OK after reading and trying different things and deleting and reinstalling the game I finally got it to run.
The problem was the insructions on the stardock activation page dont tell you to change the name of the file you have to plug into the stardock folder.
In case anyone else is having the same problem as me (basically you arent really computer savvy and didnt notice this because you follow the instructions to the letter) here is how I got the game running:
1. After you download and install the game from steam, when you launch it, the startdock activation window will pop up asking you for you email, stardock acct password and the serial number from the game you are trying to register.
2. If you dont already have a stardock account make one. (I already had one since I bought Sins vanilla the day it came out)
After I did this the activation program gives an error message and says it cant communicate with the server. On my computer it gave a message, opened up the folder with the file you need to upload and then tells you to goto this website:
http://activate.stardock.com/
3. Once there, goto this section:
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Website Activation
- The application will write a file to your documents folder. The name of the file is XX.txt where XX is a number. The folder should open automatically, but if not, the file is located at:
Vista: C:\Users\[Your Name]\Documents\
XP: C:\Documents and Settings\[Your Name]\My Documents\
- Copy the file to a an external device (USB Stick, network drive, CD, iPod, etc.) and take it to a computer that DOES have internet access.
- Click on the Browse button below and locate the txt file. Select it and choose Open. Then click on Submit.
- In the colored box below will be a link to download the file (or a message if an error occurred). Right click on the link and select "Save As." Save the file somewhere and transfer it back to the PC you wish to activate the product at.
Successfully created file! Click here to Download!
- Copy and paste the file to the following directory at the computer you wish to activate the product at:
C:\ProgramData\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\License\trinity.bin
- Done! You may re-enable your internet at this time.
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4. You dont need to take the file to a computer without internet access like it says in #2, I did it from my pc I was trying to activate the game on. Just find the XX.txt file in the folder it opens for you and submit it in the form.
5. Once you submit the file underneath the sbmit button you will see a link where it says 'Click here to Download'. Save the file to your computer some where.
6. *Here* is what was causing my problem. The next instrcutions above say to copy & paste the file into this directory:
C:\ProgramData\Ironclad Games\Sins of a Solar Empire\License\trinity.bin
The problem is the file is actually named 'sig.bin' not 'trinity.bin'.
I know its an easy mistake and most of you probably already knew this but like I said I'm not computer savvy and following the instructions to the letter it doesnt tell you to rename the file.
So basically rename the file you download befoer you pop it into the directory and the game will launch.
Sorry for wasting a lot of people's time but I know I'm not the only computer Jerry's kid out there and I want more people to actually play and enjoy this game.
Good Luck!
