Duplicate CD Key Proccess

[steveo_mcg]

Any one have any idea how long it takes valve to sort out duplicate CD issues?

I've just bout l4d from amazon, rip open the shrink rap and to my enormous disappointment its throwing up an error about the cd key being registered to another account.

----------------------------------------- :moderator edit

Word is, Valve is looking into the situation.

Please, if you are experiencing this issue, Contact Support and submit a support ticket.


I receive a "Duplicate CD Key" error when I try to register my CD Key - what should I do?

[fluid_motion]

Please contact Valve support.

Support reference: I receive a "Duplicate CD Key" error when I try to register my CD Key - what should I do?

[steveo_mcg]

Thanks, yeah done that 3 hours ago.
I'm just wondering how long its going to be until i get to play the bloody game.

[Silicon Vampire]

It's the first I've heard of this with L4D. Are you sure you are entering it correctly?

Try leaving out the "_" or putting them in if you haven't previously. Take a magnifying glass to the key and be absolutely certain you are getting the right numbers/letters...

I haven't seen a retail key so all I can say is check for O (cuppercase "oh") and 0 (zero), 1 (one) and l (lowercase L), B and 8, etc...

[dcampbell912]

Bought Left4dead and came home only to have the same message about activation code being allocated to another account. I open the sealed dvd case myself and cannot understand this.

Try as I have i cannot get a welcome email from steam support team although I have set up support account.

Very poor from Valve / Steam - how long should it take to get this welcome email.

[steveo_mcg]

Thats the worst of the key i've got has no characters which could be misinterpreted. I'm just assuming some one has by some fluke entered the wrong key, or some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ has managed to get mine by key gen

[dcampbell912]

Valve should compensate me for this - never witnessed such a load of rubbish in activating a brand new game. I've done nothing wrong and feel i have to prove to them its a legitimate purchase.

Have you registered with Steam Support?

[Silicon Vampire]

First, calm down please. Valve and or EA will take care of this. I understand your frustration, I really do.

Second, you can be sure there are no key generators as the Keys are Random, not produced by any algorithm, as I understand it. It is quite possible that EA has duplicated some keys but that has yet to be determined.

Third, to create a support account, you click on the support link at the top of any forums page, and find and click on "Contacting VALVe Billing and Support". Read carefully and follow the instructions.

Now, it may take some time to get back to you, don't expect an answer within minutes but you should recieve and email confirming that you have submitted a question in a very short time.

As I have said, read each page very carefully to be certain you have actually submitted a question.

I will also bring this thread to Valve's attention for you folks.

[steveo_mcg]

I will also bring this thread to Valve's attention for you folks.

Thanks mate.

So if its just random keys.. should have know better than to deal with EA in any way shape or form, typical

Have you registered with Steam Support?

Yeah i had no problems went through first time, you've checked your spam filter etc?

[kilaan]

I wouldn't blame Steam as much as EA since they handled all the physical distribution. It does happens a lot also, last one was for their latest Command and Conquerer game which was completetly missing the last digit of the CD key. I remember one time I bought a boxed copy of Might and Magic Dark Messiah and it didn't have a manual with the CD key on it! We are talking about 5 copies in the store!

[Marine]

At least HL2 keys used an algorithm, otherwise how does it check them in the installer? (Steam is a differnet thing).

[sarrik]

I had this problem with the SiN Episode 1. I contacted support, sent off the proof then went to get some sleep. Around 5-7 hours, probably.
It was ready in the morning. What surprised me is that it would have been saturday in the US at the time.
Best support I've ever gotten from ANY game company.
Not the nicest problem though.

[Silicon Vampire]

Originally Posted by Marine

At least HL2 keys used an algorithm, otherwise how does it check them in the installer? (Steam is a differnet thing).

Because HL2 has to be online, connected to Steam when installing and it checks against the database of registrable keys. It did not use an algorithm, AFAIK.

[steveo_mcg]

Originally Posted by sarrik

I had this problem with the SiN Episode 1. I contacted support, sent off the proof then went to get some sleep. Around 5-7 hours, probably.
It was ready in the morning. What surprised me is that it would have been saturday in the US at the time.
Best support I've ever gotten from ANY game company.
Not the nicest problem though.

That fills me we with some hope as i'm bushed and off to bed. I've still not heard from them, how long do they usually take? I sent an invoice from amazon and a photo of my cd key with my original inquiry. Maybe just maybe it'll be alright in the morning.

[sarrik]

Originally Posted by steveo_mcg

That fills me we with some hope as i'm bushed and off to bed. I've still not heard from them, how long do they usually take? I sent an invoice from amazon and a photo of my cd key with my original inquiry. Maybe just maybe it'll be alright in the morning.

As long as you have proof of purchase, you should be ok. Hope support is quick with it for ya