Troubleshooting:starforce:5.x

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Activation and serial number state

Serial Number location

Official StarForce FAQ and guides (activation, deactivation)

http://www.star-force.com/support/users/group2.php

I cannot find my serial number

Box distributive: The yellow sticker with serial number should be on the back of the quick start guide.
Instant download distributive: Serial numbers are stored for you on the web site (see image on the right). There are no age limits for access.

Recover a lost serial number

Serial number is stored on your Windows installation. In your DCS installation there is bin\stable\ folder with a file called "protect.exe". It is also used to decativate/activate your copy. It can get your serial number for you. Click activate/decativate and it will show you. You don't have to complete the process to see it.

Alternatively you can get it directly in Windows registry with regedit:

For 32 bit Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Eagle Dynamics\BlackShark

For 64 bit Windows: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Eagle Dynamics\BlackShark

There should be key License0. You'll find your serial number in string Number.

Something strange with your serial number or activation problems?

Examine your serial number status. Open activation web site, enter your serial number and press Serial Number parameters link.

Description of activation log records on Serial Number parameters page:

Situation: One activates, deactivates and then reactivates the Black Shark.

Activation - a new record Activated, let's call it №1;
Deactivation - a new record №2 Deactivated;
Reactivation - record №2 changes from Deactivated to Reactivated and a new record №3 appears Activated.

Delete the following key in Windows registry:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Eagle Dynamics\Black Shark\Keys
It will completely reset the BS activation records in your Windows installation including the current one; but it doesn't do anything with serial number activations number stored on the server.

General problems

Fatal Error

Unhandled exception in the Host Library (thread 3236)
Try restarting the application.
If the problem persists, contact the product customer support.

It could be an antivirus (eg. McAfee).

Activations disappear

VMWare Workstation (6.5.x) eats activations - "Remove the recently added "VMnet2" host virtual adapter again. You may have to remove it from the DHCP tab too." original post on the DCS forums

Problem reporting

A full StarForce error report

To obtain it:

run the game;
when an error occurs, click on the "Information" button;
after the information is gathered, click on the "View Report" button;
save the opened report file as text.

Unable to get full StarForce error report

Get the values of Company and BuildInfo strings in properties of bin\stable\protect.dll and your operation system name and service pack number (if any installed).

In any case expert should also know

your Windows version (included in full StarForce error report);
number of the installed Windows service pack (if any) (included in full StarForce error report);
patch version (included in full StarForce error report);
DCS language;
patch language;
at what moment exactly does the error occurs.

If you're unable to copy-paste error text, make a screenshot of it. You can use a Snipping Tool for that: Start > All Programs > Accessories > Snipping Tool (guides: Windows Vista, 7).

Russian box version

Owners of the Russian box version in case of StarForce problems (excluding activation problems) should contact directly 1C: Multimedia support service (mmedia.hotline{at}1c.ru) with a copy to (support{at}digitalcombatsimulator.com). 1C should forward your request to StarForce support service. It's necessary to include Black Shark registration number in the message body. You can find it in the registration form included in the box.

If neither 1C support nor StarForce answers, please let us know.

It doesn't apply to the owners of the Russian downloadable version. You should contact us directly.