Will Valve give me its approval play the game I paid $50 for?

[EddieBrock]

I installed Half-Life 2 right after it came out on my new computer. Since then I had to format the hard drive and had really forgotten about it. I saw an article in PC Gamer about Gary's mod so I wanted to try it again. After putting in the 5 CDs, making a new account, and putting in my CD key, I was given a message that the cd key is in use so I can't play.

I went to their website where it says I don't simply have to supply my email or anything simple to reset the account, but I have to actually send them my original cd key with $10. Considering the wonderful quality of the original printed CD key (printed on a plain looking flimsly CD case) its amazing that I even kept it. I normally write the cd key on my cd so I don't have to keep 1,000 cases around. I have the original box, the original printed cd key, the original cds, and I still have to pay them $10 because I forgot to the username/password on some stupid service? I'm not transferring title to a new house to someone else, I'm trying to play the game I already paid for. I find this to be absurd. Does anyone know of a simpler way to reset my account?

 

[Cypher19]

The account that you used to log into Steam with last time? Use it.

 

[Cole]

$10 because I forgot to the username/password on some stupid service? I'm not transferring title to a new house to someone else, I'm trying to play the game I already paid for. I find this to be absurd. Does anyone know of a simpler way to reset my account?

Look you need to remember your account. And yes you can retrive your account Via email.

The $10 thing is just to take your cd key off of your current account and allow you to put it on a new one.

 

[giant384]

once u register it to your steam account it will stay there u never need the cd key again unless somehow someone steals your account

 

[EddieBrock]

once u register it to your steam account it will stay there u never need the cd key again unless somehow someone steals your account

I thought I had formatted my hard drive, but I looked and I had it on a computer I don't use anymore. When I logged in and updated I could see my username, and I think I remember my password (or I could guess it after a few tries). How do I uninstall it there and install it on the computer I'm using now?

 

[UndeadScottsman]

I thought I had formatted my hard drive, but I looked and I had it on a computer I don't use anymore. When I logged in and updated I could see my username, and I think I remember my password (or I could guess it after a few tries). How do I uninstall it there and install it on the computer I'm using now?

You can have Steam installed on as many machines as you want; you just can't use your account more than once at the same time. I routinly have Steam running on both my laptop and my PC regardless

 

[EddieBrock]

You can have Steam installed on as many machines as you want; you just can't use your account more than once at the same time. I routinly have Steam running on both my laptop and my PC regardless

I already put in a new username and password, how do I enter my old one? Whe I try to do it just asks me for the cd key then tells me its already activated under another account.

 

[giant384]

I thought I had formatted my hard drive, but I looked and I had it on a computer I don't use anymore. When I logged in and updated I could see my username, and I think I remember my password (or I could guess it after a few tries). How do I uninstall it there and install it on the computer I'm using now?

well if u know your secret Q/A and if u still use the same email it was registered to you can retrieve your password

 

[UndeadScottsman]

I already put in a new username and password, how do I enter my old one? Whe I try to do it just asks me for the cd key then tells me its already activated under another account.

Go to Settings and click on the "Log in as a different user" button.

 

[TheMastahC]

I find things like this funny. Such as a guy telling me that downloading games from Steam and not getting a CD is stupid, because if you format, you lose your game... It's funny, because they just don't know how ungodly awesome Steam is.

 

[Drackard]

It's funny, because they just don't know how ungodly awesome Steam is.

I guarentee that a lot of people will beg to differ lol

 

[Cole]

I guarentee that a lot of people will beg to differ lol

Many argue, but thats because they just don't understand.

 

[Drackard]

Yeah i know, either way i love Valve/Steam

 

[Solver]

Many argue, but thats because they just don't understand.

Sorry, that's not so . I am most certainly among the critics of Steam, and I quite understand what it does and how it works.

 

[Dynasty]

yeah its a great idea which i believe id are stealing...??

anyway, steam is good when it works, ill give it that. but if you do reformat your HD, you loose everything. you have to re-download all your steam games and then to be told you cant play them? the good, the bad and the gabe.

 

[Link]

Tell me, when you forget where you put your car keys, do you bitch about the dealer that sold it to you..?

 

[Lemonking]

umm ever heard of the backup function?

 

[AgentXen]

I find things like this funny. Such as a guy telling me that downloading games from Steam and not getting a CD is stupid, because if you format, you lose your game... It's funny, because they just don't know how ungodly awesome Steam is.

Exactly!
I can go anywere on the planet and play My steam games withount having a damn CD, as long as i find a PC with internet connection, And thats not really hard to find. I got to college and i can playCSS there. I go on a trip far away from home, and i can play HL2: DM there in the hotel lobby or cyber cafe across the street.

 

[Dynasty]

umm ever heard of the backup function?

yeah but i found that out after my first reformat ages ago. of course i use it now. ive got hl2 and cs:s on a backup disc aswell.

but some people arent too..hmm...mentally tuned?

 

[Dynasty]

Exactly!
I can go anywere on the planet and play My steam games withount having a damn CD, as long as i find a PC with internet connection, And thats not really hard to find. I got to college and i can playCSS there. I go on a trip far away from home, and i can play HL2: DM there in the hotel lobby or cyber cafe across the street.

sorry for 2 posts but THAT is pretty much the best thing about steam :thumbs:

 

[EddieBrock]

Tell me, when you forget where you put your car keys, do you bitch about the dealer that sold it to you..?

Tell me, when you put your car keys on a different key chain do you have to send the company your car's title, keys, and manual along with money to prove you own the car? Do you have to prove that you have an interstate connection and make contact with the car dealership and manufacturer before you can drive?

What if I want to play half life 2 on my laptop when I travel? I don't have their permission because I don't have an internet connection. What if I don't want to have another process running in the background taking my system resources? Why can't I play a single player game without an internet connection when I have the 5 cds and the cd key?

 

[DiSTuRbEd]

Why can't I play a single player game without an internet connection when I have the 5 cds and the cd key?

*sigh* Read the box, INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED

 

[AJ Rimmer]

What if I want to play half life 2 on my laptop when I travel? I don't have their permission because I don't have an internet connection. What if I don't want to have another process running in the background taking my system resources? Why can't I play a single player game without an internet connection when I have the 5 cds and the cd key?

Does your laptop have a network port? If so, you only need internet connection ONCE. You don't need internet to play, only to install. Steam doesn't take up much system resources, and you CAN play a single player game without an internet connection. You don't even need the cds.

 

[Qhartb]

Tell me, when you put your car keys on a different key chain do you have to send the company your car's title, keys, and manual along with money to prove you own the car? Do you have to prove that you have an interstate connection and make contact with the car dealership and manufacturer before you can drive?

What if I want to play half life 2 on my laptop when I travel? I don't have their permission because I don't have an internet connection. What if I don't want to have another process running in the background taking my system resources? Why can't I play a single player game without an internet connection when I have the 5 cds and the cd key?

I'm not even following this analogy. I'm thinking key = username/password, and keyring = computer. But there's absolutely no problem with that. You just use the same key on as many computers as you want and you can play you Steam games on all of them (one at a time).

Your problem is that you lost the keys to your car and need another one from the manufacturer/dealer. In that case, yes, you have hoops to jump through to show that you're the owner of the car. Otherwise someone could steal your car by going to the dealer and saying they lost their keys.

What if I want to play half life 2 on my laptop when I travel?
As mentioned above, there's no problem with having HL2 on your laptop when you travel. Put it on the 'net, get Steam, log in, and download HL2 (or copy it from your computer to save download time). Then run it on your laptop in offline mode. No problems here.

What if I don't want to have another process running in the background taking my system resources?
You can't legally. So what? I'd be surprised if Steam doesn't block when it runs a game (unless it's streaming content), so it takes up zero CPU time, and with virtual memory it'll get paged out if it needs to be, taking up zero physical memory. Wow, look. No resources taken up by an inactive process!

Why can't I play a single player game without an internet connection when I have the 5 cds and the cd key?
Because you've already gone and bound your cd-key to an account. If you could bind your key to more accounts, you could give those accounts with free copies of Half-life 2 to your friends. Now, if you've just forgotten your password, Steam can help you out by sending it to your email. Otherwise, for all intents and purposes you've misplaced your copy of Half-life 2. Your fault. Valve may be able to help you out. I hope you find it, but don't go around blaming anyone but yourself.

 

[jondy]

I hope you find it, but don't go around blaming anyone but yourself.

QFT, stop being so ****ing... angry, Eddie.

 

[Cole]

What if I want to play half life 2 on my laptop when I travel? I don't have their permission because I don't have an internet connection. What if I don't want to have another process running in the background taking my system resources? Why can't I play a single player game without an internet connection when I have the 5 cds and the cd key?

But you can play it in singleplayer, just have it fully registered and updated. Then you can use offline mode.....

 

[diluted]

Yes Steam is bullshit, but there's nothing we can do about it. Just lay back and accept it.

 

[TheMastahC]

Accept it in all it's glory.

 

[Link]

Tell me, when you put your car keys on a different key chain do you have to send the company your car's title, keys, and manual along with money to prove you own the car? Do you have to prove that you have an interstate connection and make contact with the car dealership and manufacturer before you can drive?

No, and following my analogy, nor do valve. Of course, if you lose your keys, then yes, you need proof of ownership.

And "prove that you have an interstate connection"? Don't be daft. First, valve don't need proof of a net connection, it just won't work without one. But then a dealer dosen't need proof that you can access a road, but your cars not much use without one.

At the end of the day, you have lost something you need to make something you own work, and you want valve to fix it. Why shouldn't they want to check you own said thing before they give it to you? And why shouldn't they charge a few quid for it? They are doing something for you, why should they do it for free?