Just had to reinstall FSX (have not ever done so before). Now after a time I get a message that my "trial period" is up and I need to activate my FSX. Don't remember ever being prompted to activate during reinstallation. Is there any wy to activate FSX without doing another re-installation >Dave Hinso

It should give you the opportunity to activate, either by phone or online. Look closely.

Try online. If that doesn't work you'll have to activate talking to someone most likely in India or the Philippines. Actually my last time was rather painless, the Microsoft rep spoke pretty fluent English.

Try online. If that doesn't work you'll have to activate talking to someone most likely in India or the Philippines. Actually my last time was rather painless, the Microsoft rep spoke pretty fluent English.

Thanks to you both. I have searched the Microsoft web pages for how to "talk with someone", but can't seem to find it. Also, MS says if you open the program, you should get the product activation wizard, but that does not happen. I am really scratching my head on this one. Some web sites report horrible problems with trying to get this solved (although quite a few are crying for someone to "send them a Product Key :-). I don't know where to turn next. I am fairly computer literate and have been flying FlightSims for nearly 20 years now, but this has me ready to pull ou my hair. I may have to give in and try reinstalling the program again, but am not sure it will work this time either, and would rather not have to go through that misery.Dave Hinson

Just had to reinstall FSX (have not ever done so before). Now after a time I get a message that my "trial period" is up and I need to activate my FSX. Don't remember ever being prompted to activate during reinstallation. Is there any wy to activate FSX without doing another re-installation >Dave Hinso

If you haven't seen this yet, here's a link about the product activation.Best regards,Jim

If you haven't seen this yet, here's a link about the product activation.Best regards,Jim

Did not see the link.I am finally talking with someone at Microsoft, who is trying to tell me it is probably add-ons causing changes in my computer operation ???? :( He said FSX Multiplayer works as well at Squawkbox (one of the add-ons I should not be using ??? :( He could not solve problem, but said a "senior technician" will call me next week to try to work through this problem. ??? :( Meanwhile, I am restricted to 30 minute sessions without PMDG 747 (add-on) or Squawkbox. B) Thanks for the help - this seems to be a fairly frequent problem, according to Web Sites discussing. Lots of anger about the "reactiviation" fiasco.In any case, it was only after I tried my first reinstallation of FSX that this problem occurred. Everything working OK before - not now.Dave Hinson

Did not see the link.Dave Hinson

Sorry about that Dave! I can't believe I forgot to post the link! Here it is - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927007/en-us. It was updated in December. Sorry to hear you haven't found a solution yet. It looks like you're on the right track through your searches.Best regards,Jim

Just had to reinstall FSX (have not ever done so before). Now after a time I get a message that my "trial period" is up and I need to activate my FSX. Don't remember ever being prompted to activate during reinstallation. Is there any wy to activate FSX without doing another re-installation >Dave Hinso

There should be a Phone Activation.xml file in your Flight Simulator X directory with worldwide listings of activation telephone numbers, toll and toll free. As for not being able to use squawk box is a bunch of hogwash.

There should be a Phone Activation.xml file in your Flight Simulator X directory with worldwide listings of activation telephone numbers, toll and toll free. As for not being able to use squawk box is a bunch of hogwash.

Thank you.Yep, hogwash, as my FSX was running well before I had to reinstall with all add-ons.Continuing to try to work with M$ to get going.I am considering getting a Solid State Drive for FSX. Would that help, or would I continue to get the problem.And Jim, I have seen that line, along with MANY others from people who are trying to solve this problemDave Hinson

Just had to reinstall FSX (have not ever done so before). Now after a time I get a message that my "trial period" is up and I need to activate my FSX. Don't remember ever being prompted to activate during reinstallation. Is there any wy to activate FSX without doing another re-installation >Dave Hinso

Sorry you haven't gotten your problem fixed. I don't think it's a problem with FSX but with your OS, whatever that is. You stated you reinstalled FSX. You had to uninstall it first to do that and perhaps you did not clean out everything about FSX in the computer files and registry before reinstalling. You should back up your FSX.cfg and anything else you need and delete everything else. Use a registry cleaner before reinstalling. Make sure you have the latest dotnet installed (think it is 3.5). You should also have the latest 2008 Redistributable for your OS. These programs contain a missing .dll used for installation of software. There's more about this missing dll over at the Windows 7 support forum. Make sure you have update windows turned on or you periodically check for updates and install them. You sound computer literate but some of the computer experts who visit these forums had problems until they found out about this missing dll. I can't recall the exact name of the dll but believe it starts out with ai..... If FSX does not activate automatically (or manually), then reinsert the FSX disks and do a repair. This is a common issue with FSX and the newer OS's. If I can ever find the name of that .dll, I'll pass it along.Best regards, Jim

If I can ever find the name of that .dll, I'll pass it along.Best regards, Jim

Here's the name of the .dll: UIautomationcore.dll. Google or do a search on this forum or in the Windows 7 forum.Best regards,Jim

Here's the name of the .dll: UIautomationcore.dll. Google or do a search on this forum or in the Windows 7 forum.Best regards,Jim

Thanks everybody - I have finally activated FSX :( At M$'s suggestions, I removed all references to FSX in the Registry, removed all add-ons (what a pain :( ), and removed all security programs. But I also remember, at someone's suggestion here, stopping several "unnecessary" M$ services. So I went back and restarted these services, and was able to activate FSX (Joy, Joy :( ). Don't know which of these helped, but maybe anyone else having this problem may learn from my experience. I really believe that stopping services was the problem.Thanks again, everybody.Dave Hinson

Thanks everybody - I have finally activated FSX :( At M$'s suggestions, I removed all references to FSX in the Registry, removed all add-ons (what a pain :( ), and removed all security programs. But I also remember, at someone's suggestion here, stopping several "unnecessary" M$ services. So I went back and restarted these services, and was able to activate FSX (Joy, Joy :( ). Don't know which of these helped, but maybe anyone else having this problem may learn from my experience. I really believe that stopping services was the problem.Thanks again, everybody.Dave Hinson

The best way to stop unnecessary services is to use Game Booster or equivalent. Game booster is free and you run it before starting Flightsim. It will kill all unecessary services. After you have finished with flight sim just tell Game Booster to return to normal mode and it will restore all the services to normal operation. Google to find download site.

If I purchase a NEW computer, will I be able to re-activate FSX with my product current key? I am thinking of ordering a new computer very soon!Jim

Yes, you most certainly can... :(