Annoying stuff. Luckily I haven't had to do the phonecall. I just bought the Gold edition, so I guess I won't have to.

I've installed it many times on a couple of different machines and it's always activated.I have had to use the telephone activation system when reinstalling Windows on my laptop though, but if the FSX system is anything like that it's dead easy. From what I recall all you have to do is listen to the automated voice talk you through entering loads and loads of numbers in sets. That's it!

Sorry for digging a month old thread up, but I just started to reinstall an older copy of FSX and am getting the activation limit error. I tried to call, but couldn't get a real person. I gave the automated guy my install ID and then he asks how many windows vistas I've installed. I don't know why he asks about windows vista, I haven't used that in forever and it has nothing to do with FSX. I told him how many times I installed FSX and then he simply tells me I have to buy a new copy. Any tips on how to get a real person to talk to? I've gone through telephone activation before with a person for older copies of windows and it was painless. The automated stuff is BS.

I once heard that if you whistle or sing on the phone it confuses the speech recognition and you'll be transferred to a human being. Haven't tried that myself though.

I once heard that if you whistle or sing on the phone it confuses the speech recognition and you'll be transferred to a human being. Haven't tried that myself though.

I kept saying operator, but then it just went to the canned response saying they couldn't verify my install ID and it hung up. Very lame system.

Guys, I am locking this thread.I have deleted a couple of answers we do not wish to see here.Thanks for understanding.