I have FSX running OK now for a year or more, then today I see that it's asking for the Activation routine. I tried to do this with the bar code info from the box, but get another message that "activation server could not be reached". There's an option for phone activation, but when I try this is get an error mesage "Failed to retrieve the product installation ID", and that "reinstalling the product may resolve this problem".Has anyone seen this and been able to get around doing a re-install? Or dows anyone know what is happening? I do run AVG anti-virus every night, and XSoftSpy SE, have been for ages with no issues, other than that no changes to my PC that I know about.Thanks, Bruce.

I have FSX running OK now for a year or more, then today I see that it's asking for the Activation routine. I tried to do this with the bar code info from the box, but get another message that "activation server could not be reached". There's an option for phone activation, but when I try this is get an error mesage "Failed to retrieve the product installation ID", and that "reinstalling the product may resolve this problem".Has anyone seen this and been able to get around doing a re-install? Or dows anyone know what is happening? I do run AVG anti-virus every night, and XSoftSpy SE, have been for ages with no issues, other than that no changes to my PC that I know about.Thanks, Bruce.

This link might fix your problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/960481/.Best regards,Jim Young

This link might fix your problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/960481/.Best regards,Jim Young

Thanks Jim, appreciate your reply.I seem to have fixed it with a simple re-boot, at least it's working OK now. I had another application fail today too, a networked HP printer, which wasn;t quite so lucky and needed a re-install, however I have lost this printer before after a spyware scan using XsoftSpy SE, and this same spyware had run overnight last night. I don;t know if it messed with FSX but has done so twice now with the printer, so it may be put in the "hanger" soon :) . The files that it picks up and asks to delete have no reference at all to FSX or an HP printer.I am saving this link so that if I have another incident that isn't as easily fixed I will have this resource- thanks again.Bruce.