Just today I tried to activate FSX online and was told i'd reached the limit of activations...had to phone MS (toll free) to get it activated.

 

Despite the inconveniance there wasn't any issue...not surprisingly it sounded like the call centre was in India...I just wonder if they reset the number of activations or whether this is going to be an issue everytime!!!

 

I think I must have done atleast 20+ activations in the last 5 years...

 

 

cheers Russ

Scary...

 

Reactivating on a new PC (you already have FSX on your old PC) will deplete the reactivation allowance. You may even find that reactivating on an upgraded PC with big enough changes to the hardware can also deplete the count. When the count is [fully] depleted the registration code won't work.

 

Regards

Steve

One day the activation servers *will* shut down for good and the only way to re-install the sim will be to resort to illegal methods (it's also illegal to tamper with the registry in order to circumvent activation). However that time is not now.

Activations reset itself after certain length of time read about it a couple months back. Once the time rest lapse can just enter the activation key.

Microsoft could not be so stupid as to stop activation for a product that they still manage a webpage for and sell in stores. By them stopping activation copies they would be legitimizing all the current illicit torrents and FSX would be the best Free to play flight simulator, I don't think this is gonna happen.

My advice - if you still want to use MSFS / ESP, but even on a more modern / stable platform, migrate to LM P3D.

 

I've done it some months ago, with the Academic license, and although I have re-installed ( and latter uninstalled ) FSX again from GFWL, I am perfectly at home with P3D.

 

It is smoother, better looking, runs all of my FSX add-ons without a glitch, and I am supporting version 2 ( so I hope ).

 

I've seen simmers trying to ask for a relight of flight simulation at MS - honestly, forget about it!!!!  For me they killed all of my expectations and respect with what they've done to MS FLIGHT.

Just throwing another theory out there:

 

Could it just be that this is some 'sensationalist news' for a fledgling FS Site and forum, that is trying to increase its' exposure and web-traffic.

So far ... no-one can confirm that they cannot validate their FSX install (quite the opposite), and the anti-sense argument has been made quite clearly.

 

Just saying ... if it smells like  ....  it might just be.

I personally wouldn't worry about this, even if they are dumb enough to get rid of the activation system while a lot of people still use FSX there will still always be alternative and at least ethically appropriate ways of activating it, after all if you have legally bought the product you should be able to activate it by any means necessary no matter what anyone says.

 

I bet when the activation finally becomes impossible some day 99.9% of current FSX users will be already using something else. 

 

Until someone shows a proof of authentication  / activation not working I don't buy this story. 

How do you actually move over to a new PC with a new install? Is it a ordinary uninstall and then activatino of the new install on the new rig?

Just install on the new rig. There is a possibility that after several years between PCs, the reregister count won't be depleted.

The situation is as suspected. Activations are still possible thru at least 2 mechanisms. Thanks to all who replied for taking the time to confirm their experiences.

I guess ill turn to the dark side to resolve this issue if needs be...

They still allow activations of flightsim 2004?

1. FS 2004 does not require on-line activation, just Disk 4 in the CD/DVD drive.

 

2. Wish the chicken littles would go away.

 

 

 

How do you actually move over to a new PC with a new install? Is it a ordinary uninstall and then activatino of the new install on the new rig?

 

 

 

Just install on the new rig. There is a possibility that after several years between PCs, the reregister count won't be depleted.

No. Uninstall ALL your software with software licenses, e.g., MS Office, FSX, Photoshop.

 

In Adobe Illustrator, if you don't deactivate it before you uninstall it, you lose the license. Of course, Adobe is not greedy so via phone they give you a new activation, but it's still a pain that can be avoided. A relative of mine forgot to uninstall Office 2007 (Which gives you 3 licenses per box) when he reinstalled Windows and when he went to activate it, it said he had reached the maximum number of activations (the other 2 were being used already).