Demo Time

[Deleted]

Just got my old Computer up and running again as I wanted it----now after about 30-40 minutes it, -- FSX, tells me that the 'Demo Time ' is up and it promptly shuts down.  

What this Demo Time ?, I never saw that before in many moons of simming.  

                         Carm. 

[olderndirt]

This may be the problem.

After you play Microsoft Flight Simulator X for 30 minutes, you receive the following activation message:
Thank you for trying Microsoft Flight Simulator X. The trial time limit has expired. Please activate Flight Simulator to continue playing.

To use all the features of Flight Simulator X, you must activate the product. Microsoft Product Activation is designed to verify that software products are legitimately licensed. Activation works by verifying that the product key is not being used on more personal computers than are permitted by the software license.

To determine whether the product has been activated, start Free Flight in Flight Simulator X. Click Help, and then click About. If there is no menu, press the ALT key. You should see the product ID number. If the product ID number is missing, the product has not been activated.

[Bushpounder]

Funny thing - I was just over at Flightsim.Com, and someone posted this EXACT same problem yesterday.

BP;)

[Deleted]

Thanks for the replies men.

       Yep! Dave, you were right.  That is the problem---its not registered, now how this happened is beyond me.    I take it now I'll have to remove and reinstall the program ??  I hope not. 

       Don :    that inquiry you saw was likely mine.

                                         Carm.

[Deleted]

No. You'll just be back where you are now if you do that. If you had to reinstall FS after your crash, it's new to that computer. As you did when you first bought the program, you have to activate it. That's where you're at now. When it comes up telling you your demo period has expired, there should be a link in that window that says "Activate" or something like that. Click on that and fill in your SN when asked for, and it'll tell you it's now activated. If there's no link in the welcome screen, then click on the Help menu and it should be in there somewhere. Once you've activated it, it will be good to go again.

[Deleted]

Dave and Glenn ::

Glenn--- when the sim stops because of the expired time, the screen becomes black and there is no Menu Bar. All that is on the screen is a icon? [small screen] and the only option on it is ' Close'. I can't get to a Help option as there is no Menu bar.     Once I activate the Close then the desk shows the normal screen and then there is  'Help'. If I go in there as Dave say's then I can find a Welcome  screen with a spot for the Product Key.    Now, there, are several figures, which make no sense. I tried but of course they can't be erased etc.     All in all guys, I cannot find anyplace to insert the correct Key.  

  I wish it at least gave me enough time to run a decent ILS into Pearson.

Carm.

[olderndirt]

Maybe somewhere here.  support.microsoft.com/kb/925723

[Deleted]

Hmmnn, can you take a screenshot of what you are getting (use "PrnScrn" and save, but that only saves the last image you took) and put it up here? I don't recognize this at all. Sounds like something else is going on.

Also too though (Dave, you might know this), didn't M$ kill the activation procedure and requirement a bit ago since the sim is no longer supported? If that's the case, you shouldn't have to activate at all (maybe?).

[olderndirt]

Microsoft still requires the activation procedure to protect against illegal copying.  Though you've purchased the right to use the software, they still hold ownership of said software.

[Deleted]

It's not often that I've felt like screaming at the phone, but I just spent time trying to get help using MS's  help line and telephone assistance from their' technical experts.'    So help me, even if I could understand them, they didn't know any more than I.   I had one hell of a time just getting them to understand the problem.  Finally I got shunted over to some outfit that wanted to sell me X Packages ??     I give up  !!!  

        

                          Carm.        

[Deleted]

Yeah, M$ "help" is designed solely to get you to buy the expanded MS books on their system. It's not meant to assist you in any way with your problems. Most things are going this way. It's now a world of "buy our product but don't hassle us with problems because we're too busy trying to sell you more stuff."

OK, maybe time for a reinstall. Do you have the base FS plus separate SP1, SP2 and Acceleration disks, or did you get the Gold version which has all in one package. Let me know then watch for a follow up here.

[Deleted]

Mornin All,
Yep, Glenn, I still have the basic FSX, Acceleration etc. The Deluxe version is installed now. That reinstall has been floating around in my old head since this started. It may be the route to follow. I need to go flying now to help me make up my mind---maybe a couple of circuits at Hanover,
Cheers. Carm.

[Deleted]

Uhh, how can you go flying if the sim won't boot past the activation screen? I is conflused...

[Deleted]

Oh no ! I can fly as normal for 30 minutes only----then it shuts off, 30 minutes at a time is all the FSX Demo will allow. Just enough for a couple of circuits etc. As I just did.
Carm.

[Deleted]

Then what happens if you go into the help menu before you reach that 30 minute mark and click on the Activate link?