarhead0331 · October 14, 2015, 03:02:03 PM

I had this issue when I was reinstalling the modules with beta 1.5. If I recall, there was another BS selection in the module list that I needed to install.

JudgeDredd · October 14, 2015, 03:41:28 PM

Thanks and yes...I got the message that the install I had wouldn't work and I had to download a newer version...which I did.

To be fair, the installation and activation for all other modules was super smooth. I'm just wondering if this is a complication from the BS2 module being an upgrade.

I'm re-downloading the BS and BS2 modules and going to give it another go. The activation Windows I received (both of them) were both titled BS2 ...which makes me think something went wrong with the BS1 install

JudgeDredd · October 14, 2015, 04:02:52 PM

I reinstalled BS1, fired it up, put the activation key in and then exited. I then re-installed DCS, loaded a BS2, put the key in and it worked.

I didn't fire up BS1 previously - so I wonder if that was the problem.

Anyway - all good and back up with DCS O0

I've just went through that second BS2 install in my head and there's a drop down list for the type of key to use...4 options, 2 for Russian install and 2 for international install. Of them, there's one for BS2 and one for BS2 Upgrade...I'm pretty sure on my first install I just left that on BS2 International Key...

Nefaro · October 14, 2015, 04:54:48 PM

Quote from: JudgeDredd on October 14, 2015, 02:16:29 PM
Had to rebuild my PC from a failed Windows 10 rollback and now I can't get BS or BS2 Upgrade activated. All my other modules activate.

I've always had this problem when trying to upgrade my Steam version of Black Shark, with the Black Shark 2 upgrade pack.

With the original Steam version, I needed to have it installed in Steam first. Then it would take numerous repeated attempts before something just happened to work. In between restarting Steam & my PC & retrying to register the upgrade serial, it eventually did so.

In between, it would say that it has been registered but when I run the main DCS program it wouldn't show it as such until I kept at it numerous times.

Goddamn annoying. At a few points, I started wondering if they made it so infuriating as to persuade you to buy the regular BS2 version on a sale. I've refused to do so, since the copy I have should F'ing work as advertised.

I've seen numerous DCS forum posts about this issue. Everyone using the BS2 Upgrade pack (and BS Steam version?) has it.

Tuna · October 14, 2015, 06:24:40 PM

DCS is a pain and their Helpdesk isn't as responsive as Battlefronts!

JudgeDredd · October 15, 2015, 12:22:33 AM

Quote from: Nefaro on October 14, 2015, 04:54:48 PM
...I've refused to do so, since the copy I have should F'ing work as advertised.
...

lol - amen brother ;D

Boggit · October 15, 2015, 10:13:43 AM

Oh Black Shark... ::) I was wondering what BS and BS2 was. I just thought it was you expressing your thoughts with the DRM! ;)

Thomasew · October 15, 2015, 10:39:40 AM

Hi,

I was having similar problems with BS1 and the BS2 upgrade .. >:(

Eventually, .. and to maintain my sanity, .. I purchased the Full Version of BS 2, in one of the Sales .. $10 I think.

.. no problems since. :) .. not a solution obviously, .. but, .. it solved my problem .. 8)

Now, .. I just have frustration with the Mig-21, .. and it's key issues. Keeps informing me that my hardware has changed, .. when it hasn't, .. and needs re-activation ..

.. leaving it de-activated it DCS 1.5 until they sort it sort. Seems ok in DCS 1.2

Cheers
Tom

Nefaro · October 16, 2015, 05:24:33 AM

So, in summary:

Yet more needless DRM-induced problems.

::)

Yskonyn · October 16, 2015, 06:04:46 AM

Black Shark is the red-headed stepchild of DCS.
Black Shark 1 got updated to Black Shark 2. Existing customers could buy the upgrade and new customers could buy the stand alone BS2 pack.
With the way their DRM works, original BS1 customers have the biggest hoops to jump through.
I did as Thomasew did; wait for a sale and get the BS2 standalone, eventhough I already own BS1 and its upgrade to BS2.

I managed to get it for 80% off or so. The reduced amount of frustration trumps the few dollars extra if you want to use the BS module regularly, IMO.

Tuna · October 16, 2015, 07:48:29 AM

Quote from: Yskonyn on October 16, 2015, 06:04:46 AM
Black Shark is the red-headed stepchild of DCS.
Black Shark 1 got updated to Black Shark 2. Existing customers could buy the upgrade and new customers could buy the stand alone BS2 pack.
With the way their DRM works, original BS1 customers have the biggest hoops to jump through.
I did as Thomasew did; wait for a sale and get the BS2 standalone, eventhough I already own BS1 and its upgrade to BS2.

I managed to get it for 80% off or so. The reduced amount of frustration trumps the few dollars extra if you want to use the BS module regularly, IMO.

Ugh and even though I bought mine when 2 was out. The product page somehow let me (mistakenly) by 1 first. then 2, and yeah it does suck getting them installed from what I remember.

Nefaro · October 16, 2015, 09:12:56 AM

It was made even more frustrating because the DRM/activation process for the BS2 Upgrade Pack would actually tell me that it successfully did so. Then the main DCS screen would also say it is activated, but when I tried to run BS2, it would kick me back out and say, "you don't have a valid BS2 activation".

RAWR

Had to go through that multiple times before it would actually start working.

I've installed it two different times over the past few years since it came out. It did that every time. I'm still not exactly sure what the magic combination is. Blood sacrifice and a boatload of patience?

JudgeDredd · October 22, 2015, 02:22:40 PM

Seems my DCS woes aren't over.

I have the "upgrade" version of Flaming Cliffs 3 (because I had Lock On) and for some reason Lock On is not even being recognised in my disc drive.

This is a new disc drive to one I had previously when Lock On was loaded. For some "foil hat" reason, I'm suspecting DRM. Did Lock On not use that [I[evil[/I] DRM? Stardrive was it?

Anyway - whatever it is, it will not spin up and so I can't install that and so no FC3 for me.

Off to Google - see if I can pick up any ideas O0

*edit*
Just read - Starforce!

Right...no FC3 for me - at least not in that format. >:D

DoctorQuest · October 22, 2015, 02:40:50 PM

This explains why I only buy DCS stuff on sale. The products are good but this kind of crap tarnishes it badly. Not worth paying full price. And I don't feel any particular loyalty to a company that screws with its customers like this.

It might also explain why they have to have so many sales.