Project Reality Forums

Hello Ladies and Gents.

After few years of absence in PR world i want to come back and bring few friends with me to play together, unfortunately, wild "Invalid CD KEY" error occurred and ruined everything

I can suspect where the problem lies, but I truly count on You'r professional help. I'm using Windows 8.1 and my PC definitely match the title requirements.

THE problem: Long story short, I had a box version of BF once (long time ago) and I lost CD, but i still have the key. So

1. I've downloaded a BF2 from torrent (I was searching for a possibility to use this key on steam or origiins, but there is no option like this)
2. I installed it (it was already version 1.5)
3. Than I installed PR
4. Updated it properly, created new account etc.
5. and THEN I changed CD-key for my own, original key through regedit

My friend done exactly the same thing (only differance is, that he bought his key in the internet few days ago)

Since then we have the same cd key hash displayed in PR launcher support tab and we can't play on the same server at the same time. I've tried everything, including tips from: https://www.realitymod.com/forum/f27-pr ... valid.html and multiple reinstallations.

YES - i have used all avalible CD key fixers, changers, I've changed CD-KEY in the reg. reinstalled the game (like 10 times), deleted every entry of BF or PR in the reg.

I suspect that PR took cd key hash from the BF2 before I changed it for my own key (there was some pirat-shit key i believe) because I istalled it BEFORE changing key, instead of after (who might know :/), and done the same for my friend, so we have same key hash now.

Please, tell me there is a way to change this bloody PR cd key hash (coz this is the issue - right ?) or we won't be able to play together ... ever ... again ;(

Plus if someone will use the same torrent to play online, I wont be able to join this server either.

I have original CD key, actually bought that game two time already.

Im sorry but that is just not possible. If you have same CD key hash that means you have used the same CD keys.

See here. https://www.realitymod.com/forum/f27-pr ... 2-1-a.html

As i wrote.

First both of us istalled and configured PR, THEN we changed cd keys in reg. So PR precashed first, torrent-source CD KEY (which was probably the same at the moment, coz we didnt changed them yet) and changing it now for a correct one (in reg.) does not change PR cd key hash.

About You'r link. I was trying to put x9... cd key but it does not help, PR cd key hash does not change.

So You are telling me that due to incorrect order of operations during installation of PR we won't be able to play together anymore, and I'll not be able to join a server, if a ********* with a pirat cd key is playing of it ?

Help ... anyone ?

Also i heard that PR assign cd keys to machine specyfication or MAC adress of netword adapter, and changing these parameters could result in rechecking actual cd key by PR launcher and new PR cd key hash number.

Can someone confirm that please ?

I dont know about that thing, but the old way was hashing based on CD keys. So make sure the key is in proper registry entry, cause invalid registry entry will not change a thing.

If youre using a 64bit system a key has to be in Wow6432node subset, if using 32bit it doesnt.

Also a version of game you have downloaded matters a lot, because of registry entries. If its a NOSTEAM release it may be a steam used value for cd key which I dont know where is to be looked at, if its not its a default one as I described in my post.

Anything beyond that and PR dev or support team that has knowledge about any custom changes has to assist.

Thank You very much for Your time.

I'll try to change reg. once again when I'll be back at home. Im not sure if I changed the entry under Wow6432node subset path.

Yes, first version I've downloaded was NoSteam version, but after that, I uninstalled it and was trying with other, clean and normal 1.0 BF2 install version, where it asked me about CD key in order to install it.

"it may be a steam used value for cd key" its a very good trace, I'll investigate around it

THANKS ONCE MORE !

If anyone have any additional information that might help, please let me know.

You can not change your CD Key with 1.0. The CD Key you used initially is now locked to your machine.

So if they used the same CD key while installing that would mean they are both stuck, and only way to fix it is to reinstall windows and everything, or change network adapter?

Just curious. PM me with answer if its not for the public.

I would be greatfull for this information too, PM is far more then enough.

Reinstalling windows will help, network adapters should have no influence as far as I know.

BloodyDeed wrote:Reinstalling windows will help, network adapters should have no influence as far as I know.

Are you serious now? Am I supposed to reinstall Windows just because I forgot to enter my honestly bought CD-key in regedit before launching PR?

you don't need to do all that. Just follow my post, worked for me. I don't know what all this locked to the machine talk is... would that not be a violation of the EULA since they included a tool to change your key... wouldn't blocking this entail changing the the hardcode... aka violating EULA?

Hey Vobbit. Thank you for reaching out.
I've tried to change the key via regedit multiple times on different stages of installation but the PRLauncher just doesn't give a fuck and shows the same key hash every time.

So, any response to this? How do i change the key that comes with installation to mine?

You can use the keychanger program in the Program Files\BF2 directory.
There isn't much to it.
Make sure you run PRLauncher as an admin.

Thanks for trying to help, Litoralis.
The problem is no matter how times i change the key, PRLauncher-Support/Keys tab shows the same key hash every time.
I've tried to change the key via regedit (ergc entry), via various KeyChangers, and via PRLaucher (after deleting ergc branch in regedit) to no avail.

Are you using an Administrator Account to log into Windows?
You might want to create a new Windows Account with ADministrator privileges, log in with new account, then try again.

Do you have 3rd party "registry protection software" running?

I do indeed run all operations with admin privileges.
Also i'm using Process Monitor to see all the registry operations by PRLauncher.exe.
Every time I change the key in PRLauncher it seems to succesfully complete an operation like this one: but the hashes in Keys tab remain the same.

So the solution is:
1. Set your PC clock forward a few days
2. Change the key
3. Restore the clock

will that work cause im having the same problem at the moment