Hi guys,

 

I bought P3D the other night and installed it, was quite impressed with the improved stock visuals and sharpness of textures. However on cleaning up my system in preparation of P3D the previous day I uninstalled a lot of things, some wouldn't uninstall correctly so I used various cleaner tools like Hijackthis and manually removing some entries from 'windows uninstall' section of the registry as they wouldnt delete from Add/Remove Programs. The short of it is I damaged my Windows 7 installation resulting in getting invalid key errors when installing other utilities, tried fixing to no avail. I was considering a complete format anyhow so this made up my mind.

 

Disappointed so far with the lack of support from Lockheed, I emailed their licensing support dept explaining and giving my details about 19 hrs ago, also posted on their official forum (prior to realising they had a direct email service) and had zero response. I bought into the product as so many said about their great support but after a prominant member of staff left the other day I'm wondering are they stuck.

 

Anyone got any tips? Just frustrated as I want to use the sim and whilst FSX had its issues at least reactivation was done via a server or automated telephone system.

 

Chris Ibbotson

So,did you do a clean Windows7 install? Is everything working including FSX since it is needed if you intend to use Orbx. Once W7 is running, with the dozens of updates in, then P3D $40 version should install without issues. Since P3D is the new kid on the block I would first get FSX working since they are VERY similar.

I have no intention of using FSX again so wont be reinstalling it, P3D can only be installed ONCE, a reinstall requires your license to be reset, that requires an email to [email protected], I've now sent 2 emails after waiting almost 20hrs, bit worrying that it takes so long. I can't understand how when you purchase it you get license codes etc within seconds but getting it reset requires waiting on a member of support to carry it out. Yes my OS is fully installed and updated, P3D has been reinstalled but wont activate as it says it needs reset by Lockheed Martin

 

Chris Ibbotson

Give them a chance, Chris..They usually take around 48 hours to re-key your license..after all, they aren't all sat there waiting for us lot to break stuff so they can re-issue licenses ..

 

They do have good support, but they are a huge company..Imagine if you were waiting for a national utility or telecoms company to get back to you

 

I have had to reset my license three times now (because I am incompetent) and in every case they came back to me within 48 hours (which I think is OK) they do have a section on their forum saying please give them a good bit of advance notice to request licenses

 

best

 

jake

Thanks Jake, I guess I've just discovered I can be impatient :Nail Biting: They've just emailed saying they have reset it so all's well now :Party:

P3D can only be installed ONCE, a reinstall requires your license to be reset, that requires an email to [email protected],

 

This isn't entirely true. I've uninstalled and reinstalled Prepar3D countless times during my "let's see what breaks it" phase of using it and never once had to re-activate my key. I think the only time that applies if you do a complete reinstall of windows, install on a new machine, or in OPs case mess up Windows which probably deleted an identifying registry key that locked it to that machine.

 

Everything I've read LM is great w/ tech support and gets back to people within a day or two (not counting weekends). One or two days for tech support is lightning fast. I know many software developers who can take weeks to have a human being reply to you.

The activation process save an "image" (for lack of other words) of the machine where P3D is being installed. It very likely saves: processor type, memory, video card, hdd, etc. If any of these components is changed, then you will be asked to reactivate the software. Othewise, the software will activate normally.

 

It is a common anti-piracy measure.