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Author Topic: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate  (Read 569 times)

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LaRocha

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Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« on: December 09, 2023, 01:35:32 AM »

Hi guys
SO.... I got ahold of a clean redone windows XP rig, and I am trying to install 1946. I'm using my old copy I bought back in the day from a download that I luckily had burned to a CD. Everything seems to install ok... until I get this "activemark" activation message. I've poked around the net for a bit and tried the work arounds I've been able to find with no luck. Can ANYBODY tell me what I gotta do to crack, hack, reinstall, reengineer...whatever I gotta do.

Thanks in advance
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WhiteSnake1976

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2023, 05:20:04 AM »

Hi guys
SO.... I got ahold of a clean redone windows XP rig, and I am trying to install 1946. I'm using my old copy I bought back in the day from a download that I luckily had burned to a CD. Everything seems to install ok... until I get this "activemark" activation message. I've poked around the net for a bit and tried the work arounds I've been able to find with no luck. Can ANYBODY tell me what I gotta do to crack, hack, reinstall, reengineer...whatever I gotta do.

Thanks in advance

First try installing a Modpack to see if that fixes it, as far as i know they all overwrite the activation and ad a No-CD/DVD patch.


If not and maybe a better choice to start with anyway: Get the game from GoG.com, Turn Automatic Updates Off after you installed it from there and use this tool to get it down to the correct version for mods: https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,55464.0.html

I couldnt get my disk version to work anymore also (CD/DVD disks do not live for ever and date gets corrupted from microscopic litlle cracks in the read/write surface) so i got one from GoG.com as i know it works for sure.
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Frankiek

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2023, 06:33:14 AM »

If you reach the point that you can see the main IL-2 folder with all the files then is just a matter of going here https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/board,176.0.html and then download the Il2fb.exe file with either the no-cd version for the stock game or the IL-2 selector if you would like to have a mod friendly exe. In the same page you will find other useful links. If the game is missing files or not completely installed then I would also go for the purchase of the GOG version
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LaRocha

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2023, 06:04:01 PM »

Thanks I'll try to give that a shot.

So here's a question... I've still got my old Pacific Fighters discs. To the best of my memory when I upgraded to 1946, after the install it fired right up. I don't remember having to do the whole registration thing but I could be wrong cause that was a long time ago. When you mentioned the Modpack it just got me thinking. Is that a possibility as well?
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LaRocha

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #4 on: December 09, 2023, 10:06:27 PM »

Ok so update
My install version is 4.08
I ran the 4.09 patch... still can't activate
Tried the no CD patch.... Swapped that exe for the factory exe in program files folder. THAT won't even boot. Double click exe.. get the hourglass.. wait... nothing.
Swapped the factory exe back in... same as before.

Don't know it it helps but here are system specs
Windows XP Pro
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
System Manufacturer Lenovo
System Model              0266RZ1
System Type                X86-based PC
Processor                     x86 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~2494 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date       LENOVO 9HKT41AUS, 5/16/2011
SMBIOS Version           2.6
Total Physical Memory       4,096.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 2.21 GB
Total Virtual Memory           2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory     1.96 GB

Next step is Mods?
Question 1 - Do I have to be all patched up, and if not which would I need?
Question 2 - If I get the 4.12.2m Mega Patch... will that fix it or do I have to be activated first?
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Frankiek

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2023, 03:24:10 AM »

Have you tried this? https://www.sas1946.com/main/index.php/topic,1531.0.html

also my old Pacific Fighters 4.04m need a different rts.dll  to run without a CD however this was an old copy protection system that was not present from 4.07 onward but maybe as you upgraded from PF it will still be needed  so I am attaching just in case
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WhiteSnake1976

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2023, 04:52:37 AM »

Some Writable/Rewritable CD/DVD's decay after a few years and data gets lost so i am still guessing your coppy might be the problem.

On top of that your saying you burned it to a CD (700MB), but the full install is 6.6GB (2 DVD's) so i am guessing you burned it to a DVD, but even a Single DVD wont be enough.

Hence when you aplied the No CD patch the game wont launch because its missing a lot of files.

Game can run on anything from Windows XP SP1 to Windows 11, so you dont need a really old rig with an old OS to run it.
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SAS~Storebror

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LaRocha

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2023, 05:36:21 PM »

FrankieK - Thanks I'll give it a shot. I think you're right about Pac Fighters... I wanna say I remember seeing 2 different Ubisoft folders in my program files after I installed 46 back then, so what you're saying would make sense.

WhiteSnake 1976 - Dual layer DVDs hold around 8GB. I had a ton of them laying around cause I work in the film industry and everything needs to be saved to hard copies, although that's changing now. You're right in that I burned this at least 10yrs ago or more so degradation is a possibility, but it's never been used until now and stored in my "media safe". I've got zero loss on any of my other media files in there... but anything is possible. I've got the old XP machine for dedicated offline work with Photoshop. I'm not paying Adobe's monthly subscription BS for perfectly good software I paid close to a grand for that they sold me a "perpetual license" to...because they changed their mind. My XP rig is for PS and 1946 only. Everything else I do on MAC cause that's industry standard.

SAS~Storebror - YES! I saw that. One of the first things I tried... but here's my problem... no Activemark file.
Any ideas about that?


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SAS~Storebror

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2023, 11:13:24 PM »

SAS~Storebror - YES! I saw that. One of the first things I tried... but here's my problem... no Activemark file.
Any ideas about that?
On XP... no.

Best bet would probably be what has been told first: Spend $10 and get a fresh set of non-DRM crapped IL-2 from GoG, Steam or the like.

]cheers[
Mike
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WhiteSnake1976

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Re: Back after a long time.... AND I can't get 1946 to activate
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2023, 03:13:32 PM »

Its or the DRM thats ruining it, or Bad Luck with the Dual Layer DVD.
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