Telltale Games

Lee Harvey · 02/07/2007, 04:02 am

Howdy,

yesterday I installed and activated S&M E1 on my notebook. Working fine.

Today I had 1 gig of memory added to the system (it only had 512MB before), and now when I try starting the game it says:

"The security key for this program currently stored on your system does not appear to be valid for this version of the program. Select Yes to enter a new key, or No to revert to the default setting (if any)."

What to do

?

Emily · 02/07/2007, 08:24 am

It might not recognize the key because you installed the new memory. Just click Activation Support and follow the instructions.

Also - please make sure you're not playing the game in compatibility mode. I have seen this error occur when the game is in win98 compatibility mode (even if everything else about the activation should be fine). Thanks.

Lee Harvey · 02/07/2007, 08:37 am

Ok, thanks, but...

What to click in the first place on the mentioned dialog

? I mean, I don't want to "lose" my activation key by resetting it and then possibly being told the key has already been used (in my first activiation) and cannot be used again.

Sorry for bothering, the thing is just that I don't know about how that activation stuff works in detail (e.g. if an activation key can be used infinitely (which would make several installations (and therefore software piracy) possible)... I need to look that up, I admit. Maybe you can provide me with some link or I'll try to find that information somewhere here on your site.

Thanks.

Emily · 02/07/2007, 08:42 am

The activation is tied to the computer's hardware fingerprint. If something big changes on the computer, the game thinks it's on a new computer and deactivates. (The memory is one of these things.) We are constantly trying to improve this to make it less annoying for people, but Culture Shock is still a little more finicky about activation than we would like.

You're not going to lose your ability to activate the game, don't worry.

Each game comes with 10 activations, and we're happy to increase this for people if needed. Our policy is that once someone buys a game from us, they can activate it as many times as they want.

The reason I asked about compatibility mode is because that error message doesn't normally show up in this situation. (Normally, the game would just revert to trial mode.) Click No on the error message, and then click Activation Support at the bottom of the screen and follow the instructions to get an activation key. I promise you nothing bad will happen.

Lee Harvey · 02/07/2007, 08:49 am

Ok thanks, I'll do so

FYI: It's a normal (Acer) notebook, running WinXP Pro SP2 (not in compatibility mode or something).

Thanks for the support so far

Lee Harvey · 02/07/2007, 01:02 pm

Oh... activation support means having to wait for an email reply

...

I'm really glad with the quick support here, but all the day I was looking forward to play the game again before going to bed, and now I can't because I have to wait for an email reply

Don't consider me impatient, but how long does a support reply (activation support) usually take? I can't wait to go on playing

Emily · 02/07/2007, 01:14 pm

I've already replied to all the emails that came in today. Can you check your spam folder?

EDIT: Oops, never mind. Your email just came in. From your post it sounded like you've been waiting for hours.

Lee Harvey · 02/07/2007, 01:19 pm

Reply just came in (4 minutes after your post).

Thank you so much!

EDIT: Oops, too

. Pressed the reply button before your edit. Sorry again if it sounded impatient, I was just looking forward to playing it all day

02/07/2007, 04:02 am	#1
Lee Harvey Henchman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 29	"security key invalid" after memory upgrade Howdy, yesterday I installed and activated S&M E1 on my notebook. Working fine. Today I had 1 gig of memory added to the system (it only had 512MB before), and now when I try starting the game it says: "The security key for this program currently stored on your system does not appear to be valid for this version of the program. Select Yes to enter a new key, or No to revert to the default setting (if any)." What to do ?

02/07/2007, 01:14 pm	#7
Emily Formerly of the Telltale Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,549	I've already replied to all the emails that came in today. Can you check your spam folder? EDIT: Oops, never mind. Your email just came in. From your post it sounded like you've been waiting for hours. Last edited by Emily; 02/07/2007 at 01:16 pm.

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02/07/2007, 08:24 am	#2
Emily Formerly of the Telltale Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,549	It might not recognize the key because you installed the new memory. Just click Activation Support and follow the instructions. Also - please make sure you're not playing the game in compatibility mode. I have seen this error occur when the game is in win98 compatibility mode (even if everything else about the activation should be fine). Thanks.

02/07/2007, 08:37 am	#3
Lee Harvey Henchman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 29	Ok, thanks, but... What to click in the first place on the mentioned dialog ? I mean, I don't want to "lose" my activation key by resetting it and then possibly being told the key has already been used (in my first activiation) and cannot be used again. Sorry for bothering, the thing is just that I don't know about how that activation stuff works in detail (e.g. if an activation key can be used infinitely (which would make several installations (and therefore software piracy) possible)... I need to look that up, I admit. Maybe you can provide me with some link or I'll try to find that information somewhere here on your site. Thanks.

02/07/2007, 08:42 am	#4
Emily Formerly of the Telltale Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Posts: 4,549	The activation is tied to the computer's hardware fingerprint. If something big changes on the computer, the game thinks it's on a new computer and deactivates. (The memory is one of these things.) We are constantly trying to improve this to make it less annoying for people, but Culture Shock is still a little more finicky about activation than we would like. You're not going to lose your ability to activate the game, don't worry. Each game comes with 10 activations, and we're happy to increase this for people if needed. Our policy is that once someone buys a game from us, they can activate it as many times as they want. The reason I asked about compatibility mode is because that error message doesn't normally show up in this situation. (Normally, the game would just revert to trial mode.) Click No on the error message, and then click Activation Support at the bottom of the screen and follow the instructions to get an activation key. I promise you nothing bad will happen.

02/07/2007, 08:49 am	#5
Lee Harvey Henchman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 29	Ok thanks, I'll do so FYI: It's a normal (Acer) notebook, running WinXP Pro SP2 (not in compatibility mode or something). Thanks for the support so far

02/07/2007, 01:02 pm	#6
Lee Harvey Henchman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 29	Oh... activation support means having to wait for an email reply ... I'm really glad with the quick support here, but all the day I was looking forward to play the game again before going to bed, and now I can't because I have to wait for an email reply Don't consider me impatient, but how long does a support reply (activation support) usually take? I can't wait to go on playing

02/07/2007, 01:19 pm	#8
Lee Harvey Henchman Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 29	Reply just came in (4 minutes after your post). Thank you so much! EDIT: Oops, too . Pressed the reply button before your edit. Sorry again if it sounded impatient, I was just looking forward to playing it all day