Marian

I hope you can help I received the games from Rob finally and loaded the above game in
But I keyed in the ativation code that follows Z2-2CVAV3-9ZV2UA-RAYMMR-6Y54A8
but it would not take the code it said code failed
could you contact rob and ask him what I can do its kind of frustrating

Thank you

Bluto

William

Where did you get this activation code? Was it with the disk? What game is this/

It is the CD/DVD version of Testament of Sherlock Holmes. A fellow GameBoomer (Rob in the Netherlands) sent it to Bluto via a Trading Post deal some weeks back.

I am not familiar with the particular ins and outs of this activation code. Maybe someone else will be able to offer assistance here.

I will send you Rob's email address by sending you a private message, if you care to write to him about it.

I guess what I meant was, was this activation code inside the CD holder? In a manual? Just on a slip of paper?

I've looked everywhere and can't find any issues unless you downloaded the game from Steam. People were having issues with the downloaded game requiring a key code, but it appears that was solved.

I did find something that indicated sometimes key codes are issued for specific countries, but I have no idea if that's the case here.

There's a manual here if it helps any of you to help Bluto

http://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/205650/manuals/SH6_manual_ENG.pdf

Hi oldbroad


The ativation code or product key as they call it was inside the jacket the game came in

I assumed thats what they were asking for I could be wrong

Thank You

Bluto

Bluto, that sounds like the right place to have found it and it is probably the activation key. Usually they are case sensitive, so if it's given in capital letters, make sure you are entering capital letters. I just can't think of anything else.

If it still doesn't work, try following the instructions given in that manual oldbroad posted for problems with the activation code.

My manual for the DVD version says you have to be connected to the internet during the activation process.

Thanks, Uncle Reg. That's what it says in the link to a manual oldbroad posted too.

Hello Everyone,


I wish I had been informed of this problem you have.
Haven't visited Boomers for some days.

Activation codes were nothing out of the ordinary here.
Many games had them
(a copyright protection)
(I personally did not like it much, always having to install a game that way)
All I can say is that you have to be carefull to exactly typ in the
letters and numbers that are given, capital letters being typed as capitels
end so forth. And , of course being connected to the internet.

Please let me know if you have or haven't succeeded in installing the game.

Good Luck, Rob

Also, Rob suggested this in the Games thread of the Trading Post forum:

And if all else fails, this game has several No CD/DVD fix which would probably bypass the need of a code, I only mention this because the game you have you obtained is legit. I have 2 of these No CD/DVD fixes on my Hard Drive.

Anyway, best of luck getting your game going.

Bluto just sent me this update:

I'm still wondering if there is a country thing.

Sorry to be late to the party, but this is a known issue with the game since it was released. It was to prevent boot legging since they have fallen victim to pirating too often. The game was specifically listed on our "do not trade" list stickied in the Trading Post here.

There is no legal work-around.

Sorry, Ana! This passed us all by. Thanks for jumping in and letting us know.

Well, that solves that! I was stumped.

I had forgotten about this as well, since it was a long time ago,
but as I practically gave the game away and there
is also the install problem as well, it seems to be the best thing
yust to forget about the game.

In a way
this message from Browneyedtigre solves the problem
of the install complications (It's too complicated! )

Rob

Well Bluto that is a shame, even though me and my buddy in which we each own the CD or is it DVD version can still play it but you can't, so sorry for you, But you can always get it on Steam or GOG although depending on your Game budget it would be wise to wait for a sale because at both places they are selling if for $26.99 and for me aka The Miser, is Too much for a 10 Year Old game.
Again, best of luck on your decision.

Bluto has had bad experiences with game downloads and does not want to buy them that way; therefore he has been looking for CD/DVD games in the Trading Post. I have told him, though, that it is going to become increasingly difficult to find and play a lot of games without being willing to purchase and play the download versions on offer.

Don't think I had an install problem with my dvd copy . When I found out it was available on GOG , I downloaded & played from that . no serial numbers to type in .

I believe the issue was that you cannot install this game on a different computer. Bluto does not do downloads, so that's not an option for him. Personally, I love them. It's the only way I got to play Shivers 1 again!

Remember you saying that . Also agree, physical copies are getting more difficult to find by the day . Seems that these days , dvd & cd copies of games are done as a favor , if you will . I was on Newegg recently , desktop cases with dvd/cd drive slots are quite rare . As I have a sizeable collection of dvd & cd games , I've gone to fan replacement in my current case , so I'm able to still use dvd drives .

I just got a high end BD exterior drive.

Was always more fond of interior drives myself . That , & desk space for me is at a bit of a premium . I have my tower , monitor , modem , keyboard , mouse , mouse pad , & headphone amps sharing space .

Just curious Bluto, did you find a way to get the game going? Or did you just simply throw the game into the garbage?

Starcom, there is no way to get the game going. Only the original owner can use the code. And most likely only the original computer.

Ah! Capiche! Most likely then the game ended up in the Gaw-bage

And what a shame they used that kind of restrictive DRM!

I too am having difficulty with activating this game. It is my own DVD purchased when the game came out and I've played it in the past but uninstalled it. I installed it again and when I tried to play the game I had to Enter the Activation & Player Key from a label inside the box.

I entered the number which triggered a pop up 'ActControl Software Activation Service' with boxes labelled 'Serial Number' (same Activation Key number from the box) and 'Hardware Code'. It says to copy those and obtain an Activation Key on the website or email the publisher and it gives the website address and email address neither of which work. The interchangeable use of Serial number and Activation Key wording is very frustrating and why do I have to obtain a Key when I already have it?

I think this game is heading to the bin.

You are probably better off getting the game on GOG or Steam. And if you wait for a sale, it will be an even better price. For not that much money it will eliminate all the aggravation.

Sorry, blackbird, but the bin is probably the best place for this game. As Marian says, get this one at GOG or Steam on sale.

Just because I am stubborn -

When you launch the game a popup with a heading something like ActControl asks that you enter your key/code. Not sure if I selected Manually or Automatically, but I got another popup with the previously entered key/code and another code which I think said Hardware and links which didn't work. Copy those two numbers in case you want to try a workaround.

After much googling I found that 'PC gaming Wiki' DRM has an amazing amount of helpful information including that ActControl are "No longer functional as of late 2022 and unactivated games require a no-CD patch to bypass the activation check, or use this StarForce servers as a workaround." So that is why we can't activate the game with our player key.

I did try StarForce website and obtained a key from them (after mis-entering my numbers so many times because my brain is fried) but I don't know where to enter it as the only option is in that ActControl box which doesn't work.


I am inching closer to the garbage bin with this game. I decided not to buy it from Steam or GOG as it is about $30NZD ($18USD) and I am saving to upgrade my computer.

Man, you did get down in the weeds! Yeah, Starforce is one of the more unpleasant forms of DRM from back in the day. Maybe there will be a sale one day.

Steam and GOG should be having their Summer Sales soon so check the prices then, around the beginning of July.

Thanks, oldbroad!

There is a no CD|DVD fix for this game which might bypass the problem you are having, worth a try before burning your game.

thanks Draclvr and oldbroad, I'll make a note to check the summer sales.
thanks too to Starcom, I saw that option on PC Gaming Wiki and looked into it but couldn't understand how that works.

WOW oldbroad was right there is now a summer sale announced by Orion, there is an
82% Off sale and this game you are trying to play in Canadian dollars which the regular price is $26.99 NOW on Sale for $4.89, so I do not know how much that would be for you but I would imagine a good enough discount? for you?

Yeah, I just noticed also that GOG's sale is starting. I thought it started a little later in the month. I think Steam's starts towards the end of the month. Hopefully blackbird will be able to get the game!

hi all. Thanks oldbroad, I too noticed Orion's post that the GOG sale is on. Have just purchased The Testament of SH for $6NZD so I am looking foward to playing. I think this game is gamepad compatible too.

Excellent, blackbird! Have fun with the game without endless tinkering! I have several games which I purchased on CD, but will not run because of DRM or other reasons. I got them from GOG and LOVE being able to play them again. Shivers 1 comes to mind!

That sale on GOG was perfect timing, blackbird!