Need some help recovering from

[mercnet1980]

3 days ago my OS took a huge crap in its digital pants. I have been trying like mad to recover but now Ive decided to reinstall winxp (the old os was win2k)

Here is where I ran into trouble. I have looked every where for my bf2 handbook that has my cd key on the back, to no avail. I can no longer install the game with out this key.

What I need to know: Is there some way I can retrieve my old registery files and get that string that is for the cd key?

The problem is that I used the same HDD to install this buid of windows.

Is it still possible to get this back?

[Sir. MatDef]

Re: Need some help recovering from

Call ea, provide proof you own the game, and they'll give you a new key for 10 bucks. That's pretty much all you can do.

[mercnet1980]

Re: Need some help recovering from

Call ea, provide proof you own the game, and they'll give you a new key for 10 bucks. That's pretty much all you can do.

Why should I pay for something I already own? And besides, even though I am still playing the game, EA is not on the top of my favorites list. I dont know about you, but 1.3 made many many people hate EA.

All I have is my bf2 game case. I do not have a recipt (Bought the game 6 months ago) and buying a cd key is not something I wish to do. They are not supporting bf2 any more, and if I give them any money it will be for them to ruin 2142 (which is already off to a rocky start)

Bottomline is there is a way to recover the data. I just do not know what software I need in order to do this. Windows saves all those registry files and Im 100% sure I can recover them if I have the proper help.

[kenof2142]

Re: Need some help recovering from

You're paying because you lost your cd-key and weren't smart enough to write it down on the cd or some other place. Paying 10 dollars is a LOT better then having to purchase the game again simply based off of a memory lapse .

[mercnet1980]

Re: Need some help recovering from

You're paying because you lost your cd-key and weren't smart enough to write it down on the cd or some other place. Paying 10 dollars is a LOT better then having to purchase the game again simply based off of a memory lapse .

Its not a lapse of memory. I live with other humans and kids who constantly take things and play with everything in the house. Its not that I am not smart enough, it's that life as this funny way of doing stuff you least expect and when you dont expect. We humans call this life

I was in the middle of a back up when my system crashed and Im still investigating as to the why, but that is besides the point. I know that the registry files an be recovered, and I need some help in this endaevour. I am not willing to pay for a cd key that I do not have to pay.

If you can help me with this, thank you. If you can not please refrain from posting "buy another key", unless you are willing to fit the bill.

[kenof2142]

Re: Need some help recovering from

I can completely understand, I've misplaced things in the past and it sucks. You used to be able to pull the cd-key in the bf2 registry files but now they are encoded and unreadable. Unless someone has found a miracle cure for this anyone that has misplaced their cdkey is kinda sol .

[hobiecatter]

Re: Need some help recovering from

just a tip for when you get your new one...

most people have online email accounts Yahoo, Hotmail, etc.

send yourself an email with your key in it. I keep all important information in one email folder. If my computer crashes or something, I always have the key right there online in my Yahoo account.

[imported_Rafterman]

Re: Need some help recovering from

Why should I pay for something I already own? And besides, even though I am still playing the game, EA is not on the top of my favorites list. I dont know about you, but 1.3 made many many people hate EA.

All I have is my bf2 game case. I do not have a recipt (Bought the game 6 months ago) and buying a cd key is not something I wish to do. They are not supporting bf2 any more, and if I give them any money it will be for them to ruin 2142 (which is already off to a rocky start)

Bottomline is there is a way to recover the data. I just do not know what software I need in order to do this. Windows saves all those registry files and Im 100% sure I can recover them if I have the proper help.

Look at it this way - you're learning a life lesson for $10 - probably the cheapest one you'll every get. You should feel fortunate.

[lun4tic]

Re: Need some help recovering from

Why should I pay for something I already own? And besides, even though I am still playing the game, EA is not on the top of my favorites list. I dont know about you, but 1.3 made many many people hate EA.

All I have is my bf2 game case. I do not have a recipt (Bought the game 6 months ago) and buying a cd key is not something I wish to do. They are not supporting bf2 any more, and if I give them any money it will be for them to ruin 2142 (which is already off to a rocky start)

Bottomline is there is a way to recover the data. I just do not know what software I need in order to do this. Windows saves all those registry files and Im 100% sure I can recover them if I have the proper help.

You hate EA .. thren why bother playing their "crappy"game... ?? well ?? for me they made up for their problems in the past plus it was Dice that made the patches .. go hate them .. then you wont hate EA and you can phone them again .. 10 bucks?? just phone them and if you get the right understanding person on the phone you get it even for free ...

recovery of system registry?? sure easy ... 1 cup of water .. two tablespoons of salt .. pour in computer.. fight the fire and you have more chance to find them back.. after the format which i assume you used those files are gone for 99.9 % sure. data recovery is a very difficult proses after a harddrive crash for pro companies... data recovery of formated HD's is nearly impossible as they randomly put 1 and 0 on certain places to check it integrety.... to bad for that track you wont find it ..

my advice : call EA altough you hate them.... explain the situation.. have the code on the original cd handy and they might feel pity for you and give you a replacement key for free. Then install BF2... update with patch 1.4 and enjoy the game with all his might and glory..

may the force be with you luke !!

--FLAME ME --- i like it !

[SERIALBUTCHER]

Re: Need some help recovering from

A good practice is whenever you buy a software disc w/ special key is to write the key on a sticker on the disc itself that way it can never be lost

Then backup the disc

Lieutenant General |SI|SERIALBUTCHER

peace:)

[AnotherEd]

Re: Need some help recovering from

I was in the middle of a back up when my system crashed and Im still investigating as to the why, but that is besides the point. I know that the registry files an be recovered, and I need some help in this endaevour. I am not willing to pay for a cd key that I do not have to pay.

If you can help me with this, thank you. If you can not please refrain from posting "buy another key", unless you are willing to fit the bill.

I'll tell you how to recover your registry files for $10...

Its not a lapse of memory. I live with other humans and kids who constantly take things and play with everything in the house. Its not that I am not smart enough, it's that life as this funny way of doing stuff you least expect and when you dont expect. We humans call this life

Ah, I see your point. EA should foot the bill for who you live with and how they manage things in your house. It's life and EA should just expect to pay for it.

Come on, let's start an online petition!!!!! "EA Free BF2 Key Petition" -- If you think EA should hand out free BF2 keys whenever some schmoe has a sob story about how they lost theres, sign it!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!

...

[-=KOF=-IVirusI]

Re: Need some help recovering from

I lost my special forces cd key

So i went to ea downloader and bought it again for 19 pounds (26 dollars)

Too bad you lost yours though

[delemorte]

Re: Need some help recovering from

Look at it this way - you're learning a life lesson for $10 - probably the cheapest one you'll every get. You should feel fortunate.

that is a very good point....

I lost my special forces cd key

So i went to ea downloader and bought it again for 19 pounds (26 dollars)

Too bad you lost yours though

you had a key for SF? i downloaded it with my EA account no key required.... did you get a disk with yours?

[hcgalvin]

Re: Need some help recovering from

How did you reinstall windows? Did you format first? Or did you just do an install OVER the top of what you had (repair)? I think in any case, and also hearing in here that the BF2 CDKEY is encoded, I'm sorry, but I think you're SOL.

Do you know why EA charges for a key when you call? How can they not know you're a "hacker" or you got a burnt copy from your friend and you just want the key without paying for the software? Don't you think they'd lose out if they just handed out free keys to people that call? Also, did you register your copy with them when you got it?

In the future, do what others have suggested - put the key on a sticker on your CD, or email yourself the key. Or, better yet, don't lose the original in the first place. My husband and I take all our CDs out of our boxes when we get them, put them all together in a CD case with other games, office cds, whatever, and use a labeler to make a sticker for the key to put on the pocket they sit in. Then, we take the boxes that have the manuals in them and put them in the closet in the office. This way, we have two copies of the key. I've lost my share of keys in the past and it's a PITA. I've learned my lesson.

you had a key for SF? i downloaded it with my EA account no key required.... did you get a disk with yours?

I got a key with my SF.

[caseman]

Re: Need some help recovering from

I'll tell you how to recover your registry files for $10...


Ah, I see your point. EA should foot the bill for who you live with and how they manage things in your house. It's life and EA should just expect to pay for it.

Come on, let's start an online petition!!!!! "EA Free BF2 Key Petition" -- If you think EA should hand out free BF2 keys whenever some schmoe has a sob story about how they lost theres, sign it!!!!! Yeah!!!!!!

...

umm, he never said or asked for EA to provide him a key. All he asked for was some help in getting the key from his back-ups.

Maybe you should try reading the original post before spouting off.

To the OP, I don't think it's possible. With the release of one of the patches the key info was encrypted. So, unless you can find an applet out there that will decrypt it for you, restoring the registry info won't be much of a help.