quote:

Originally posted by ElderJefferson:
Anyway, while trying to "fix" the patch .ini file, I get blocked. It claims that the path does not exist, or some **** like that. Yeah, right, that's like saying the earth beneath my feet doesn't exist. For all the hoopla that these new age systems receive, they sure are moronic most of the time.

Don't try to fix your .ini files, this solution is no longer up-to-date because the online activation has been discounted.

Just try to update your SPTD driver, as BTOG46 said in the second post of this thread and if the update does not help visit the solution centre and "Ask a question".


There are no other ways at the moment to solve this problem!

Ubisoft has got to be the absolute WORST game publisher in history! Their site looks like it was hacked together by teenagers, the support site is a complete joke, and it's not even possible to ask a question there. I bought Settlers 6 in a retail box at Best Buy, not realizing that the copy protection is designed to STEAL from LEGITIMATE USERS while not stopping ANY determined pirates. As far as I can tell, this is outright fraud. I have a DVD-RW as the only drive in my system, because I have legitimate reasons to have read/write optical storage (as *anyone does*). I should not have to buy a crippled drive just to play a stupid game. Even worse, I have no guarantees that any given drive would actually make it work!

If I had lost more than the $30-40 I spent on it, I would contact my attorney general, because this level of copy protection is just ridiculous. It's not even copy protection, because I can copy it all day long. It is legitimate use protection, which means that I bought a coaster, not a game. I followed "all" the directions for "fixing" it, which basically means I upgraded my firmware and installed the SPTD driver. I even hacked the .ini file, though I see that doesn't work any more.

If there was ever a legitimate reason for using cracked warez, this is it. I will never buy from Ubisoft again, and I will make sure to let everyone know that they are scammers and fraudsters. I should goad Best Buy into suing you guys for selling them defective goods.

At the very least, Ubisoft could fix this outrageous situation by offering to let DVD purchasers convert their keys to the downloaded version, which is presumably what the .ini hack did, until they disabled it. I hope everyone stops buying your games, because you're pissing off the honest people, not the pirates.

http://ubisoft.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/ubisoft.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php If you weren't so busy slamming the Ubi site - you might have found the "Ask a Question" on it.

In the german forum we are here just talking again about the online activation with patch 1.6.

As BB_ScriptError - one of the developers - said, the change to "TagesOnline" in the .ini file is no longer needed with patch 1.6.
If the game can't identify the DVD - because of drive problems or a defect DVD - the player gets with patch 1.6 again the possibility to activate the game online so he won't need a DVD in his drive anymore.


After clicking on "online activation" you need to enter your normal game key.

I'm getting dizzy with them changing the online Tages back and forth with new patches.

So does that mean if people get the "insert disc" error, they need to update to 1.6 and try again?

quote:

Originally posted by BTOG46:
So does that mean if people get the "insert disc" error, they need to update to 1.6 and try again?

Yes I think/hope so.

quote:

Originally posted by haep1:
In the german forum we are here just talking again about the online activation with patch 1.6.

As BB_ScriptError - one of the developers - said, the change to "TagesOnline" in the .ini file is no longer needed with patch 1.6.
If the game can't identify the DVD - because of drive problems or a defect DVD - the player gets with patch 1.6 again the possibility to activate the game online so he won't need a DVD in his drive anymore.


After clicking on "online activation" you need to enter your normal game key.

I had not problems with activation until Patch 1.6 came along?

Any word yet on a solution for this problem?

I've tried ever suggestion listed and nothing is working. Every possible driver is up to date, I've followed the steps to the letter and still having this absurd problem.

All I keep getting is the message box, Please insert etc...

Great when you pay for something that won't work even though your system is current and overly exceeds the requirements...

Im waiting for a fix too.

Back to the top you go.

C'mon Ubisoft, help those in need.

OK - Just downloaded patch 1.6 (both methods - manually downloading and letting the game download it), installed it and still get the prompt asking to install the original CD. I also changed the line to TagesOnline, and still got the "Please insert original CD" prompt. So clearly on line registration is NOT in 1.6. In fact, they totally got rid of it!

Clearly, Ubisoft does not care about their customers. When things like this happen, you really have to wonder why software companies are so concerned about piracy. After all, they are creating an evironment that fosters it.

Just look at this message board. And I can't believe some of the suggestions - go by a new CD drive? WTF kind of suggestion is that?

And the warning on the back of the box - "Notice: this game contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some disc and virtual drives". Well, what Drives, you dumb morons? How the hell are consumers supposed to know if the game will run on their system with this kind of 'catch all warning'.

Yes, Ubisoft clearly does not have any concern about their customers. Sad and pathetic.

Oh, and I have sent numerous emails with Ubisoft support and tried every, sinlgle suggestions (except for buying a new CD Drive) and my system exceeds the specs.

Sorry for the rant but this is very frustrating.

Seriously, customer service with this company is an utter joke. Since this thread has gone nowhere I tried that route as well and it's unbelievable the level of ignorance and indifference you receive.

They don't even fully read anything you put in your questions. They simply stare with glazed eyes at their modus operandi sheet of useless information and continuously repeat what it says.

I've received 3 responses from them, and the third response was merely a recycled version of the first, which leads me to believe their standard issue response sheet only has two numbers on it.

Regardless of the consumers question or complaint insert #1 as your reply. If that doesn't solve the issue, try #2. When #2 fails because the consumer has already stated in his initial contact that he's already tried #1 and #2 to no avail, refer to #1 again. If #1 doesn't solve the issue again refer to #2.

This is basically how my communications with them went. The guy, Jason, never even read the initial problem nor the responses. He merely replied with standard issue response #1 and #2.

I'm glad this issue hasn't affected everyone, at least some can enjoy what their money has bought.

As for me, it's the last product Ubisoft will ever get my money for. First and last. What a ridiculous ordeal.

Don't waste your time contacting Ubisoft if you're still having issues. It won't resolve anything other than entrenching the notion to never purchase any of their products again.

Find a no CD hack and enjoy the game so your money isn't a complete waste. At least the people who the piracy software is meant to put down can provide a solution, the company that made it sure can't.

What a joke...

I don't really understand what the problem is that everyone seems to be having with 1.6.
yesterday, I tried an experiment, I started the game without inserting the DVD, and the Tages option to verify the game box opened, typed in my key, was given the option of offline or online check, verified the game, and now I'm back to playing without the DVD again.

[Quote\]
Follow those instructions it should work.

Response (Fred) - 03/17/2008 05:14 PM
please try the following steps to see if this helps the game

Reinstall the game and launch the update 1.2 manually (http://patches.ubi.com/settlers_6/settlers_6_v1.2.exe)
Then go into the folder THE SETTLERS - Rise of an Empire\base\bin\
Open/edit the file s6patch.ini
Replace "TagesDisc" by "TagesOnline"
Save and exit the file.
Launch and allow the game to update automatically..
Run online activation

Fred
Ubisoft Technical Support[/QUOTE]

I tried those instructions and it didn't work for me either. I just bought my laptop fro ASUS and I actually haven't found too many games that will work on it because it is a 64 bit Windows Vista. This game was suppose to work. It didn't say anything about needign a special DVD drive. I can't just go out and replace it. If anyone else has any ideas, I would sure like to try them.

Thanks,

Have you tried patching to 1.6, and then doing what I did, in my previous post? ie. start the game without having the DVD in the drive.

I tried that then the Serial Key was invalid ... I did it twice...

Well either you made a mistake entering the key, or you've already used it to verify the game with Tages more than the three times the game allows.
Your only hope now is to contact Ubi, and try to get the key re-activated.

What is sad, I cannot connect to their remote server, I have am not using a router to do this, my firewalls are all uninstalled (except windows which is 100% fully disabled) and then I cannot get no activation code at all because of their remote host. I contacted my ISP service and they said all ports are open except one which is not on the list they gave me.

Yet after uninstalling and doing everything ask me now I am at the point of sending them dxdiag crap... *sighs* it gets so frustrating...

Ubisoft finally came through for me.

I filled out their support request form and told them that I try to run the game without the DVD in my DVD drive, and after entering my CD-KEY when prompted, I get a message saying that the CD-KEY is not valid.

Well, they just responded and gave me a CD-KEY that works, so I am now - finally - able to play the game.