So I purchased an upgrade that was supposed to make my FSX enjoyment go up, but sadly it's been quite the opposite so far. After installing a new motherboard, processor and RAM I was able to get Windows happy with replacement drivers etc, but when I launched FSX I received an ugly activation error. The activation wizard never comes up to "re-activate" and none of the solutions I've found so far have helped. Anyone battled their way to a solution here?

Try again. If that doesn't work contact Microsoft to get a new activation.

 

This is a deliberate security feature.

I don't think that it is deliberate that the activation wizard does not even start allowing you a chance to activate.

 

At any rate, after trying the few more complicated methods such as modifying a listed registry key and even a system restore, I came across a brilliantly simply solution. I simply ran a "change" on Acceleration from Add/Remove programs. It reset something and allowed the activation wizard to pop up, which I then completed and everything works again. Thanks to this kind poster for the clue.

 

http://forum.simflight.com/topic/52059-acceleration-activation-error-try-this/#entry367898