CD Key Question (Not Your Usual One)

KoshiJoshi · 30th Mar 2006, 11:35 AM

I was reinstalling UT2003 the other day for the second time when I was asked for my CD key, I entered it as seen on the box of the game and when it had been installed I went, out of curiosity, to check if I could still go online

I was surprised when I was able to because as far as I knew you cannot use CD keys twice as I had installed UT2003 previously, so we come to my question...

How exactly does the CD Key validation system work on UT2003/04?

I've been thinking up various theory's but I want cold hard knowledge

Renegade Retard · 30th Mar 2006, 11:41 AM

I believe that, as long as the same CD key isn't being used more than once at the same time, then you're fine.

I may be wrong, though.

virgo47 · 30th Mar 2006, 11:42 AM

I know about the case when at least two players played online on registrated pub server with the same key in the same time with no problem at all. So it is not so strict.

KoshiJoshi · 30th Mar 2006, 11:45 AM

Do you reckon that every CD has a database/file that holds all the valid CD keys but only allows one of those to be the true assigned online play key for that CD or copy of the game?

Im not sure If you get me but that is what I'm thinking

Sfisher7 · 30th Mar 2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Renegade Retard

I believe that, as long as the same CD key isn't being used more than once at the same time, then you're fine.

I may be wrong, though.

I have one UT2k4 on two systems and it's fine, I bought two, but one never showed up (it's been 4 months). I paid for both, so it's legal. Anyways, I don't think that's the way it works because both systems can be online at the same time with no problems.

Kantham · 30th Mar 2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virgo47

I know about the case when at least two players played online on registrated pub server with the same key in the same time with no problem at all. So it is not so strict.

Yes. Happen on my server. I've seen this more than once.

_Lynx · 30th Mar 2006, 01:08 PM

The CD-Key is not used-up after you install the game once - you may install it as many times as you want without any problems. Also - as you already noticed there's a quite common thing that master-server allows two players with the same CD-Key. The CD-Key also defines player's Unique ID (seen in Settings -> Game ). The installer has some simple check - all the key generated by keygens will allow you to install the game but will fail the on-line check, causing master-server to reply that your CD-Key ither invalid or is already in use. The master server makes some more accurate check - this one, I guess really checks the CD-key against the some list, including a blacklist of banned CD-Keys.

Sahkolihaa · 30th Mar 2006, 02:14 PM

It's not like Micro$oft where using your CD key "disables" it after using it too many times.

KoshiJoshi · 30th Mar 2006, 02:23 PM

Oh right, thanks for clearing that up

Taleweaver · 30th Mar 2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sfisher7

I have one UT2k4 on two systems and it's fine, I bought two, but one never showed up (it's been 4 months). I paid for both, so it's legal. Anyways, I don't think that's the way it works because both systems can be online at the same time with no problems.

Just a second here...if you visit a server with both copies, it's likely (not 100% sure) that you'll be kicked for using the same key twice. As you can imagine, Epic is not informed of your mismatched error, so they aren't to blame if things go wrong.
If I were you, I'd complain about not having received the other copy, because the CD-key is what you actually pay for.

In the worst-case scenario, you could scan your proof-of-payment (whatever it's called) and contact Epic about it, so they at least know you're using the same key on two machines.

Kantham · 30th Mar 2006, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electrolyte

It's not like Micro$oft where using your CD key "disables" it after using it too many times.

Wow that sucks.

hyrulian · 30th Mar 2006, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kantham

Wow that sucks.

Yeah, it's the truth ... you can reinstall on the exact same machine as many times as you want, but if you upgrade enough to the point that Windows doesn't think it's the same PC, it will require manual re-activation, and there's only so many times you can do that before they won't let you anymore.

neilthecellist · 30th Mar 2006, 05:32 PM

Er...where do blacklists fall in this category?

_Lynx · 31st Mar 2006, 12:02 AM

CD-Key is balckilsted only due to EULA infringement by user

30th Mar 2006, 11:35 AM	#1
KoshiJoshi Certified FlakMonkey Join Date: Dec. 13th, 2005 Location: England Posts: 105	CD Key Question (Not Your Usual One) I was reinstalling UT2003 the other day for the second time when I was asked for my CD key, I entered it as seen on the box of the game and when it had been installed I went, out of curiosity, to check if I could still go online I was surprised when I was able to because as far as I knew you cannot use CD keys twice as I had installed UT2003 previously, so we come to my question... How exactly does the CD Key validation system work on UT2003/04? I've been thinking up various theory's but I want cold hard knowledge __________________ I'm Weak For Userbars...

30th Mar 2006, 11:41 AM	#2
Renegade Retard Defender of the newbie Join Date: Dec. 18th, 2002 Location: TX Posts: 6,600	I believe that, as long as the same CD key isn't being used more than once at the same time, then you're fine. I may be wrong, though. __________________ As usual, Ren is right. - Taleweaver www.clanci.net

30th Mar 2006, 11:45 AM	#4
KoshiJoshi Certified FlakMonkey Join Date: Dec. 13th, 2005 Location: England Posts: 105	Do you reckon that every CD has a database/file that holds all the valid CD keys but only allows one of those to be the true assigned online play key for that CD or copy of the game? Im not sure If you get me but that is what I'm thinking __________________ I'm Weak For Userbars...

30th Mar 2006, 01:08 PM	#7
_Lynx Strategic Military Services Join Date: Dec. 5th, 2003 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 1,797	The CD-Key is not used-up after you install the game once - you may install it as many times as you want without any problems. Also - as you already noticed there's a quite common thing that master-server allows two players with the same CD-Key. The CD-Key also defines player's Unique ID (seen in Settings -> Game ). The installer has some simple check - all the key generated by keygens will allow you to install the game but will fail the on-line check, causing master-server to reply that your CD-Key ither invalid or is already in use. The master server makes some more accurate check - this one, I guess really checks the CD-key against the some list, including a blacklist of banned CD-Keys. __________________ Rarely seen, hardly heard, never caught. Steam: _Lynx \| LIVE Gamertag: AryssSkaHara \| Gamespy ID (UT3): AryssSkaHara Vobla UT3 DM/TDM/CTF/JB/Greed Server \| Vobla UT3 Sniper Arena/Bunny Trail Server \| Vobla UT3 Duel Server

30th Mar 2006, 02:23 PM	#9
KoshiJoshi Certified FlakMonkey Join Date: Dec. 13th, 2005 Location: England Posts: 105	Oh right, thanks for clearing that up __________________ I'm Weak For Userbars...

30th Mar 2006, 11:42 AM	#3
virgo47 Waiting for next UT Join Date: Jul. 5th, 2005 Location: Bratislava, Slovakia Posts: 428	I know about the case when at least two players played online on registrated pub server with the same key in the same time with no problem at all. So it is not so strict.

30th Mar 2006, 02:14 PM	#8
Sahkolihaa Ow... Join Date: Dec. 29th, 2004 Location: England Posts: 1,277	It's not like Micro$oft where using your CD key "disables" it after using it too many times.

30th Mar 2006, 05:32 PM	#13
neilthecellist Renegade. Join Date: May. 24th, 2004 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 2,308	Er...where do blacklists fall in this category?

31st Mar 2006, 12:02 AM	#14
_Lynx Strategic Military Services Join Date: Dec. 5th, 2003 Location: Moscow, Russia Posts: 1,797	CD-Key is balckilsted only due to EULA infringement by user __________________ Rarely seen, hardly heard, never caught. Steam: _Lynx \| LIVE Gamertag: AryssSkaHara \| Gamespy ID (UT3): AryssSkaHara Vobla UT3 DM/TDM/CTF/JB/Greed Server \| Vobla UT3 Sniper Arena/Bunny Trail Server \| Vobla UT3 Duel Server

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