So... my game didn't come with a cd key...

**Giuliano Taverna** · January 20, 2009, 09:33 AM

what do I do? I have the box, and the bar code, I just can't use my game without the CD key.

**D.B. Cooper** · January 20, 2009, 11:43 AM

Is this a legitimate copy of the game?

**S-te-Fan** · January 20, 2009, 12:18 PM

Well.. if you install the game. You can do it like this 11111-11111-11111-11111

As long if the number is the same it will instal. The only problem is that you can't play online.

**Giuliano Taverna** · January 21, 2009, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by stefaneke

Well.. if you install the game. You can do it like this 11111-11111-11111-11111

As long if the number is the same it will instal. The only problem is that you can't play online.

I just tried that, it didn't work. The next button was grayed out.

**Giuliano Taverna** · January 21, 2009, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by D.B. Cooper

Is this a legitimate copy of the game?

Yes, it just doesn't have the key, for whatever reason.

**Soulghast** · January 20, 2009, 12:50 PM

The CD key comes in the back page of your Game Manual, which should normally come along with your game. If the game is legally bought from a retail store, it should have it. If not, ask for a replacement.

**irishron** · January 20, 2009, 01:09 PM

My CD-key is inside the case right above the dvds. You got the case, you got the number.

**Giuliano Taverna** · January 21, 2009, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by Soulghast

The CD key comes in the back page of your Game Manual, which should normally come along with your game. If the game is legally bought from a retail store, it should have it. If not, ask for a replacement.

the back of my game manual is a large advertisement for the total war box set. the page before that is a blank note page.

Its the gold addition with kingdoms.

I got it from game stop last April, I'm not sure if I can return it now.

**Chevalier IX** · January 21, 2009, 11:23 AM

I have had a similar problem with Age of Empires 3 from Gamestop in the past.for whatever reason some editions of Medieval come with the cd key on a seperate card inside the case and when gamestop goes through their processing of the pc game sin the store they remove everything from the case and place them in seperate storage bags so as to display the case with no risk of theft.there is a good chance that someone either forgot to give you the key card or lost it during the process...go in and make enough noise and they should let you switch it out for the same title.

**Giuliano Taverna** · January 21, 2009, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Ikusa IX

I have had a similar problem with Age of Empires 3 from Gamestop in the past.for whatever reason some editions of Medieval come with the cd key on a seperate card inside the case and when gamestop goes through their processing of the pc game sin the store they remove everything from the case and place them in seperate storage bags so as to display the case with no risk of theft.there is a good chance that someone either forgot to give you the key card or lost it during the process...go in and make enough noise and they should let you switch it out for the same title.

I'll try, but somehow I imagine I will get, we are sorry but there is nothing we can do.

**irishron** · January 21, 2009, 09:32 PM

Your other option as long as your have your original receipt from Gamestop is to contact Sega support, explain the situation to them with all the details, and see if they'll take care of the situation. Where I live and just bringing it back almost a year later, they would show you the door thinking you burnt a copy.

**S-te-Fan** · January 21, 2009, 12:49 PM

If you're next button is grayed out then you should use a different number Like 20*1's or 25*1's. I don't really know how much you should do it...

**Squid** · January 22, 2009, 09:43 AM

Just a general reminder, any discussion of violating copy protections is against the ToS, violation of this will be punished, so don't do it.

**Soulghast** · January 23, 2009, 11:45 AM

I'm sorry, have you had the game since April, and you only now noticed it didn't come with a CD key? I don't know what your options are at this point, as I doubt you will be able to return it after so much time. You really should have looked at the problem then, so you could perhaps get a replacement. Now, it appears the only thing you can do is go buy another copy of the game, if you still wish it.

**Giuliano Taverna** · May 17, 2009, 11:09 AM

Ok that worked, but recently I had to reinstall my copy do to modding, and when I tried loading it into the program files folder I got this error.

I'm not sure what to do about this.

**irishron** · May 17, 2009, 11:54 AM

Where did you buy it? Did you check your discs visually to make sure they are free of scratches, dirt, finger prints, cracks in the plastic, etc.? What other programs have you installed before and since your first install?

**HolyDevil** · May 17, 2009, 11:57 AM

Well from that image the problem is due to the cd being in bad shape, most certanlyit has a deep cut or something similiar, check it, if its not, then is ur DVD/CD reader that has problems
in any case try to remove the cd and put it back in....

**Gigantus** · May 17, 2009, 12:41 PM

cyclic redundancy = messed up file, usually on a CD. Most of the time due to damage of the disk. Try copying the whole disk onto your hard drive. If you get the same error, then you are out of luck. Else run it from your hard drive afterward.

**irishron** · January 23, 2009, 08:48 AM

This whole thing sounds like someone bought the game from Gamespot, burnt a copy, put the copy in the case while keeping the original dvds and manual, got his money back, and left you holding the bag.