Possibility to pass a game (existing on steam) from CD (which I own) to a digital key

[NicolasBrown]

hi as the title I don't know if it is possible to pass a CD game in a digital key
I bought (a long time ago) 3 games
Dawn Of War Dark Crusade
Dawn Of War Soulstorm
Dawn Of War 2
these 3 games, now make me a whims
in practice in the attempt to install (towards the end, also wrapped in half)
gives me a crash of the reader (which at the restart of the pc "adjusts" and then reappears at the next attempt to install)
now the question was whether it is possible (in some steam section [through the activation code]) to make the game start by steam without the need for a CD
(if it is not possible I will try to look for another reader [hoping this would be the cause of the problem])
I'm looking forward to news ^^
good day

[Spawn of Totoro]

That would be up to the developer. I suggest contacting them.

If the games already have a key, then you could try it in the Steam client and see if they are accepted.

[my new friend]

I know they are not Steam keys.

[NicolasBrown]

sorry I'm confusing a bit
isn't the game disc installation code doesn't therefore apply as a code to confirm the original copy of the game? (for steam)

[my new friend]

It is not a Steam cd key you can use to activate it here, no.

[NicolasBrown]

so I have to reacquire the game or try to install it with another reader, correct?

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by cavolinerizoo09:

sorry I'm confusing a bit
isn't the game disc installation code as a code to confirm the original copy of the game? (for steam)

A game can contain a CD-Key. That CD-Key is used (before Steam) to activate the game for a new install.

If the developer chooses to, that key can also be used to activate the game on Steam. Not all keys can be used as no all developers have chosen to do so.

If the game came with no key, then there is no way to get one in order to activate it on Steam.

Originally posted by my new friend:

It is not a Steam cd key you can use to activate it here, no.

Some keys from older games (from before Steam) can be activated on Steam.

[my new friend]

I have these games and they do not allow me to use the codes to activate them here.

[CZBGR Icepick]

CD Keys and Steam Keys are very different.

Steam Keys are specific keys for Steam. CD keys are usually common for CDs that come with a game for verification purposes, not for downloads. Nothing to do with Steam, and the format is not the same. Therefore, Steam won't read/honor CD Keys. You'd have to go to the developer in case they distribute Steam Keys.

GOG however does honor certain CD Keys for certain games so you can own/install a digital copy. Otherwise, I don't think this is a thing, even in modern times, sadly.

[CZBGR Icepick]

Originally posted by 999999999:

SoT is correct about some games being able to be activated with keys that aren't normal Steam keys.

I think you misunderstood.

He said you can activate the CD Key on it's own (like a product key), but it is not exactly through Steam (he says "before Steam"). Meaning, you don't need to use Steam, but it might be possible a Steam key is issued along with it. What I was saying was, you cannot really use a CD Key because Steam doesn't exactly honor it. It might just so happen the key may be in a Steam Key format, but I would make no guarantees it's for the same game.

See:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7480-WUSF-3601&l=

"If a retail or digital game is meant to be registered through Steam, the retail packaging or the email where the key was delivered will specify so. If a key is not intended for registration through Steam, you will see an invalid key error when you try to register it."

While a CD Key could technically be a Steam key, it has to specify being a Steam key because it came with the CD. Otherwise, it is just a regular CD Key. There's your difference.

All else fails, you add the game as a non-Steam game, but you won't get the Steam-related benefits.

[Heeby-Jeeby]

Both Spawn of Totoro and 999999999 are correct and there is no misunderstanding.

A few years ago, there used to be a Steam Support article with a list of games and CD-key formats which Steam would accept (on account of the publishers or what not) and those games would be added to your Steam library.

There was no distinguishing whether a key was a "Steam Key" or not. It wasn't specified as a "Steam Key". The list, although small, listed out all the types of keys accepted by Steam for games purchased before Steam was even a concept.

[CZBGR Icepick]

Originally posted by Heeby-Jeeby:

Both Spawn of Totoro and 999999999 are correct and there is no misunderstanding.

A few years ago, there used to be a Steam Support article with a list of games and CD-key formats which Steam would accept (on account of the publishers or what not) and those games would be added to your Steam library.

There was no distinguishing whether a key was a "Steam Key" or not. It wasn't specified as a "Steam Key". The list, although small, listed out all the types of keys accepted by Steam for games purchased before Steam was even a concept.

All of which you were missing the point.

With the publishers being an exception, all other facets of Steam does not generally honor CD Keys, as they are separate systems. So what I said was not wrong, and did not require a response to claim the other people were right. It says so right in the Support page. What the OP is dealing with will apply to a very specific circumstance.

What the OP is having trouble with is originally a CD install of the game, which crashes on install, which prompts his question. If they wanted the digital version, their keys need to be the Gold Edition. Otherwise, it's like I said, it wouldn't work, so I would have no high hopes. If he even tried it and failed, that's your answer. He may have to obtain a valid Steam Key from the publisher if they are willing to provide it.

[Heeby-Jeeby]

The reason I made my post was because you said this:

Originally posted by CZBGR Icepick:

CD keys are usually common for CDs that come with a game for verification purposes, not for downloads. Nothing to do with Steam, and the format is not the same. Therefore, Steam won't read/honor CD Keys.

and this:

Originally posted by CZBGR Icepick:

While a CD Key could technically be a Steam key, it has to specify being a Steam key because it came with the CD. Otherwise, it is just a regular CD Key. There's your difference.

While both of these statements are not completely wrong, they are not entirely correct, either. I was only informing Spawn of Totoro and 999999999 are correct as what they said was accurate.

You will also notice I did not say you were wrong.

Now that you clarified your statement, I agree.

[CZBGR Icepick]

Originally posted by Heeby-Jeeby:

You will also notice I did not say you were wrong.

You didn't have to say it. Just responding at all in solidarity for the other guy was enough to speak for itself that you were on that path. If you didn't think I was actually wrong, you wouldn't have basically disagreed at some point. I was clarifying the point SoT was actually saying that was actually misunderstood, because that's the way it works. If anything, Steam might no longer honor old CD Keys, so this would have been outdated information. I erred on the side of caution of using the current support article related to the question, before actually looking at the games themselves.

[Heeby-Jeeby]

Ah, yes, I see your point. You were wrong because being partially right is still wrong.

[CZBGR Icepick]

Originally posted by Heeby-Jeeby:

Ah, yes, I see your point. You were wrong because being partially right is still wrong.

Excuse me?