COD4 Key code in use error

So i originally pirated COD4 but after playing it decided that it was too good to not buy. Anyway i reinstall with the paid for copy and after about a week i have started getting key code errors.

"Error: Key code in use, retry connection at a later time."

So i checked activision's help site and it says it has to do with firewalls and such which is bull since i don't have a router and i don't care for firewalls since i feel that if someone really wants to hack you they can get around it.

So i fiddled around with it for awhile and got lividly pissed off. Then i tried switching my modem to my alternate lan port on my computer which forces my modem to give me a new MAC address and bam problem is solved for the next hour until i close the game and start up xfire and trillian. And WHAM BAM problem returns until i switch it back to the original lan port, at which point i can play again.

Has anyone else had any problems with COD4 saying that their key code is in use? And if so what did you do to get around it, because i am getting awfully tired of having to swap my lan port and cycle my modem everytime i want to get in a few rounds of the good stuff.

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Welcome to the Machine

I don't want to get on your case here but I don't think switching different LAN ports helps. What it would help is that you should uninstall game entirely from your system, reboot system and install it again. Just in case, turn off your modem and turn it back on so you can get new IP address from your Internet provider. (I belive MAC address is specific for each Ethernet card and it can't be changed).

I had the same problem with original CD. I did what I just sugested to you and everything was fine after that.

My another sugestion for you is that you copy folder called "players" on your HD so you can paste it later in COD4 folder. You wanna do this so you don't have to create your profile from schratch...

Zixonija wrote:

I don't want to get on your case here but I don't think switching different LAN ports helps. What it would help is that you should uninstall game entirely from your system, reboot system and install it again. Just in case, turn off your modem and turn it back on so you can get new IP address from your Internet provider. (I belive MAC address is specific for each Ethernet card and it can't be changed).

I had the same problem with original CD. I did what I just sugested to you and everything was fine after that.

My another sugestion for you is that you copy folder called "players" on your HD so you can paste it later in COD4 folder. You wanna do this so you don't have to create your profile from schratch...

Did I misread or didn't he already say that he uninstall/reinstalled the game?

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*insert sarcasm here

Here were my first two thoughts:

A: the hacked key didn't get overwritten during install, it's still in the registry

B: the hacked version contained malware which someone has now used to hijack your legit key

Don't know if that's even close as I've never had the problem but just a thought.

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xer0
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...sounds like time for a good registry cleaning

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BizSAR

BizSAR wrote:

...sounds like time for a good registry cleaning

/aggree

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*insert sarcasm here

Azurell wrote:

BizSAR wrote:

...sounds like time for a good registry cleaning

/aggree

what software do you use for this?

I've been using CCleaner for all my registry cleaning needs. It's free and is updated regularly.

Here's the link:

http://www.ccleaner.com/

Ccleaner is what I use, good program

My issue with COD4 is I can't get the Multiplayer to work, I see the screen but no servers come up, even when I fiddle with the settings for Internet and such, nothing. Could it be a firewall or my current BitDefender protection doing this. I originally got punkbueter errors but cleaned that up by installing punkbuster. Is a re-install a good chice here, maybe even with the punkbuster it is hosed.

Ideas?

Nick

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"Practice, practice, practice and when your not practicing, practice."
Fatal1ty

nickmarine wrote:

Ccleaner is what I use, good program

My issue with COD4 is I can't get the Multiplayer to work, I see the screen but no servers come up, even when I fiddle with the settings for Internet and such, nothing. Could it be a firewall or my current BitDefender protection doing this. I originally got punkbueter errors but cleaned that up by installing punkbuster. Is a re-install a good chice here, maybe even with the punkbuster it is hosed.

Ideas?

Nick

Are you sure you are up to date on all the patches? Sounds like you might still be on the old version but WTF do I know.

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somethingcool wrote:

nickmarine wrote:

Ccleaner is what I use, good program

My issue with COD4 is I can't get the Multiplayer to work, I see the screen but no servers come up, even when I fiddle with the settings for Internet and such, nothing. Could it be a firewall or my current BitDefender protection doing this. I originally got punkbueter errors but cleaned that up by installing punkbuster. Is a re-install a good chice here, maybe even with the punkbuster it is hosed.

Ideas?

Nick

Are you sure you are up to date on all the patches? Sounds like you might still be on the old version but WTF do I know.

I did an update but I will double check again tonight

Nick

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"Practice, practice, practice and when your not practicing, practice."
Fatal1ty

If it still doesn't work, try it without BitDefender running.

What do you have for a firewall?

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BizSAR

BizSAR wrote:

If it still doesn't work, try it without BitDefender running.

What do you have for a firewall?

BitDefender is my protection; it is a brand new system so I'm still going through turning things off (Windows crap) plus it is my first Vista experience.
Fingers crossed.

Nick

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"Practice, practice, practice and when your not practicing, practice."
Fatal1ty

It's not a firewall issue and its not something that you have to re-install,uninstall or any of that!

there are 2 versions of this problem:

1. IW servers are full and or too busy to release your keycode, this happens just after you get the "Awaiting Key code authorization" error.

2. on a lan game or sometimes while in multi player wan mode your Network stack is configured wrong. you have 2 nic cards or more than 1 lan/wan connection.

Re-arrange the stack and it should work after that.