SgtRicko

Join Date 07/2006

Unknown installation error for patch 1.20

I can't seem to get Stardock to accept my game for some reason!

Hey there, guys!
Before I begin, hats off to Stardock for making Galactic Civilizations II such a great game and being so committed to its fans and all - it really shows. Okay, enough butt-kissing, now its down to business!

The problem I have may seem old and look like its been sticky posted on the 'Support & Bugs' forum, but it hasn't - at least, for my ailment. You see, after the eternity of waiting on a (shudders) 48k internet connection I finally downloaded the Bonus content and patch 1.20 for GalCiv II in that order. It was all going good with the bonus content download and all (I booted up the game for a test and it ran normally), but once I installed the patch and restarted the comp, I was asked to input my e-mail address and my games serial number in order to activate the game online. Did so, but instead of accepting my information, the program gave me an error message, with litte to no telltale info or signs as to what went wrong.
My notepad posted this as well:

Application start: 2006-8-19 11.5.44
Downloading test internet data...
Download: success
Test internet data - success
Mode 1, short info
Submitting activation request...
Download: success
Activation result: 12
Error activating the product

Please check the serial number that you have entered and ensure that it is associated with the email you used. Try to activate the product again. If you are using Stardock Central you can right-click on the product and attempt to activate without reinstalling. Please include this log file when contacting support@stardock.com.

Ok, the thing is that I'm 100% certain that my game's serial number is authentic and hasn't been copied at all, and my e-mail account works as well (though I don't have Stardock central - and DO NOT tell me to download that, cause it's probably gonna take a freakin eternity to reach at least 25% completion!!!). And yes, I've tried over a dozen times trying to get my game to work, even trolling a bit for help on the boards and support center, but to no avail. There really don't seem to be much to do on my side to remedy this, so thats why I'm posting here, so as to get some help from the community and hopefully Stardock themselves.
That's all the info I can offer at the moment - or at least remember. If you need any other clues, just ask; I'll be listening on this thread for the rest of the night.

Thanks for listenening, you guys

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Well, there is a small advantage for you to get Stardock Central: it allows incremental update. Which will be nice for you when the 1.3 patch will be out since the patch on the website will be a ptach from the 1.0 retail version.

In any case, try to turn off the internet connexion. That way it will ask you to send a particular e-mail to the the sig.bin file. It could work.

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Hmm, alright. One question though: how EXACTLY do you reach the GalCiv2 sig.bin file? Thanks.

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

He means that you will be given information to email to stardock, and will receive a sig.bin in return.

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Ok, I've sent the letter to stardock... this was the response I got from them:

Hello. The activation email you sent to activate@stardock.com has had a problem while parsing and was unable to generate a sig.bin file.

The information from your original email has been resent to support@stardock.com for them to attempt to track down what was unhappy.

If you have previously activated this product, please make sure you are entering the same email address as that prior activation.

******

Please make sure you have entered your email address correctly (especially if you have previously activated this product) and that you have entered the serial number correctly.

You _must_ use the email address you originally registered or activated the product under.

----------- DEBUG INFORMATION -----------

Error Code : 12
Error Desc : InvalidEmailOrNoMatch
Attempted Activate URL :
m=1&v=1&a1=B4E3622B2B8EFCF68ABF65E40397067AC72D71215ED8559282ED8DD4F2FA374FF0D39F3FF29B710C2D8687443CF6950A9F23C69F6C1EA317C42B2881E02D53CB98EC89CCA5712149A3139666CEC6D516C0DA45D9EA19663B3DF18E8B0D352FB61725B991E3E7DBF921F5CA2E91764F5CB8A3927442664A2E7494582227614184&a2=E79687DFCE697064DDF869C6647CB78D5838EBEF2CA87C811E292029BC45A4B32894D3606D7ADE0A74DF9DCA211A997B5E3EDEA9057231B0053CA2960B94974146E91E9F44138C37E784BBB5F1E667875D381D33A765DB69C1

******

There were two other attachments as well. They went like this:

Return-path:
Received: from barracuda.stardock.com by stardock.com
(MDaemon PRO v9.0.1)
with ESMTP id md50018038239.msg
for ; Sat, 19 Aug 2006 10:47:01 -0400
X-ASG-Debug-ID: 1155998651-19ea01e70000-Fe2DVF
X-Barracuda-URL: http://10.1.1.7:8000/cgi-bin/mark.cgi
X-Barracuda-Connect: mta01.ite.net[12.174.88.71]
X-Barracuda-Start-Time: 1155998651
Received: from mta01.ite.net (mta01.ite.net [12.174.88.71])
by barracuda.stardock.com (Spam Firewall) with ESMTP id 2FB843B31F
for ; Sat, 19 Aug 2006 10:44:11 -0400 (EDT)
Received: from ms01.ite.net (ms01.ite.net [12.174.88.101])
by mta01.ite.net (Switch-3.1.8/Switch-3.1.7) with ESMTP id k7JEY9Eu012445
for ; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 00:34:09 +1000
Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1])
by ms01.ite.net (Switch-3.1.8/Switch-3.1.0) with ESMTP id k7JEi9a3005268
for ; Sun, 20 Aug 2006 00:44:09 +1000 (ChST)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Date: Sun, 20 Aug 2006 00:44:09 +1000
From: "gonzalez@ite.net"
Message-Id: <1155998649-3577.00013.00169-smmsdV2.1.6@localhost>
X-SMMS-Source: 12.174.89.114
To: activate@stardock.com
X-ASG-Orig-Subj: Product Activation Request [Galactic Civilizations 2]
Subject: Product Activation Request [Galactic Civilizations 2]
X-Barracuda-Bayes: INNOCENT GLOBAL 0.0000 1.0000 -2.0210
X-Barracuda-Virus-Scanned: by Barracuda Spam Firewall at stardock.com
X-Barracuda-Spam-Score: -1.52
X-Barracuda-Spam-Status: No, SCORE=-1.52 using global scores of TAG_LEVEL=2.9 QUARANTINE_LEVEL=1000.0 KILL_LEVEL=7.0 tests=BSF_RULE7568M
X-Barracuda-Spam-Report: Code version 3.02, rules version 3.0.19351
Rule breakdown below pts rule name description
---- ---------------------- --------------------------------------------------
0.50 BSF_RULE7568M BODY: Custom Rule 7568M
X-Spam-Processed: mail.stardock.com, Sat, 19 Aug 2006 10:47:01 -0400
(not processed: message from trusted or authenticated source)
X-MDRcpt-To: activate@stardock.com
X-Rcpt-To: activate@stardock.com
X-MDRemoteIP: 10.1.1.7
X-Return-Path: gonzalez@ite.net
X-MDaemon-Deliver-To: activate@stardock.com
X-MDAV-Processed: mail.stardock.com, Sat, 19 Aug 2006 10:47:02 -0400

The last part was my original message and my serial # - nothing new there...
Anyways, I'm not sure what to do now. Wait, I just got a message from my mail, says I'll be contacted by Stardock in about 1-2 business days... thats BAD, isn't it?

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

Not bad, just means that a support worker will check things out and let you know what's up as soon as they can. Nobody works on the weekends (except me) though, so you won't get an answer until Monday at the soonest.

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I just got a reply from Stardock about this issue:

"Hello,

Thank you for your interest in Galactic Civilizations II. Unfortunately,

it appears that the serial number you provided/are attempting to use

has already been linked to another customer record. Usually, this

occurs if you have already registered under another email address.

If this is your first time registering Galactic Civilizations II, you have purchased a used copy.

Please be aware that per our end user license agreement, licenses cannot be transferred once sold.

That said, there are some options.

1. The GalCiv2 CD's do not have any copy protection. You may

install and play the retail version of the game.

2. The 1.0X update from March 2006 does not require activation:

https://www.stardock.com/files/GalCiv2_10X_BonusPack_030806.exe

3. You may purchase a new license key from Stardock at a reduced price.

-----------------

Travis G

Stardock Corporation

Technical Advisor"

I'm screwed, Kryo... SCREWED (guess I'll just have to play the retail version only...).

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

I'm screwed, Kryo... SCREWED (guess I'll just have to play the retail version only...).

That, or if you bought it in a retail store you should be able to return it, and demand a copy that is genuinely new and hasn't had the serial already used by someone else. Or if you're absolutely sure your copy was never opened, you can just tell them it's defective and exchange it for another copy (hopefully that way they will also not try to shove it off on another poor fellow who won't be able to activate it).

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I guess it might work, but the thing is that I've had this game since late may of this year, and I'm pretty sure the receipt won't work at so late a date, especially with a store like Gamestop!

Their store policy is that after two business days (48 hours), you won't be able to return a product unless it's a total dud, so a refund ain't likely. Thanks for all the help though Kryo, I really do appreciate all you've tried to do for me

By the way, how in the hell DO you respond so fast to all the forum posts???

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kryo

Join Date 05/2003

+458

but the thing is that I've had this game since late may of this year

Looks like you're stuck then unless you buy a new serial, sorry.

By the way, how in the hell DO you respond so fast to all the forum posts???

Trade secret

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