Beta 2 download problems!

Report/Vent here!

from GalCiv2 Forums

By 8pm EST tonight beta 2 should be available and it's using our new (and largely untested in a large scale) distributed network environment we've been working on for the past several months which should, in theory, provide secure downloads at very very high speeds.

You download via Stardock Central.

However, if it doesn't work for you, report here.  Some things to make sure of:

1) Make sure you pre-ordered the game already or have an active TotalGaming.net subscription.

2) Make sure you are using the California server (you shouldn't have to worry about this but..). From SDC that's tools->settings->Internet

3) Make sure you have your serial # in there. That's tools->settings->Galactic Civilizations II (or TotalGaming.net if you have an active subscription to hat).

4) Make sure you have "Show pre-release versions" checked off at the bottom of SDC.

5) Make sure the email you used to buy the game is the same one you are using for your Stardock.net account.  This is important since it doesn't just know who you are. It has to match the email addresses when it activates it.

If all that fails, respond here.  We will be working on this.  Also, please report if it worked fine for you so that we can at least know others are able to use it fine.

64,557 views 78 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm having activation issues with the TG serial. I'm working with Cari_Elf to hopefully fix them.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top


Same here, activation is not working
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
After a few account fixes, I'm up and running.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Check your account information in Stardock central to make sure that it's using the correct e-mail address for your TG.net subscription.  Then try uninstalling and re-installing GalCiv2.

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Check your account information in Stardock central to make sure that it's using the correct e-mail address for your TG.net subscription. Then try uninstalling and re-installing GalCiv2.


I entered my serial in TG (although it is not required to DL) and did Uninstall and reinstall and this solved the issue.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It may also work if you archive the latest version, uninstall and then restore from archive. That will save you download time.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

More tips if you still are having problems (although thankfully haven't gotten a lot of reports):

1. Make sure that your galciv2 records are under the same email as your stardock.net one
2. Make sure that you have SDC build 86 installed (check under help/about, reinstall SDC if it won't update).
3. If it wants it, activate.exe is allowed access to the net to do the registration on updating to the new build

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok,
1) Made sure my TGN account is listed under my email account
2) I have build 86 installed
3) not using firewall software so this isnt an issue
4) uninstalled rebooted and reinstalled.

5) still having problems with registration
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I too have done all of the above, and it doesent accept my information.
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Activate.exe isn't letting me activate, either.

I do NOT have a TG.net subscription. I DO have a pre-ordered serial number, though.

Reinstalling didn't work.

- Nobody

[EDIT] Here's what my debug.err is giving me...
Debug Message: Version v 0.2 (Beta 2 Build 1) last updated on: Tue Jun 14 14:16:03 2005
Debug Message: Could not find a TGN Serial No.

It can't find a TGN SN because... I don't have one?
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
im having the same problem...i have the pre order serial number not a TG.net one and i still get errors! i have done all the above steps

activation is a good idea but very crapy in reality...look at HL2 and steam
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I am afraid the activation does not work for me either. I enter my valid email, and TGN serial ( I tried my download Galciv1 number as well, by mistake) and the activation fails. I have instructed firewall to allow activate.exe access to the internet.
For some reason it wants to try and connect through my web-proxy-filter (Proxomitron). I normally have SDC set up to use that, and have no problems logging onto SDC that way (it used to fail on direct connect, didn't get through the firewall) but after I removed the proxy setting activate.exe stubbornly STILL tries to connect through the proxomitron. Proxomitron is set to bypass the webfilters, so that really shouldn't be the problem either. .

Guys, if you really really want to get on that stupid activation bandwagon, then you have to write something that is rock solid. Not something that gets its settings from god knows where, is not transparent to the user .....
What the hell is wrong with the way you did things in Galciv 1 or SDC or TGN?
This is a majorly off-putting experience.

> -Peter
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Well, I got it fixed. I archived Galciv 2 from SDC, then uninstalled it from SDC and got the error message that it could not be uninstalled and did I want to mark it as uninstalled. I agreed to do that, then reinstalled from archive.
I reinstalled to a different directory on a different partition. SDC automatically did the activation for me. I had NOT changed serial number or email address at any stage - it had all the valid info the first time round.

I stand by my comments on activation above: it's a pita to those of us who work on their computers a lot; changing hardware, drives, moving partitions, uninstalling and reinstalling software ... I actually even object to programs storing internal information in the Windows Registry for that reason. The software I write uses internal databases stored in a (.ini or .db)file in the program directory (or shared data directory for network apps) and it makes migration and (re)installation issues where windows registry is affected simply nonexistent.

I am sure it's a lot less of a pain to Joe Luser who buys a Dell, never installs proxies and gateways, firewalls and servers on their machine and simply uses the thing until it falls over.

But which of the two is buying your game?

cheers, -Peter
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
Argggh.... can I repeat that Arggghh.....

Uninstall, reinstall, archive, active, ect.. Ok guys I spend most of my days trying to deal with IBM and updating firmware testing MIBS on our SAN equipment and Bladecenters so I'm quite familiar with troubleshooting.

None of the quick and dirty solutions are working. Can someone provide a list of detailed actions (detailed down to type this, click that) to correct the problem. It would appear that different people are coming up with different solutions or seeing different results though different actions.

Actions I have preformed thus far:

System Info:
Windows 2000 Sp4, with current hotfixes applied
Netscreen 5XP Firewall
Note: This firewall allows all outbound connections only inbound connections that are not initiated internally are restricted. (This config is typical)

1) removed GalCiv2 - prompted to reboot - did so.

2) reinstalled GalCiv2 - after install it appeared to register the product however after running GalCiv2 i'm prompted to enter my email and serial code. Which I promptly get the error "Error activating the product".

Something is strange here there isn't even a pause to see if its actually connecting to the internet to validate it.. I mean it comes back immediately after I press the enter key with the error. Now I dont have time to setup a packet sniffer to determine if its actually going out to the net, but then again I shouldn't have to reverse engineer this (but I will if I have too).

Now something every intresting has happened. When I one of my old keys for Object Desktop it used to tell me that this key was invalid (a different error, like the system was actually checking it). I just tried it again and NOW it tells me that "Maximum Activation requests from this IP reached". So great now i'm really screwed, I have to deal with them not only correcting my problem but removing the IP restiction.

So what it appears to me is that the application is not querying the system with some of the keys, just bounces back immediately (like there is a software bug). There is a slight pause when entering the above key (even though I'm being blocked) to give the indication at least its checking.

HaHa! I signed up to test GalGiv2 not your security system!
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I've reached the "Maximum Activation Requests from this IP reached" limit as well... Grr... I know about the "only allow # registrations" clause, but you're telling me I'm getting dinged for each time the program fails?

Cari, can you please reset this?

Here's something else that's screwy...

I now have not one... not two... not three... but FOUR Galciv II serial numbers.

I wanted to verify that my e-mail address was correct, so I sent myself a "Lookup Serial Number..." request. While trying to get things to work, I sent two more. Each "Upgrade Information and Serial Numbers for your Stardock products" e-mail I received had a DIFFERENT Galciv II serial number, and none of these SNs matched my original serial in my Galciv II purchase "Thank you for shopping with Stardock" e-mail.

(Note: My Galciv 1 and A. Prophecy serials stayed the same.)

When I try to input the three bogus SNs into Stardock's "Stardock Central Settings / Registration" to confirm them, I'm told they aren't valid.

All this to test an anti-piracy scheme that, unless it wraps every single data file like StarForce3 ::shiver::, will be cracked on the day it's released? Bah...

- Nobody
Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Hi gang,

Since nobody mentioned it in their posts, can those of you having trouble confirm that you have Stardock Central set to the US - California server in Tools -> Settings -> Internet tab -> Available Servers. This will help us track down what's up. Thanks.

Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Andrew and IBNobody, I can't reset activation code myself, but if you e-mail [email protected] he will be able to do it for you. 

IBNobody, it sounds like it managed to activate on our end, but the return signal must be blocked by your firewall.  Can you make exceptions in your firewall settings?

Anyone who has not tried to re-install, please try that after checking to make sure that your settings match what Frogboy suggested.

Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ok, I emailed kwilas waiting a response. I also checked to see what server I was pulling from. I was pulling from the Chicago Server. So I have reset this to Cali. I've uninstalled the application and reinstalled. Same problem, but this could be do to the fact that the activation code needs to be reset (per CariElf note above).

So I will wait until I hear back from support or kwlias.

-Sigh......
Andrew
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

activation is a good idea but very crapy in reality...look at HL2 and steam

They didn't have the advantage of having an open beta. 

Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
IBNobody, it sounds like it managed to activate on our end, but the return signal must be blocked by your firewall. Can you make exceptions in your firewall settings?


I'm using Zone Alarm, by the way. I don't have a hardware firewall.

If I need to open up more ports other than what's auto-opened by ZA for activate.exe, what ports do I need?

- Nobody
Reply #21 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Just as a counter-balance. It worked flawlessly for me.
Reply #22 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

IBNobody, do you have a sig.bin file in your GalCiv2 folder?

Also, Kris says to make sure that port 80 is open.

Reply #23 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is a new build of SDC available which may help some of you who are still having troubles.
Reply #24 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
In further attempts to acitvate the beta I loaded a new version of SDC. Now the beta does not appear on the SDC game list to download. What do I do now??
Reply #25 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Did you check to make sure that SDC is using the California server? And that show pre-release versions is still checked? You may also need to reboot.