BF2S Forums CD-key suddenly not valid

Have you checked what cd key is written in your registry?

Actually, forget that.

Since 1.03 onwards the CD-KEY has been encrypted in the registry.

From EA:

Usually, refreshing your CD-key will resolve the issue.  Note that this will only correct the error if you used the same Windows account to install, update, and troubleshoot the game.  If you have switched Windows accounts at any point it is recommended you uninstall, reinstall, and reupdate using the same Windows login.

If the issue persists, you will need to uninstall the game completely and then reinstall and reupdate to completely remove and replace corrupted files.

Source

Oli_NV wrote:

I've tried twice to refreshing my CD-key in the directory of Battlefield 2\Support\Battlefield 2_code, but no luck there...

ok good, now that you have done that, find your key in your registry  (run regedit from command prompt)

for 32bit os,  it should be in:  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Electronic Arts\EA Games\Battlefield 2\ergc
for 64bit:   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Electronic Arts\EA Games\Battlefield 2\ergc

edit your cdkey in there and add: x9392 in front of your key with no spaces.

the game should now work.

ps.  Aussie is correct, the keys are now encrypted.   If you still have problems post back and I'll tell you how to reinstall your cdkey with encryption, but its a longer process.

I've tried to change in the registry and wrote x9392 followed by the letters from my cd key. It still didn't want to connect to a server, the problem persists.

well hell.  sounds like you may have more issues than a simple cdkey error since you reinstalled and still have the problem.

I would suggest doing the manual uninstall method and then reinstalling.

How to manually uninstall Battlefield 2 + (Booster Packs)
http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/ph … faqid=8986

How to manually uninstall Battlefield 2 : Special Forces
http://support.ea.com/cgi-bin/ea.cfg/ph … aqid=11150


If you still want to try the full cdkey fix try this:

*  Run the "Battlefield 2_code.exe" program from your  /bf2/support/ folder.  enter your cdkey.
*  next you'll need the program "BF2CDKeyCheck.exe"   there is a link to it on this thread, but the file is not on EA's ftp server anymore.
*  you can get the file from the bf2 1.41 patch, here's how:   run the 1.41 patch, select your language and hit next.  STOP here, do not start the install.  Now  open a "run" dialog box in windows (windows key + R),  type  %temp% and hit enter.   now look for a newly created folder with a lot of random characters as the name.  look inside and find the BF2CDKeyCheck.exe program.  copy program to desktop.  Now cancel the 1.41 patch without installing.
*  Run the "BF2CDKeyCheck.exe" program and your key should be fixed/encrypted and bf2 should work.


Hopefully that will work for you.    If you reinstall BF2, don't forget you need to patch to 1.41, then 1.5  (install order:  BF2 > SF (optional) > 1.41 > 1.5
if you have other problems, check this thread:
http://www.forums.electronicarts.co.uk/ … hread.html

cool.

I only run BF2 on patch 1.5. I haven't got SF. But the problem was solved, so I'm glad