Invalid CD key workaround

[TinyWiking]

Greetings gang,
We are aware of the issue that currently happening to the majority of our users where the game won't start and you instead get an invalid CD key error. This is being investigated but due to us no longer working with the developer it's taking a while. For now, please try this workaround that Obnosis and StarHawke found:

From Obnosis:
Very quick fix for those that still have acces to a key (found mine in registry key in HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve/TestApp42890).

-write that key down or save it in a file
-open SOTS game folder.
-edit with notepad the file "42890_install.vdf"
-write your key instead of %cdkey%
-(NOT SURE IF NEEDED, but i did it) - delete registry value HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve/TestApp42890
-run game

my hint was that the "key" registry value in local_machine/software/etc../sots was always reset to "%cdkey%" after every attempt to launch the game.

The .vdf file changes the registry at every game startup. the game checks for the cdkey inside the registry entry. the vdf script removes the original key and replaces it with "%CDKey%" string, so it's creating an error.
by changing the "%cdkey%" string inside the 42890_install.vdf with the correct key, the script runs just like before, but this time it adds the key to the corect location.

From StarHawke
I couldn't find that exact folder in my registry under CURRENT_USER, but was able to find my cd key on the computer the game works on in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/WOW6432Node/sword of the stars. Putting that key in 42890_install.vdf manually worked perfectly!

[Colonel Sanders Lite]

Originally posted by TinyWiking:

-(NOT SURE IF NEEDED, but i did it) - delete registry value HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve/TestApp42890

It's not needed.

[Metro Ranger]

Thanks, I'm just surprised to see any kind of official responses at all for a 10 year old game

[Frosty007R]

Originally posted by Lancer:

Thanks, I'm just surprised to see any kind of official responses at all for a 10 year old game

indeed! this is a response that my independent research already came across...

I cannot find my CD-KEY anywhere in the registy...

NEITHER can I find "HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Valve/TestApp42890)."

Where does that leave me except downloading a pirate copy with the justification of possessing a steam transaction code i.e I PAID FOR IT!

That said ... can the databse of keys be rechecked and the clients who BOUGHT the game from steam be either Inboxed or E-Mailed their keys to input in the above fashion??

OR make the game DRM-FREE!??

[Eshka Moshka]

Where see cd-key for Steam version SotS? xD

[Major.Pain]

^^
The cd keys were removed from the Steam version recently(not sure when the dev may answer) so if you don't have an old install of the game on Steam which still has the cd key in the .vdf file in your install or in your registry, a retail version with a cd key on the box or other version from Gamersgate with an actual cd key you added to Steam chances are you are sh*t out of look at present.
The dev is looking into a solution so i guess you just have to be patient :)

[Owl Ball]

I managed to find a key in the LOCAL_MACHINE folder, however it was in a XXXXXXXX format, instead of XXXX-XXXX. Putting it into the 42890_install.vdf file still resulted in an invalid key message.

[Major.Pain]

My key for this that works is in the XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX format so...

[Eshka Moshka]

hmm, may be i am idiot, but now i see when click right mouse on game in library see digital key... and this solution is work. dont know why i not see it everyday this week. magic

and i find my first CD SotS too xD

[Major.Pain]

The cd key was not in the Steam Library a few days ago so your not going crazy lol, the Dev has been on the case sorting things out :)
My advise keep a copy of the key outside Steam just encase the game messes up the keys again.

[Frosty007R]

I just ried to re-launch the game and UP POPS the CD-KEY which steams asks me to copy yto the clipboard and paste when the game asks for it... Let me try and see how that goes... failing that I will try the ".vdf file edit" thing...

[MTBear]

Well ♥♥♥♥, checked today and my CDkey is in the properties area when you right click the game in steam and it starts up fine... like srsly wtf happened lol.

[cruschef]

Not too tech savvy, But I just bought the game an hour or two ago... Tried All the above fixes I believe.
Have a question though:
I am given a Key in the popup window when running the game and I changed the entry in "42890_install.vdf" to match this key.
However I am still receiving the error window.

My question is: Where is the other entry located at? I read that there is a "registry" somewhere I can access... All I can find is the one section in
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Sword of the Stars Complete Collection"

Any help would be much appreciated, as I said I am not very comp Savvy...
Thanks

Edit: Windows 8 if that matters... Maybe I should up to Win10?
Edit 2: Figured out the registry, changed the cd key there as well and still not working, so i suppose i will just have to wait until something changes. Thanks for all the work everyone is putting in trying to fix this!

[Major.Pain]

cruschef, you can try searching for other "sword of the stars" registry entries or "sots" registry entries or "42890" Folders in the registry which belong to Sword of the Stars install to see if there are any cd key entrys in those that don't match or are blank ect.
Depending on your OS and if 32/64 bit the registry uses different addresses.

[Papa Cigam]

TinyWiking - Found and modified the .vdx file. Started and it gave me the initial child window showing me the CD Key for the game and allowing me to copy it into the clipboard. The programe them tried to launch and gave me the same fail for the invalid CD Key.

[TinyWiking]

Thanks for the replies gang, we are in the process of contacting the developers and hope to get a fix of some kind in place in the near future.