Straight from the Ubisoft support page:

First, please make sure that you have the latest Patch for Far Cry from http://farcry.ubi.com/patches.php.

You will not be prompted to enter your Far Cry CD key until you use the in-game multiplayer browser for the first time. If you have never used the in-game browser, but instead used third party game services such as GameSpy or The All Seeing Eye, you will need to login to ubi.com through the in-game multiplayer browser at least once to be prompted for your CD key. These other game services will not ask you for a CD key, so if you are getting the 'Invalid CD Key' error, or something similar, you will need to make sure your CD key gets entered through the game.

If you are still encountering CD Key problems, please try the following:

The CD Key can be found either on the back of the instruction manual or the front left side of the CD/DVD case as you open it up.

Make sure that you are entering your CD Key correctly including the dashes. After the first 3 characters in the CD key, there will not be any ‘I’, ‘O’, ‘S’, or ‘Z’ alphabetical characters.

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Any firewall technology between the player and our services must be configured appropriately to allow the validation to work. If you are behind a router or firewall, please make sure that the following ports are open in the firewall/router configuration:

UBI.com ports:

TCP: 40000 - 42999
UDP: 41005

FarCry game ports:

Server:

Outgoing port 49001/49002
Incoming is client dependant

Client:

Ingoing port is 49001/49002
Outgoing is client dependant (usually set by the OS automatically)


- In a few cases, these ports may be blocked by your ISP. If you are not behind a firewall/router, please contact your ISP with this port information to verify whether or not these ports are available to you.

- Users with Windows XP will want to make sure that the built-in firewall has been disabled through Windows.
To do this:
1. Go to the Control Panel and open the 'Network Connections'
2. Right-click on your network cards connection icon and choose properties.
3. Click on the 'Advanced' tab and uncheck the 'Internet Connection Firewall' box.
4. Click OK to save the settings.


Game servers handling more players than their bandwidth allows face the possibility of refusing some players with the error ‘Invalid CDKey’ because they will not have a good quality communication with the ubi.com.
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I will add...If you're connected to the internet behind a router, especially Linksys, make sure your router's firmware is the latest version. The answer to this, and many other commonly asked questions her in the tech forum, can be found here.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: DocSEAL,

I've tried everything you've suggested and even if you don't have the Key error then you have the server list not show up.

It basically comes down to YOUR problems, not
ours! Quit trying to pass the buck. I've played too many other online games and have never had this amount of trouble. It's quite disheartening to happen to such a good game.

And take note, a lot of DSL users have their own static IP's so they'll come up with the same IP no.'s no matter how many times they release/renew(like me!).

It seems to me you guys are way too worried about piracy with the hang-up on CD Keys. If that IS the case then why don't you add another pc/server dedicated to THAT issue. Let it watch who disconnects and appropriately release that CD Key binding? Make it analyse in real time. I don't see 10,000 people playing so that can't be too much of a problem. Do you know how many cheap pc's GOOGLE has? ;-)

Please, please, please fix this bug!

Hey Im gonna stick up for Doc and all the moderators,they are not ubisoft/crytek they are volunteers here,watching over us and putting in some help when they can.So dont yell at them direct it towards crytek.

another thing while Im here,I had reformatted installed windows all updates including sp2 tried loading farcry,would not load every time I got to the 3rd cd and changed to 4th I got an error message saying wrong volume,now of course couldnt get rid of it.well I reformatted installed farcry without any updates or service pack,installed no problem,Now I didnt bother with directx9b as IM going to install updates now and sp2,I assume sp2 was causing problem,because I never had that problem with sp1

I was quite upset when I wrote that and I
don't know who or what position Doc has here. I didn't mean any disrespect towards him. I didn't really think I was that nasty either. I certainly wanted to convey my frustration though. If you want to see some nasty tirades, look in the general discussion forum. You'll learn the difference quickly!

I didn't like the way SP2 was affecting my XP Pro either so I reformatted my hd and am now pleased with the return of "speed". SP1 is the only way I've played Far Cry though, so that isn't causing my problems. It won't alleviate your Far Cry woes either.

I just came from Black Hawk Down and Far Cry is way and above their single-player gameplay. Hands down. One thing I'd like to see Far Cry adapt is co-op team play (online players fight an AI enemy. I think someone is working on that though?

I'm just hoping that the Crytek powers-that-be take all this criticism to heart. Last night I had no problems playing online. The night before I just plain had to give up and that's when I wrote that little piece. I think this problem CAN be fixed!

Serpent-Lord

Actually, XP SP2 _can_ affect your online play, since that service pack includes a firewall. That can block your ports without you even knowing it, and then you can get the 'invalid cd key' error - that one could definitely be more descriptive - something like "could not establish connection with server to check if your key is good or not" !

I am have the same problem of sorts I play on a desktop and a laptop right now I can logon from my laptop but the desktop gets the cdkey timeout.
I played on my desktop yesterday.
I no it has to be something on the desktop but what?

I am absolutly peed off with this CD key bollocks!!!! When the mood strikes it I am ok and can play no problem, but other times it askes for my key and I put it in and it say in use!!! I put it in 5-6 times and its in use!!!!! Then suddenly it works. Next time i log onto a server same FU*$ing thing!!! WTF is this about. I have done all that has been suggested. I rule out firewalls cause it would never connect if that was the problem!!! Ubisoft sort your lives out!!! FFS!

I'm having issues as well with the cd key timeout.
Is there something I can try so its not a waste of time. Ive had this game for 2 hours now and I still can't play. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!

Ok I got it. Had to register game? WTF over?

Second server I try I get a cd key in use.
Is that normal?

These guys are so worried about piracy, I CAN'T EVEN PLAY ONLINE. "CD-KEY IN USE"...WELL, IT'S THE ONE YOU SOLD TO ME. I FEEL ROBBED. MANY THANKS MORONS. WANT TO GIVE ME 1/2 MY MONEY BACK? DIDN'T THINK SO......

m

Just had the same problem axactly not 5 days ago. I found that i needed to uninstall my dvd software 'My Sonic Dvd' and everything was ok. p.s. Dell?

It's a server code problem releasing your game ID with your CD key. They need to fix that or Ill never play again. So far I have about 10 minutes
of gameplay.

I'm still having the same problems even after disabling firewalls and stuff.

I hate this CD key ****. I hope the rest of Ubisoft's games are like this or I'll never buy another Ubisoft game again...

I just purchased the game and have done all that has been suggested. I have not been able to play on-line yet. Canddiyl after putting the %^$$# key in several time I've given up.....are you all saying if you try muliple times it may work?

Is the CD-key is locked for 5 minutes from the last in-game event?

If server changes to a map which I don't have ("Errol loading game data!"), the CD-key is locked and I have to wait at least 6 minutes to join another game!! ANNOYING!!!

If server hangs or disconnects physically, the same error occures! ANNOYING!!

Okay, this might be player's own psychological illusion, after fast and adrenaline-pumped action Player must wait for 5 minutes just doing nothing! That must feel awfully painful, with this level of intense and adrenaline pushing the blood pressure high... =)

Doc this is *BLEEP* gay man it wont work make it work or best engy on the net will kill you!!

hey, i played Far cry MP this morning...No problems at all, this evening my key is timed out. If i pay for a product i expect it to work properly.
What annoyes me most, is that no responsible party gives a reasonable answer...

Mee too it is not an INVALID CD KEY that I am getting, its ubisoft causing the prob.
I too could play this morning and last night I have had this game since christmas and this has never happened. My husband and my friend all have THE EXACT ^%&*^% problem, Tell me again how this is OUR FAULT. I dont think so.

Please fix it or tell me how I can fix it. if not, i will be demanding my money back, My home now owns 2 games I just bought a new one yesterday.

It is not too often I see this, but I am trying to log into server info area and there aren't any in there. Slowly a few pop up, but then I can't log into them. I get about 30 minutes per day, sometimes more. I think UBI has to come up with a better way for people to log in. They should do like Napster did with populating multiple servers or user computers with authenication lists.
I hope this gets fixed....
Petey_Pajamas