Activation code already in use??? Pls help

[Fireclaim24]

I bought GTAV around 2020 when I bought my first gaming laptop. Was able to play on it just fine. I ended up selling that laptop and now I have a new one. GTAV is the only game in my library that refuses to work. I already typed in my CD key that's associated with my purchase, but it keeps giving me the error that the key is already in use. I've went to Rockstars support page, looked at the page specifically for this issue and have found no answers. I sent a support ticket to Rockstar the night of Christmas in hopes that they could resolve my issue before the end of the month so I can take advantage of playing online while it's snowing, but alas, I have received no help from Rockstar on this. I have no clue what the issue is, I really just want to play my game online again and have some fun doing some jobs, but at this point it seems like it's just never going to work for me

[psykoteky]

So, you actually logged into the social club website... fo you in fact see that you are on an account that actually owns gta5? Do you see -your- game progress/stats? Does it show your steam account linked to that social club account if you go to your social club profile, settings, linked accounts tab? You are using the 'original' social club account correct? Didn't just make a new one? Things that can cause issue too.

It it doesn't show your linked steam account -
Fun times. Join the neverending flood of this nonsense. Much info - click and read -
https://steamcommunity.com/app/271590/discussions/0/3811787298086212982/#c3811787298086583512

tl;dr/lazy - use this link below to contact R* without logging in to RECOVER your account/fix/change email to one you have access to. Yep, many hoops to jump to prove you are the owner, have the steam account, cdkey etc, and days to wait/repeat yourself -
https://support.rockstargames.com/categories/360002126893?step=29c52d9f


If it does.. show your linked steam account - there are some other things that could cause an activation issue - like wrong date/time, some av/security issues including controlled folder access, lack of admin, problems with the R*/social club install, onedrive, mods, and some other oddball things - like connectivity where powering modem/router off may fix it, or just launching through the R* launcher as admin, renaming my docs / rockstar games-old. Sometimes this stuff just resolves on its own too if 'not on your end'.

/goodluck, depending on your answers, can be really easy, or annoying to fix.

[Fireclaim24]

Yeah I'm able to look at my original GTA Online character, looking at my progress, stats, money etc. It's all there, connected to my steam account and everything

[Fireclaim24]

So I still got access to OG account, not using a new one or anything. It even logs me in when the launcher starts, shows my username at the top right of my screen as GTAV boots up, to only show me the activation screen and subsequent error saying it's already in use.

[Fireclaim24]

I also just realized something, I had tried playing GTAV on another computer, a lesser laptop earlier this year, and it worked just fine. My steam account is still on it, and maybe I can do something on the old PC to deactivate that specific computer? I remember booting it up earlier this year just fine, even though the computer wasn't really good enough to run it that well I was able to easily get online on that specific PC. Dunno if there's something I can do there or not

Edit: I actually factory reset that laptop, so my steam and stuff is not still on that PC. This whole thing is a mess and very confusing. Beginning to lose hope I'll be able to enjoy the holiday stuff before it's gone

[erkany.20]

nice composition

[psykoteky]

Nah, no need to deactivate anything. I load steam up on multiple pc, and play R* games on all without issue. If anything - it screams of the other configurations on your current pc.

Onedrive, admin/permissions, or lack of on steam, R* launcher, gta5. Date/time not correct-sync/auto adjust. Controlled folder access or other av/security preventing connections or access. Mangled/outdated R* launcher/social club, failed updates, etc.

Bare minimum I'd go to c / program files / rockstar games - and force uninstall both the launcher and social club (they both should be there unless you installed them funny). Check date/time. Go to steam/steamapps/common/gtav/redistributables. Run both .exe there with rightclick - run as admin. Let it run, update, etc. Maybe verify game files for good measure. Rename my docs / rocsktar games -old. Whitelist, exclude, or allow R* launcher/social club, gta5 in your av/security/windows defender. Check if controlled folder access is on/off. You may even want to clean boot windows via msconfig to rule out any other background programs/apps/etc on the new laptop incase they are interfering with proper loading.

Of course - this could also be something that earlier this year 'worked fine' and new changes causing issues. Around June, or maybe slightly before - some changes were made. Many are finding issues with their social club accounts being hacked. However, since you can see your details/etc - it may be one of the other oddball issues. There's been a few people who's emails were for example john_doe@gmail --- but they always used john doe@gmail - no underscore. Maybe doublecheck that the email you are using to log in matches what you are using in the launcher just to cover bases. Other weird stuff like new users needing to restart steam, or just verifying game files so all the 3rd party requirements get installed, so on.

If anything - you can just see if that laptop still works or the error is also 'there'.
If not - you could compare configurations.

anyway - bedtime/goodluck


edit - something else 'silly' that has potential to work -
On the working laptop - go to my documents - and copy rockstar games folder - and paste it onto the new laptop - into my documents. Overwrite the folder, the files, all of it. Again, no guarantee this will work at all. And, if it does work... it may only work for a short time til the drm decides to run checks again.

As for the rest, I typed the things above I'd be comparing on the 2. Not sure I'd go straight to a full on reinstall of the game - frankly, that rarely ever fixes anything unless there were mods involved (which were not mentioned >_> or do everything else before attempting that). Verify cache is 'usually' all that is needed.

[Fireclaim24]

Thanks for your help psykoteky, I just redownloaded GTAV on my old laptop and booted it up perfectly fine, didn't even ask for an activation code. What should I look for or do at this point? If it works on my old one but not my new one what should I be looking at or change? Not really sure how to proceed from here, but I feel like I'm really close to solving this and finally being able to play the game on my nice rig. Much appreciated

[Wiesshund]

Originally posted by Fireclaim24:

Thanks for your help psykoteky, I just redownloaded GTAV on my old laptop and booted it up perfectly fine, didn't even ask for an activation code. What should I look for or do at this point? If it works on my old one but not my new one what should I be looking at or change? Not really sure how to proceed from here, but I feel like I'm really close to solving this and finally being able to play the game on my nice rig. Much appreciated

I would try
Uninstall game
Uninstall R* launcher
Clear steam download cache and exit steam

Manually go and make sure any gta or rockstar app folders are gone entirely

check documents and app data for any related folders and delete them

check registry for any gta v or rockstar keys
propbaly in h-key/current user/software or h-key/local machine/software
remove the registry entries

empty recycle bin and reboot

Have laptop running with steam open

back on desktop pick gta v
should present you with an option to copy game over from laptop instead of downloading from internet.

let it install that way, and then on 1st launch, let it install the rockstar launcher.

I think that should result in a totally clean install.

Since it works from laptop, it isnt a real account issue, but instead is a software issue