You won't like this!After waiting 64 minutes to talk to MS support, and after explaining my situation/problem (with having to keep activating FSX - 4 times now), I was told the following.Quote:"If you make a change to your computer that causes the Hardware ID to change, you will have to reactivate FSX."Now, this in my opinion would be reasonable (I have stated this in other threads) IF, IF, I were to change a piece of hardware. I am used to having to reactivate Windows XP and MS Office because of this. Like I said, this is reasonalble. I don't have a problem with this.BUT, now, if you make a "driver" change... you know, like we are supposed to... to make things work correctly, you will HAVE to reactivate FSX. Can you believe this?Yes, if you will search the posts here you will find that I was defending the activation process saying that it would just take a "bit" of time to make the call and read the numbers and put the numbers in... but that is when I thought it would only happen when I made a hardware change.I need to have a drink now! :)If anyone doubts me, I will be glad to send you my "case number" so you can verify my story.

Join the club. I too was very optimistic about the CD-Key process and thought that the problems would be rare and only on certain PC's. Well, I am now in the process of re-installing my OS just to get FSX back.My problem started when I simply added an IBM USB Card reader to be able to access various card types (SD, mini SD, MMC, etc). The install went great but I didn't like the ultility to manage the thing so I uninstalled it.When I started FSX I got a message saying that there was something wrong with the program and something about activation. I tried re-activating via the DVD - no worky. I tried un-installing and re-installing. The re-install fails on the 2nd DVD.So, I am re-installing XP/SP2 because I don't know what else to do. I don't think I can wait on hold for very long with the prospect of having to re-install the OS anyway.Considering the price of FSX I don't mind doing this once, but if I am faced with this again I will certainly go back to FS9 until someone finds a more permanent solution.Meanwhile, others should be aware that possibily some simple OS changes may cause them to end up here as well.I wonder how many others have experienced this so far. I've only heard of a few.Good luck with Support. I'll simply start all over.By the way, I am loyal FS fan with many years of computer and networking experience (Windows 2000 MCSE, CNA, etc.) I don't usually gripe but this is very frustrating.Regards,

I feel for ya Ken... here... you need this drink more than I do! :)

No, changing drivers should not cause you to need to reactivate. In fact changing some pieces of hardware should not cause you to reactivate. You have to change enough stuff to break the hardware ID difference threshold in order to force an activation. The hardware ID calculation is the same technology that's used in Office and Windows.

I think this is a different problem than the hardware id threshold. Support should be able to help you without blowing away Windows XP if you want to avoid flattening and re-installing.

We should be able to update our drivers all day long and not have to reactivate FSX. Everyone that this happens to should make sure that you call support. I learned a long time ago that calling support does wake up Microsoft. They may not respond as fast as you want, but in the long run people reporting problems does have an affect. If activation truely becomes a problem it will be fixed.XP activation is a lot more lenient now then it was originally. I've had to call Support at midnight before in the middle of a motherboard upgrade. I was not very happy with MS when that happened. I've replaced two motherboards since then and haven't had to call them.Bruce

>No, changing drivers should not cause you to need to>reactivate. In fact changing some pieces of hardware should>not cause you to reactivate. You have to change enough stuff>to break the hardware ID difference threshold in order to>force an activation. The hardware ID calculation is the same>technology that's used in Office and Windows.Thanks Brian. What do you think is happening with a growing number of users having activation problems? I have not had much time to use my PC or FSX after the intitial install. The only change I made was the installation and uninstallation of the USB Card Reader. Absolutely no other changes. I'm perplexed and puzzled. I purchased FSX a week or more before the official release and it's worked without problems since then.Anyway, I see others have come up with a workaround for re-activation. If this happens again I'll give that a try. I used Ghost to get my PC back up and am ready to re-install FSX.Regards,

I think a small percentage of people are running into the issue you had, and another small chunk are actually changing hardware enough to trip the activation. But the small percentage are quite vocal and rightfully so.

All I can say is I changed my drivers and didn't have to reactivate.Pietro.

After reading these posts, I too am having a problem with installing it. I received a Video card and installed it, it ran pretty good for a week. I started to have problems with the Video card after I installed FSX. I rolled back to my old card and I start getting error messages about needing to reinstall FSX and Then FSX won't install again. It stops after the second disk.I'm going to get another Video card because that one was bad. I bought FSX and now can't use it. I flew it twice.I hope that support lets me reinstall after this next upgrade.I surely don't look forward to reinstalling Windows XP after I get it to install again.This is a really big pain in the .....Joe WatsonFREEflow sceneries

While I feel for you all those who do get activation problem. Here is another story from the other end of the spectrum. On 15th at my regular games shop I saw a copy of FSX deluxe and promptly picked it up for equialent of $26 in my currency, not able to wait for my friends to send from US. Came home, installed in my new rig and was happy in tweaking geeking. Then I noticed these activation posts in avsim. Hey! mine did not ask for any activation!! Whats happening? Anyways the short story I was sold an illegal copy and local MS office verified the FSX was not launched in India then and by jove these fellas have become sophisticated. The box is good ( Like AOE3 box) and the print quality of the cover pictures just like the original. There is no way a casual buyer will make out that it is illegal. Previously I could identify pirated ones by the offset print quality of the cover and things like that but not this one. Add to it the general trend for big software companies to sell at special prices in India to discourage pirating, I thought I got a good deal.Now my question is:1. Am I a pirate? I paid for the software and how am i supposed to know its illegal? It was by chance that I saw those activation problem in avsim else I would have never known. 2. How could the pirates release such a quality stuff on the shelves on 15th. when even the official launch was on 17th in US? Where did they get the software? 3. Whats the point in having such an activation method which fellas break and bypass so easily and con us?Luckily for me my friend did send the copy and I unintalled and re-installed a legal one but I lost $26 dollars to conmen.

1. Either yes or no depending on one's view of the uiverse.2. The full version, including a no-activation work-around, was downloadable on the web around October 9 so it's not surprising that a boxed version was available on the 15th.3. The point depends on one's view of the universe.Doug

>1. Either yes or no depending on one's view of the uiverse.>>2. The full version, including a no-activation work-around,>was downloadable on the web around October 9 so it's not>surprising that a boxed version was available on the 15th.>>3. The point depends on one's view of the universe.>>Doug Alongside Doug, I venture trhe suggestion that, having become an ownwer of a legitimate, licensable copy of the software, there is no further need to use it and have to go through the reactivation hassles. ;) Clearly, that sends a better message to MS than any amount of telephonng customer support. Once again, the pirates have cracked the MS protection system, leaving ONLY the legitimate customer to suffer? Just how is that in any way fair? Just buy a genuine copy, never install it, or even unwrap it. Then buy a copy that doesn't need activation and let the complicated universe sort itself out because you are legal as you have complied with the terms of purchase, if not the terms of use. You have purchased a legitimate copy for yor personal use. If you have bought sofware but NOT installed it, you are not subject to the EULA. Simple really. Best of both worlds. Allcott

Just say #### with Microsoft, and uae the FS2004 with some add-onsand enjoy some good flying,there are not good write ups on Amazon.comfrom the folks that have got this sim!! The folks that make add-onsno more about SIM software sometimes then Microsoft, anyway there planes are alot better!!!

Hi Brian,Good to see you around here.But I do beg to differ on the fact that driver upgrades alone do not invoke a re-activation:http://forums.avsim.net/dcboard.php?az=sho...id=364404&page=As they say, if I hadn't seen (done) it, I wouldn't believe it. These were the very same drivers that I re-installed (after first uninstalling them, and running Driver Cleaner to remove all prior remnants of the previous drivers, as most people here likely do). The only difference may have been DirectX, as my installer downloaded the most recent version from the MS site, and I'm not sure if that was later than either my original install of DX, or what comes with FSX, assuming that FSX updated DX.I have yet to try the 3rd install, which will inevitably occur as either I hunt down this issue on my PC, or just update drivers as we all do here regularly.Thanks, I hope that you can help us,Bruce.