problem running GalCiv2

from GalCiv2 Forums
OK, I purchased the download from Stardock and downloaded it to an external HD. Once I plug the HD up to my own comp, however, I get this error message:

The product appears to be validated but the product serial number or the machine ID don't match.

so.. how do I play it? to clarify, my mom's comp has internet and mine is (maybe) able to play GalCiv. So I used an external HD, thinking that would be the only way to do it.

is it something I'm supposed to do, or is there a patch or hack or something that'll let me play?
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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
First, delete the file sig.bin in the directory on the drive where you installed GC2 at. To then activate the game on a computer that is not connected, follow these steps:

1) Start the game; you will get a prompt for your serial and email. Provide them and continue.
2) It will fail to activate (of course) and ask if you'd like to activate by email. Click Yes.
3) Copy the subject line and big block of letters into a text file, or into your email program, and save it off to portable media (CDR, USB drive, floppy, etc).
4) Take it to a web-connected PC and send an email to activate@stardock.com with that subject line and content.
5) You should receive a reply with a file and some instructions; take the file back to the non-connected PC and you should be set to go.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
um... I did activate it. I plugged the drive back into my mom's comp and activated it normally. it successfully activated, then (naturally- my mom's comp is ancient) complained about all sorts of graphics issues (desktop color, display drivers). I put it back on my comp, and got said error message.

however, I do not know what sig.bin is. Is the file you mentioned(the one stardock sent me) sig.bin? should I still delete it? I'm going to move it to desktop and post what happens.

edit: OK sig.bin is the activation for the product, bcos it asked me to activate it. t3h problem still persists.

It is possible for me to hook up and install an internet on my comp if only temporarily, to download it directly to my HD. I just hope there's an easier solution.

:/
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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Doing the steps noted above is neccessary because when you activate, it generates that sig.bin file to tell the game it is in fact activated. However, any particular activation will only work on the computer you did it on. So you can activate it all you like on other computers, but it won't run on yours unless you actually go through the process above (or get internet on your computer).

If you can get internet on your computer, that would work just as well. You can install it direct to your machine with SDC (though that means redownloading it), or just plug in the drive, delete the sig.bin off it, then run and activate the game ON YOUR COMPUTER.

If you install online through SDC it activates it automatically.

It bears repeating: if you activate GC2 on a particular computer, it iwll then be able to run only on *that* computer. If you want to activate the same installation elsewhere, you need to delete sig.bin and activate it there, be it online or the slow way outlined above.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
aaaah thanks SO much. email activating now so I can kick DreadLord butt.


Good luck those Dread Lords are some tough bastards.