Constantly asking for CD Key

[Lippeth]

So I have two instances of Doom 3 installed, one via Steam, and one where I've extracted some of the Steam files and used the old Doom 3 patchers so that Steam isn't in the equation and use the same cd keys for both. I play them both often, and open and close each program well over 50 times a day when messing with mods and such. Most of the time this is fine, and it can be fine for weeks, but then out of the blue it will ask for the cd key again, so I enter the key and it will either work, or say that the key is in use, and not work. I almost have the cd keys memorized at this point, but would rather it just remember the damn keys. In even rarer cases, the mouse cursor will be stuck at the top left of the screen but will otherwise be functional with everything other than the mouse. sometimes it's fixed by a computer restart, but will sometimes persist until it wants to work.

 

Does anyone have any experience with this happening, or have a possible solution? Despite my efforts to separate the Steam version and CD version, they seem to ask for cd keys at the same time, about half the time. Sometimes one will go out while the other works. I remember this happening with just the Steam version as well, and my solution at the time was to copy the data files and use the cd's exe to keep it offline.

Edited December 13, 2021 by Lippeth

[ax34]

Did you try to use a source port? (Dhewm3 or RBDoom3)

[DuckReconMajor]

I've had a similar issue after installing an update patch for a different game I lost the CD key for. The only thing I could do is revert to the older version

[Lippeth]

5 minutes ago, ax34 said:

Did you try to use a source port? (Dhewm3 or RBDoom3)

I mean yeah, I use both of those as well. But I use the Doom3.exe just as often, and mods like CstDoom3 require it.

 

1 minute ago, DuckReconMajor said:

I've had a similar issue after installing an update patch for a different game I lost the CD key for. The only thing I could do is revert to the older version

 

I still have the keys, it's just that out of nowhere the game will ask for them again. So I enter them in ad nauseam. I'm mainly curious as to what might be causing this so I can try to prevent it from happening every few weeks/months. When I open the key files in a text editor while everything's working, they show the cd key, and when I check while I'm locked out of the game, the key is gone from the file, it's like they're deleting themselves. Sometimes I replace the file from a backup or paste the key in the actual file, and that works about half the time, and other times I'll enter the key through the game which also works about half the time.

[irukanjji]

I´´ve same problem, i´ve a old dvd disk buyed at a store, and for some reason when i patched it do last version, the game ask me again the cd key, after some digging  i found the problem, in my case the files doomkey and xpkey (in base folder), with no extension are gone, so the game ask for keys, with this files present dont ask anymore, perhaps its your problem to.

Edited December 13, 2021 by irukanjji
update info

[Lila Feuer]

I got around the key crap by going into the console and warping to a map, any map, go back to the menu and then start a game, voila no more key whining.

[Alex S.]

On 12/13/2021 at 9:41 AM, Lippeth said:

So I have two instances of Doom 3 installed, one via Steam, and one where I've extracted some of the Steam files and used the old Doom 3 patchers so that Steam isn't in the equation and use the same cd keys for both. I play them both often, and open and close each program well over 50 times a day when messing with mods and such. Most of the time this is fine, and it can be fine for weeks, but then out of the blue it will ask for the cd key again, so I enter the key and it will either work, or say that the key is in use, and not work. I almost have the cd keys memorized at this point, but would rather it just remember the damn keys. In even rarer cases, the mouse cursor will be stuck at the top left of the screen but will otherwise be functional with everything other than the mouse. sometimes it's fixed by a computer restart, but will sometimes persist until it wants to work.

 

Does anyone have any experience with this happening, or have a possible solution? Despite my efforts to separate the Steam version and CD version, they seem to ask for cd keys at the same time, about half the time. Sometimes one will go out while the other works. I remember this happening with just the Steam version as well, and my solution at the time was to copy the data files and use the cd's exe to keep it offline.

Hi. Your problem is likely due to permissions on the files that store the key text. Since Steam's default install location is \Program FIles (x86) then if you have UAC enabled in Windows, the writes to these files may get mucked up. I'd try this: Repair NTFS permissions on the folder Steam\steamapps\common\Doom 3. If that doesn't work, relocate your Steam library to a path outside of the grips of UAC... or just disable UAC since it's a pain anyway. On my old rig, I ran into this and moving my Library to another path (in my case, the root of the drive aka \SteamLibrary) resolved it since the ACLs on the filesystem were easier to manage, allowing my account full control.

[Lippeth]

@Alex S. Since I don't install Steam games to Program Files (x86) or on the same drive as the OS at all, and keep UAC off, I'll rule those out. I haven't had an issue with it in months but went ahead and repaired the NTFS permissions for each folder just in case. Thanks!

Edited February 14, 2022 by Lippeth

[Alex S.]

31 minutes ago, Lippeth said:

@Alex S. Since I don't install Steam games to Program Files (x86) or on the same drive as the OS at all, and keep UAC off, I'll rule those out. I haven't had an issue with it in months but went ahead and repaired the NTFS permissions for each folder just in case. Thanks!

Awesome, I'm glad we can rule those out initially. Sounds like you already have a really good setup going and have the experience needed to avoid pitfalls. Whatever I can do to help or troubleshoot, let me know and I will gladly do my best. Cheers!