Download the patch and you don't have to worry about activation

We realize that our demo says that you just need the key, but with our publisher change this is no longer true. You MUST download the new version from the Matrix site. The new keys they are giving out do not work with the old DRM system. We are working on updating all of our assets to reflect this change.

UPDATE:
Andrew Loveridge wrote:

Patch 1.5 Rev

Well, I have tried to download the patch and I receive a message to enter my serial number. I purchased this game when it first came out and during the past decade (or so) I have lost the serial number. Guess I won't be able to download w/o this number plus the other download serial numbers as well. So, yes, some type of activation number is needed.

J

I have the same problem. I have not played this game in a year or more. WHen I try to upgrade to 1.5 it asks me for the serial number. Where can I get my serial number. I really want to play Antietam this weekend! LOL

I have my magic codes for everything, however when I run the game it doesn't allow me to activate it. I have v1.5001 up but it's in perpetual demo mode now.

It does not give me an activation button in the menu screen.

Help?

If you don't remember your codes there's a good chance we can look them up for you. So email our activation guru at activate at norbsoftware dot com and we'll find your codes for you.

Neal - you installed 1.5 and you entered all your codes in the installer and your still in demo mode? Try reinstalling the patch first. That might work. Sometimes it also works to delete the matrix games and norbsoftdev reg keys. Hopefully that isn't necessary.

What is up with the DL time on the Matrix FTP?
I have FIOS and this is moving really slow for some reason.

Good day all,

I had a probelm last weekend where i hadn't played for a while and i forgot what my activation code was but after a few e-mails to support i got back up and running (thanks Dave), i have been playing since then.

Today i found out about the new 1.5 patch so downloaded it from Matrix and installed it also used my activation code when prompted which seemed to be accepted but when i tried to open the game with the new desktop icon and now i get game stopped working error constantly.

So i decided to uninstall my game totally from my computer then install the 1.5 patch but now get a message that it has been detected that i am up to date to 1.5 already so i continue anyway and install, next i find my code in already in the box ready to activate which i thought was strange i thought i had uninstalled the game totally then when installed this time i get no desktop icon onto screen so go into the scourge of war file to use the application from there and again i get game not working error.

Anyway i guess i messed up somehwere again or not doing something correct again, could you please help as i can't play the game again?

Sorry to be a pain Synner

It looks like I've got the same problem as Neal - stuck in Demo mode. After trying to repatch (which didn't work), I tried uninstalling/reinstalling the game (1.4 demo version), deactivated the game, then patched up to 1.5. Still no luck. It continues to boot as a demo version with no opportunity to add activation codes, etc. Sounds like there may be a number in this situation. Thanks!

-WJ Palmer

Update: I did finally get it to work by
1)deleting the registry keys for Matrix Games and NorbSoftDev
2)uninstalling/reinstalling to the 1.4 version of SoW Gettysburg
3)deactivating the game and finally
4)patching up to 1.5

-- no more demo mode twilight zone

To find your Serial Code in your Registry, just look for Norbsoftdev. It's there.

You can find it under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE => Software => NorbSoftDev

You need to remove the 'Matrix Games' registry entry. Do this ONLY IF YOU ARE COMFORTABLE editing your registry file. If you have the slightest doubt as to your ability, don't do this. If you make a mistake, your computer could become inoperable.

with regedit navigate to
WinXP 32 bit:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\Software\Matrix Games

Win7 and WinXP 64 bit:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Wow6432Node\Matrix Games

Delete the entry.

GENERAL GEORGIA...

Naturally I was suspicious of any instruction on your part, seeing as how your solution was not based on clear Biblical principles. I suspect this was the reason why your proposal provided no immediate solution to my dilemma. However, after augmenting your proposal with information gleaned from the Book of Isaiah, I was able to conclude the process with success.

Fellow (and Righteous) Confederates: AFTER DELETING THE REGISTRY KEY, you must then re-run the 1.5 installation patch. You should be immediately prompted to enter all THREE of your keys, for each expansion, which all good Confederate players should have.

For Union players: Just delete your ENTIRE registry and surrender. It will be a much easier day for you doing so.

General Georgia, I ought to have known that in all your wagons of plunder you've everything. I would wager well that you must certainly have a dozen or more copies of SOW rattling amongst all the silverware of Northern Virginia.

-THE FATHER GENERAL

EXP 101: After deleting the registry keys, just rerun the 1.5 installer. You'll be prompted for codes. You should be fine, provided you are a loyal Confederate player.

It appears that if you DEACTIVATE your game first, and then install patch 1.5 you should not be having the install problems.

Of course this is a solution that just came out about 5 minutes ago in the MP game lobby.

Personally the patch install should automatically deactivate the game before installing, but hindsight is 20/20.

Update: P.R Cleburne came up with that solution.

Hey, while awaiting my extremely slow Internet-Download - can someone post what exactly the new Patch does, change!

Thanks

davinci

Version 1.5

New Features

* GFX_Obj_Stealth has been added to the gfx.csv to make possible invisible objectives in scenario design.
* Water has been enhanced in the game maps.
* A new Replay system is now available. Players have the option to save Replay after ending each battle. The Replays are available from the Single Player menu.
* Couriers in MultiPlayer now find the quickest route to their destination, as they do in Single Player. In the past, couriers in MultiPlayer would always use roads.
* Saved games now include all mods in use instead of forcing to player to have to manually enable each mod that was used.
* In MultiPlayer, the enemy side is now hidden on the "Player Status" screen. This is the screen invoked by clicking on the the player's star in the upper right of the MultiPlayer gamescreen.
* cavalry can now charge unlimbered artillery automatically when they get within a certain distance.
* The previous activate/deactivate DRM system has been replaced by the DRM system used by Slitherine Inc.

Bug fixes

* A bug that made the in-game Options Help screen inaccessible has been fixed.
* Fatigue bonuses now work correctly when they are awarded by objectives.
* A bug that caused Sandbox battles to end extremely early because a Fail grade was reached has been fixed. The game will no longer check for a Fail grade until after a half hour, and the default Fail grades have been greatly increased.
* Clicking the Charge button repeatedly no longer causes unrealistic casualties.
* A bug that caused players to see courier messages sent by teammates in MP has been fixed.
* A bug that caused an incorrect order of animation for artillery guns has been fixed.
* A bug in GB22 which prevented players who earned a Major Victory from being promoted has been fixed.
* The portrait graphics files are now square, since rectangle graphics can cause problems for some graphics cards.
* A bug that caused regiments to engage in melee even after being ordered to retreat has been fixed.
* A bug that prevented objectives in the map CSV files with coordinates below 16394 and above 245661 from showing up in Sandbox games has been fixed.
* A bug that caused all forces to start on top of each other in Sandbox when a new patch was installed and a default Battle Type was not selected has been fixed.

The "deactivate" solution wasn't something that i figured out on my own.
Garnier was online with a group of us at the GCM server and we went through the process of elimination together.
This just seemed to be the common ground we found.
No one yet that we know has had a problem using this method.
Thanks for helping to get it out there Mike.

I deactivated and then ran the patch and everything worked good for me.

NY Cavalry wrote:


Same here. I updated my PC. Now I need to get the Antietam serial number for my laptop and I will update that computer also.

Maybe my problem is down to not deactivating the game before trying to install 1.5 patch.
Oh well back to e-mails to support i guess.

Marching Thru Georgia wrote:



I will try this tonight when back from work.
Do i delete the whole line or just the code?

I don't understand the deactivation thing myself, as deactivation write to a hidden folder and all the installers work on the registry. They have nothing to do with each other, but stranger things have happened. On Jim's machine we had a case where he had some reg keys hidden in another reg folder that the game was picking up rather than the ones mentioned. We had to search his registry and delete the other keys.

Thanks everyone for posting solutions. We didn't have a lot of time to test the patch, as we know everyone wanted it and you've been waiting long enough.

Synner wrote:

Delete the entire Matrix Games folder.

ok, solved;

1 - installed the patch again
2 - I didn't have installed again PC and AM packs like the first time, so the game appears at this point like they was not present
3 - I deleted the registry entry
4 - rerun the patch, this time it asked me the codes for the packs

I'm not going anywhere near this patch until I completely understand what I should do.

I'm not touching the registry - did that once a few years ago and it bit me.

I have Antietam and Pipe Creek add-ons. Can someone please give a clear accurate step-by-step solution preferably without the role-playing?

Thanks.

Tank,

I'm with you. I was lucky enough to NOT realize the patch was out before I started reading all the posts. I will definitely wait until things have sorted themselves out before I install this patch. Also, I have to go and find all my damn launch codes for the add-ons and such. Oh well...

Jack

Cleburne came up with a solution and it worked for me.

Have your Pipe Creek and Antietam codes ready. Do not try to update until you have those codes at the ready.

Deactivate your game.

Install patch and follow directions.

For me everything worked, Mods and add-ons.

This worked for me.

The main problem happens if you don't have the game installed in C: ; I suggest you to delete the registry entry
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NorbSoftDev (XP) before start the patch because the patch create two entries one matrix and the other here, so if it find already the lines AM and PC here he don't ask to install them and don't create the lines under the matrix registry.

A this point you can launch the patch; is possible you cannot change the path from C: eventually install in C: and cut and copy in your game directory (you must re-set the original options in this case). At the end you can reinstall PC and Antietam original pack again (not necessary for the game only for reinsert Antietam background image on the game)

Saddletank wrote:


Ha, ya got bit eh...

Fear not, a new update is due out later today. They have been informed of the Registry issue, hopefully this update will address that, so you won't have to risk getting bit...

NY Cavalry wrote:
I took a deep breath and followed your instructions NYC. It seems to have worked. I didn't deactivate my mods though when I did it. It doesn't seem to have hurt at all.

First post updated.