Unable to start Doom 3 with CD Key. (2025)

I decided to finally install, and play Doom 3. Installed it, updated to version 1.3, upgraded the ATI drivers, and away we go. Wrong. I start, and it asks me for my cd key, again. OK, no problem. I enter the key, and it says invalid. <BR>Any ideas?<BR><BR>Racer

Doom <I>9</I>?<BR><BR>Google will only give me everyone's favourite DVD backup website, and some wierd interpretation of Islam, neither of which require a cd key

I'm going to go off on a wild hair and assume you're not from the future, and meant Doom 3 -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif --<br><br>I'd suggest moving the following config files out of your Doom3\base directory just to completely clear everything. "doomkey." "xpkey." and "DoomConfig.cfg"<br><br>You'll be prompted to enter your key again, but it may be a corrupted expansion pack key file (xpkey) that's your problem. Even if you don't have the expansion pack, versions greater than 1.2 put that file in there.<br><br>Just a suggestion.

While I've never had a problem with a CDkey coming to me outta the box wrong I had a friend a while ago who did. He swore up and down to me over the phone it didn't work. I told him to check his cap key, to look for ones and "i" or "I"s that looked the same and nothing would work for him. He called the company and there was a heapload of shenanigans he was going to need to go through to get a new key so he ended up just taking it back to multiple bestbuy's (where he bought the game) untill he found one that would let him return the title. (it's against there policy but alot of stores don't care) Really don't know what to tell you, you could call the company but you'll probably end up sending everything back to them including a copy of your reciept. Bummer. -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_frown.gif --

I am embarassed! I did mean Doom3. What a maroon.<BR><BR>Racer

A quick google search brought me to this Doom 3 World forum post where a guy is having the same problem you are. He said he ended up just rebooting his machine and it worked all a sudden... Another guy who had the same problems on that page went through a bunch of steps to try and figure out why it was doing this and ended up running it "pure D3 vanilla mode without loading any mods" and after this it finally accepted his cdkey. <br><br>Hope that helps.. -- View image here: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_confused.gif --

Thanks Goblin. I've tried all the suggestions, and no luck, yet. I am running in Vanilla Mode. Just the way it installed. I may have to get creative.<BR><BR>I had already googled, and found the same posting.<BR><BR>Racer

Use a cracked exe?

Sure I would, but I don't have one. Maybe that's what I need to look for............ Hell, all I want to do is play the game!<BR><BR>Racer

Check that you're entering the key correctly, like the difference between '1' and 'l'.<BR><BR>Also try entering the key on an unpatched version.

I've just done a complete uninstall. I hadn't tried to play it before I patched. I'll see what happens. And for this I payed $40?<BR><BR>Racer