Can't activate

[Dbear]

OK, I expected hassles with this game, but nothing like this.

I tried to install the first time, put in disc 1, and the computer wouldn't recognize the CD. It told me to put a CD in the drive. I tried it in two other computers, and they both recognized it. (Neither one is a good game machine.) I read something here about copying CDs, and tried that. After having to copy 2 of the 5 discs, I finally got in installed. So I figure maybe my CD burner is getting old, and they really crammed a lot of data on the CDs, and it can't quite read the edge of the track. (Yes, I paid for the game, in a retail box.)

Then I tried to register, so I can play it. I put in the CD key, and it tells me to insert the Retail CD. I tried both the retail CD (disc 1) and the copy, and it wouldn't recognize either.

Thinking the CD drive was going bad, I swapped in another one, and got the exact same result.

My son has a Steam account already, and I had to use his password to even get to the point of entering the CD key. Does that have anything to do with this?

How do I get this &$#@^&& thing to play?

 

[Delirious]

I think the problem is with the cd drive you swapped in. Both of them might have been incompatible with hl2 cds. I had to go through 3 old cd drives to get the game installed

 

[Delirious]

either that or it might have something to do with installing with copied cds.(sry for double posting)

 

[Dbear]

Are you kidding me??? You had to go through 3 drives? What the hell are they making these things out of???

Well, when I calm down, maybe I'll try swapping in a DVD drive. If that doesn't work...

Anyway, thanks. I'll see what happens.

 

[MjM]

I think its the anti piracy measures that were taken by the publisher. It didnt behave well with all optical drives drives from what i remember. There was a a patch a few weeks after the initial release that ignored it.

I did a search for you:

http://steampowered.custhelp.com/cg..._new_search=1&p_search_type=answers.search_nl

 

[Dbear]

Delirious was right. When I swapped in a DVD drive, it worked fine. So it took me 3 drives, too. Unbe-f'ing-lievable. What do people do who don't have 4 computers? (OK, I know, there aren't many people like that, but still... )

Anyway, it runs, and it looks great so far. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction.

 

[d4rkvaat1]

have you ever wondered it might have been the fact that hl2 isnt a cd? and is a dvd? thats probably why you had to go through 3 cd drives . not that i know hl2 comes on a cd, when i bought mine retail it was dvd-rom.

-d4rk vaat1

 

[phool@modeling]

have you ever wondered it might have been the fact that hl2 isnt a cd? and is a dvd? thats probably why you had to go through 3 cd drives . not that i know hl2 comes on a cd, when i bought mine retail it was dvd-rom.

-d4rk vaat1

...After having to copy 2 of the 5 discs, I finally got in installed...

I sincerely doubt HL2 can fill up 5 dvd-roms.

 

[sinkoman]

have you ever wondered it might have been the fact that hl2 isnt a cd? and is a dvd? thats probably why you had to go through 3 cd drives . not that i know hl2 comes on a cd, when i bought mine retail it was dvd-rom.

-d4rk vaat1

If you had read the post (perhaps you did but didn't notice) you would have noticed that he copied discs 1 and 2. Now HL2 DVD comes only on one DVD. I know this because I bought the collectors edition, which comes on a DVD.

I got lucky. Installed on the DVD drive on my old computer, which I used in my new build.

 

[Dbear]

Thanks, guys. You said it for me. It is CDs.