Steam CD key error

[Caconym]

So I bought the Steam Starter Pack recently, and started playing STO. At first, no CD key whatsoever showed up, so I was quite pissed that I had paid $13 for something that I did not get. Then after a few weeks, I just ignored it and played the game. However, recently, I ran a check of the game's cache through Steam and a CD key option popped up. I was quite happy. However, when I clicked on the link, it gave me an error, saying that it could not connect to the Steam Key server. That is extremely annoying, as now whenever I launch the game I get the same error, and it will not let me launch as the CD key window disappears and refuses to let me launch the game. Anyone know how to fix this? I've tried restarting my computer, deleting and re-installing steam...

[Mansen]

That's a Steam Support issue if you're still getting it (The "can't contact steam servers" issue) - Nothing anyone but Valve can help you with.

As for the code - Needs to be typed in on the ARC Games website to unlock ingame.

[Alcatr4z]

The CD Key option and launch problems are a Steam issue. You will need to contact Steam support for help with that.

For redeeming the key, the key needs to be typed in somewhere else (the store page gives the correct info): To redeem your Starter Pack after purchase:

Log in to your Perfect World account at http://www.startrekonline.com/redeem
Enter the Starter Pack key in the field and click ‘Submit’.

Your key can be found by right-clicking on Star Trek Online in your Steam game library and clicking on “View CD key”.
You can claim your promotional items through the in-game C-Store, under the ‘Bundles’ tab.
Please see this thread for claiming instructions: http://sto-forum.perfectworld.com/showthread.php?t=1246311

[Caconym]

Thanks for the replies. I submitted a ticket, and am now waiting for an answer from steam support. Happy new year ^^

[Tilarta]

I asked another Steam STO player about this issue and the answer was unusual.
Steam has run out of keys to authorize the game.

First of all. keys for a free2play game? Why?

And secondly, considering I purchased a paid copy of the game back when it was not F2P, why can't I just enter my actual key instead of needing a randomly generated key?

That's what I think Steam need to do here, enable an option to enter our actual key instead of requesting a random one that we don't need.

Also, until this issue is fixed, I can't use the Steam wallet to purchase c-points.
And don't say use the PW website, I don't trust it.

[Mansen]

Alright then - Don't use the legitimate website.

But stop giving Valve grief about things completely outside of their control :P

[Tilarta]

Read the above post again.

This is Steam's problem to solve, not Cryptic's!
The Steam Server has run out of authentication keys.

[Mansen]

Guess who handles those keys - Cryptic (I.E. The Publisher) They aren't Valve's to give on their own volition. It's not just a case of generating a new series of keys on the Steam side. They actually have to refer to content generated on Cryptic's side of things to have any meaning.

[Alcatr4z]

Steam has not run out of keys. This has been verified and confirmed. The other user does not have valid information. You need to follow up with Steam support so they can assist you.

[Caconym]

Well, I submitted a ticket, and nothing happened. I submitted it 2 weeks ago now, so oh well. Right now I'm forced to open the file folder in which the STO launcher is and open it manually to play, which means that everything related to steam is cut off.

[Tilarta]

I did submit a ticket.
As of right now, the ticket has not been responded to.

And I'm having to do what Void Nemesis does, open the launcher directly.
As VN said, this automatically disables Steam interaction.

I still believe Steam has the responsibility to fix this, it's not appropriate to ask Cryptic to come running and fix this, as it's not their product.

[Caconym]

Indeed. I think the problem is something to do with receiving the CD key, as for a few weeks no CD key showed up after my purchase, and when it did show up, it corrupted my Steam install and prevented me from the game. I'm guessing it has something to do with Steam being unable to link the purchase with the CD key, or something similar.

[Mansen]

Originally posted by Tilarta:

I still believe Steam has the responsibility to fix this, it's not appropriate to ask Cryptic to come running and fix this, as it's not their product.

That still depends on the actual issue. Steam CAN run out of keys to hand out to people, in which case the publisher is at fault.

But the "no keys" issue does happen on Steam's end where there are still plenty of keys around to hand to people. In which case you still need an actual ticket, not a forum post (so good on you for that one)

As for the launcher not loading properly through Steam? Entirely Cryptic's fault.

[Tilarta]

I'm still trying to work out why I can't just go to the Cryptic website, get my key from them and enter it in the Steam client to enable the launcher again.

I've examined the options as best I can and didn't see anything that says, enter product key here.

Is it actually possible to do this or do we have to rely on an obviously flawed autogeneration function?

And by the way, I'm extremely cynical about Cryptic's ability to fix anything, it took them two months to fix a bug that prevented the mac players from starting the game client, even though I and several others reported the problem one week after we discovered it. Past experience has shown that if it's not something that inconveniences them, they won't be motivated to fix it in a hurry. The record was a bug that went unfixed for two years!

[Caconym]

The problem right now is not that there is a bug with the launcher that prevents it from starting. The problem is that Steam detects that I need a CD key to start the game, and when it attempts to retrieve it, there's an error, and the CD key window closes, thus preventing the launch of the game. I can't even click on the "Do not show again" checkbox on that tiny CD window as it disappears almost instantly. So right now it's not Cryptic's fault, but rather Valve's fault. And I'm still waiting on an answer for my ticket after oh, I don't know, two weeks.

[Tilarta]

According to the information I have obtained, the problem is in a file called ClientRegistry.blob.
Deleting the file and forcing Steam to generate a new version of the file fixes the problem.

But since this advice was written by a PC gamer and I couldn't find the file anyway on my Mac, I am unable to verify if this solutuon works.

The other option is to delete all the files except for downloaded games and savegame files, then force Steam to recreate those as well. But again, the advice was offered by a PC expert and I don't know how to make this work with the Mac version.