Need to enter serial number after restarting PC
I'm running MA 3.2 on Windows 8.1.
I have a problem, every time I restart my PC, I have to enter the serial number again (it asks for the serial number after every time I restart my PC). Is there any fix for this? It's kind of annoying to have to enter the code again after every restart. Your help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. |
If it's a valid Key, the system should remember it. Can you think of any reason that your system would not be able to save something in the Registry, such as no Supervisor abilities?
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The key is valid, I purchased it a while ago.
My Windows account has administrator abilities. Maybe I should run MA3 as an administrator after a restart? Thanks for your help. |
same problem
I have this same problem. I have uninstalled it and reinstalled it by clicking on the the executable and selecting run as administrator. I have windows 8 64 bit and this never happened on windows 7. Is there any setting I need to change? Is it possible that Norton has something blocking the registry?
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possible fix
I think I finally figured out what is causing me to have to put in registration information after I reboot. Norton products. I permanently disabled Antivirus and Firewall, entered the code and rebooted with Norton off, then restarted once more, turned them back on. Seems to work since. Logic is that Norton is not letting MA write to the registry.
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Key Lost after Update
Jim,
I've been seeing a very similar problem. But mine doesn't occur on every restart. I've identified that I need to re-enter my key on Windows 8.1 after most Windows Updates. Also, whatever fish-list I am currently using gets reset to the default non-key entered list. For now I've been backing up my preferred list of fish by creating a second set. I don't know what process during the update is wiping out the key and I haven't tried investigating the registry after this happens. If you would like me to check any particular registry entries before, during, and/or after the problem occurs just let me know what to check or what other testing would be helpful. Sincerely, Justin |
Thanks, guys. I'm not sure what I can do about that, but I'll look into it.
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Also Using Norton
I am also using Norton.
The weird thing for me is that this doesn't happen on every re-boot. Just every so often and seems to be when I install windows updates. But I'll try turning off Norton, entering my key, and then waiting for the next set of updates and we'll see. It could certainly be the same thing! Thanks for the heads-up on Norton. |
Still not fixed
Well, it turns out Norton is not the problem. It is still making me reregister after several reboots, could be that windows update as you said. I suppose it could be a policy setting. What I have been doing in the mean time is hibernating the PC instead of shutting it down completely.
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Re-entering serial number
I am having this issue as well. I'm running Windows 8.1 on a new Toshiba P75-A. I don't think Norton's is the issue here. Knowing how much I hate it, it was one of the first things to go when I was purging all the junk that comes on a new computer. Can't remember if I've done a hard start since the last time it's happened but it has done it multiple times. If you find a solution it would be appreciated. I'll check back regularly.
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Windows Update is the culprit
Well, I was fine for a week or so until Windows Update came from Microsoft. philosopher, I think you hit the nail on top the head when you said its the windows update. At least I have my favorite fish saved, so all I have to do is put in the serial number each time Microsoft wants to do an update, worth having my fish back. Thanks!
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I just came in here to report the same thing in 8.1 pro. I haven't narrowed down WHEN exactly it asks me to enter a new key, but it asks pretty often. It's no fun resetting the fish list constantly.
No Norton. I won't touch their stuff. IT sometimes happens when the computer hasn't been either put to sleep, hibernated, or rebooted. It just seems to randomly happen. Oh other nots on my pc that may or may not be relevant. It's a laptop with discreet nvidia graphics mixed with the built Intel. I run the aquarium both on the single laptop monitor sometimes, and other times on the laptop monitor + a landscape monitor + a portrait monitor. When I pull up the "S" key information it claims it's running this on the Intel HD graphics rather than the nvidia. Everything else is great, the only issue I have is the key code problem. . |
I still don't have a clue on this one.
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Could you find the reg key branch in the registry (in xp it's under
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SereneScreen\MarineAqu arium3]) export it when it's working, then import the saved xxxx.reg everytime before running the SS. |
Hey Jim,
Must be a windows 8 thing, Jim, just not sure why it does it. I don't know if this will help or not. I'm glad to do whatever tests you need or dump whatever registry info might be helpful to a PM. Just a little while ago it asked me for my key again. so I did a search on the windows 8.1 registry for serenescreen, it came up with these: __________________________________________________ _______________ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wo w6432Node\SereneScreen\MarineAquarium3 (This one has an entry in REGCODE, but it looks like .testfish c c c etc) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MA CHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SereneScreen\MarineAqua rium3 (this one has the same testfish code in regcode) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SereneScreen\MarineAqua rium3 (also has testfish code) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SereneScreen Marine Aquarium 3_is1 (no regcode key, just uninstaller info) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SereneScre en\MarineAquarium3 (THIS ONE HAS 00 IN THE REGCODE) HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-...\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE \Wow6432Node\SereneScreen\MarineAquarium3 (This one has the testfish code in REGCODE) HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-...\Software\SereneScreen\MarineAquarium3 (also has testfish in regcode) __________________________________________________ __________________ ***Then I put in the key and then re did my search.*** HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wo w6432Node\SereneScreen\MarineAquarium3 (now has the correct encrypted regcode) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MA CHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SereneScreen\MarineAqua rium3 (now has the correct encrypted regcode) HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SereneScreen\MarineAqua rium3 (has the corr3ect key in REGCODE) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\ Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\SereneScreen Marine Aquarium 3_is1 (No regcode key, just uninstall) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SereneScre en\MarineAquarium3 (still just has 00 in REGCODE) HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-...\Software\Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE \Wow6432Node\SereneScreen\MarineAquarium3 (has the correct encrypted key in REGCODe) HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-...\Software\SereneScreen\MarineAquarium3 (has the correct code in REGCODE) HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-..._Classes\VirtualStore\MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432N ode\SereneScreen\MarineAquarium3 (Has the correct regcode, but did not appear in my search when it was unregistered) __________________________________________________ ________________ The user serials are shortened up. That last key didn't show up in a quick search of the registry the first time, but that my be my fault. The next time it fails, I will check to see if that key is gone or if I just missed it this time. Would it help at all to paste the regcode from one of the ones that has it to the one that has just "00". If I wanted to backup one of these keys to restore it faster next time, which one do I need? OR does that give away the farm on the activiation process? If it does, no problem, I always have my key handy to copy and paste. |
Prolific handles the Key Code stuff. There's a lot going on there. The raw Key will not show up in a search, because the entry is munged before being stored. It's also stored in a second location in case the first one gets messed up.
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Love the comment "does that give away the farm on the activation process"... That might be the problem, in order to fix it they would have to tell you how to break their encryption... The only time I have to re-enter the code is when windows updates, like once a week and takes seconds. Just an annoyance when I have paid for the registration.
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Same problem
I am also having the same annoying problem with having to re-enter the code. Have not been able to pin down what triggers this.
Running Windows 8.1, 64-bit. |
System Restore
Everyone, I think this might have something to do with Window's System Restore feature. I had originally noticed that I had to re-enter my key-code whenever Window's Patch Tuesday's occurred and I installed updates. But yesterday my key-code was lost again and I hadn't installed any updates.
I did, however, install some new software (SQL Server 2014) and that install, as many do, first triggered a System Restore Point. Updates typically also trigger a System Restore Point. To test I manually created a System Restore Point but afterwards my key-code was still there. So I'm still searching for what exactly triggers the loss of the key-code. So, for now, the System Restore Point is at the top of my suspect list, but what about it might be part of the cause is still an unknown. |
Thanks for all the effort.
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It's not so much having to re-enter the keycoade. That's annoying enough. It's having to re-create the fish list...
Might try exporting all those kys into a single .reg file and see if a one click import will be enough to save some time. |
Edgar at Prolific is pretty sure this is a result of not installing MA3 as an Administrator. Without that, the Key Code can get overwritten with each system update or restore.
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Install as Administrator
Jim,
Thanks! This certainly sounds like it could be the culprit. I have no idea if I ran my original installation as administrator or not. Just a few days ago I installed a round of updates and lost the key-code again. So unfortunately I missed the window to test this. I've uninstalled and reinstalled running the install .exe as administrator. I made certain by running a command prompt as admin and then running the .exe from that command prompt. I'll wait for the next round or two of updates and report back here whether or not my key-code resets again. This will probably take a couple of months to be certain. |
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Jim, The first patch Tuesday since I re-installed has come and gone there were many updates installed and, so far so good, my key-code held! I'll report again next month. |
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Thanks, guys - glad to hear it.
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There is nothing in my code which would effect the Windows cut-and-paste functions. There must be something deeper going on.
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Thanks for getting back to us with that info.
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Recurrence
Perhaps this will help isolate the cause:
Over the past few weeks, after reading this thread, re-installing MA3 as administrator (on Win8.1, 64-bit) (by right-clicking the MA3.exe file, selecting 'Run as administrator' - is that the accepted procedure?), disabling 'System restore' for all drives, the annoying problem with having to re-enter the code did not occur for some weeks, even after monthly Microsoft updates. This morning I powered up the PC, started MA3 and got the re-enter the code message again; the only relevant cause I can think of is that yesterday I did some experiments with the MA3 sound/music settings (added a sound track, turned the bubble sound on/off, then turned off the music; now just running sound independently from a player in the background). Therefore, this error happened after the first system reboot after making those changes. |
EricW, thanks for providing your input! I installed MA3 the same way that you described and still have to re-enter the key code periodically. I wouldn't want to disable System Restore as you did though, since I've had to use it in the past to recover from certain troublesome situations.
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AudioBill: I have no problem with disabling System Restore because I - religiously - back up my entire system physical drive (all partitions) to an external hard drive. That has "saved me" on numerous enough occasions.
Hope an answer to this problem will be forthcoming soon; it has not happened here since I posted that last message. |
I give up... yesterday MA3 was working fine; this morning was prompted to enter the code again, without any changes specific to MA3 having been made in the last few days, nor any other (manually instigated) software updates. The only software that auto-updates on this machine is Norton Internet Security 2014. (I have Windows Update and also Java disabled from auto-updating - so that I can make an OS backup before the updates.) The restore points are still disabled on all drives. Win8.1 64-bit.
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Eric, I'm just as frustrated about this as you! There doesn't seem to be any specific behavior on my part that causes this problem, and MA is the only software on my PC that requires me to continually re-enter the product key code. Very aggravating for software that I have purchased; I could understand if it was a free giveaway.
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