Activation Issue with Fences (from Steam) on New System

from Stardock Forums

(Original post) "I purchased Fences a year ago in April via Steam, never received or needed a key or activation code (as far as I can tell), and installed it on a remote drive. I recently purchased a new system, retired and mothballed the old system, and have been looking forward to using Fences on the new system from the same remote drive. The new system is now the only system with access to Fences and/or the remote drive, and Fences halfway works on my new system, but is still throwing nag screens looking for an activation code.

I've deleted and reinstalled Fences on the same remote drive, using the new system, but no joy, it still continues to bug me for an activation code. Another one popped up as I was writing this post ~ help!"

(from the Support Forums) "Why is my Steam version (purchased there) asking for a product key?

You do not need a product key with the Steam version

It's important that:

-You do not have any other version of the software from any other source (stardock.com for example)

If you do, you need to uninstall that other version

-That you are logged into Steam and not as a 'guest'

-In the install directory of the product in question, run sassteam.exe and see if you are able to use the product again.

Fences:
\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Fences

Start10:
\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Start10

Multiplicity:
\Program Files (x86)\Stardock\Multiplicity

-If the above fails, uninstall / reinstall from within Steam (and only from within Steam) and try again."

 

First of all, thanks for the support, I appreciate it.

Secondly, I ran a search for "sassteam.exe" on both the drives of my new computer (which has Steam installed) as well as my entire remote stand-alone drive, where almost all of my games and software previously purchased through Steam reside, including Fences. This program apparently doesn't exist anywhere on my new system.

Thirdly, as mentioned above, prior to writing and asking for your help with this issue, I deleted and re-installed Fences, via my Steam account and Steam client, and did not see any changes or improvements in Fences' functionality. Do I need to do that again? Where do I DL the sassteam.exe program, from Stardock or from Steam, and where do I find it? I do have one other game (GalCivII) purchased from Stardock through Steam, do I need to uninstall it in order to solve this issue with Fences?

fences
33,358 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your problem to Stardock Support team for their assistant. Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates. We appreciate your feedback and patient.

 

Basj

Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

(Original post) "I purchased Fences a year ago in April via Steam, never received or needed a key or activation code
End of quote

Nor is one offered or needed.

Please see and use:

https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#reinstalling

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Mr. Drohan, thanks for this suggestion. Unfortunately, it has failed to solve the problem. I wonder if the issue might be related to the fact that my install directory for Steam (and thus, Fences) is not on my "C" drive, it's on a standalone "F" drive. However, this is where it was installed for use with my previous system, and there were no issues with the location. But your Purge program displays a number of "not found" messages in the cmd window when I run it. I've also tried re-installing the program from Steam without a restart (as the popup window instructs) and, when this first way failed, after a start-up ~ no joy either way.

So...where do we go from here?

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

I have forwarded your report to the Stardock support team for their review and recommendations.

Please keep an eye on this thread for any updates.

We really do appreciate your feedback, thanks.

 

 

AzDude
Stardock Community Assistant

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having trouble.

Quoting FierceRadiance, reply 3

I've also tried re-installing the program from Steam without a restart (as the popup window instructs) and, when this first way failed, after a start-up ~ no joy either way.
End of FierceRadiance's quote

It only asks you to ignore the initial apps request to restart - the script asks you to reboot a bit later.

The purge script makes use of:

%programfiles(x86)%\
%appdata%\Stardock\
"%ProgramData%\

If did not map those to your F drive, yes, the script will fail in many instances.


The new system is now the only system with access to Fences and/or the remote drive, and Fences halfway works on my new system, but is still throwing nag screens looking for an activation code.
End of quote

Did you just plug in the 'remote drive' into the new and not do an actual install on the new PCs native harddisk? If so, that is going to be problematic.  If the remote drive can be removed from the equation, and a new install attempted on the new PC from within Steam, I would like to know the results please. 

----------------
Sean Drohan
Stardock Customer Service Manager

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

I looked to see if this issue was elsewhere and found this. I just got a new computer, installed steam, and installed Fences through Steam. It's asking me for a validation code after saying it couldn't recognize the fact that I was online and logged into Steam. I was confused as I still had Steam open and logged in, with a web browser open and working too at the time.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Ralfil, reply 6

I looked to see if this issue was elsewhere and found this. I just got a new computer, installed steam, and installed Fences through Steam. It's asking me for a validation code after saying it couldn't recognize the fact that I was online and logged into Steam. I was confused as I still had Steam open and logged in, with a web browser open and working too at the time.
End of Ralfil's quote

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are having issues. Please make sure you have uninstalled all other version of fences (such as trial version)before installing Fences from Steam.

What you can do.

1. Uninstall Fences from Steam. Reboot.

2. Do the purges part of these steps to remove all previous installed version. https://forums.stardock.com/486084/fences-support-faq#reinstalling do not do the install part of these steps. reboot.

3. Log in your steam account. Install your Fences steam version.

See if that work. And report back.

Basj,

Stardock Community Assistant.