Giveaway of the Day Forums » Installation and activation problems

1. CosmicSurfer
   Member

   I have been having the same problem with the last 3 times I have tried to activate the software downloads... Plato, Bee Icons, Wondershare Demo Creator.

   BTW.. I'm running WinXP Pro.. NOT Vista.

   All these downloads use the combined Activate/Install icon in the .zip.. where you get an activation code that you can paste into the Registration of the program after install is complete.

   The older method of Activate BEFORE install never gave me a problem.. and I have used this newer dual method before successfully in the past.

   But Now.. EVERY time I try to Activate/Install.. I get the same Error.. I click on Icon.. I have a small box open that says that the software is connectting to internet, (Zone Alarm advises me of the connection attempt and I approve it) and then I immediately get the small error Box "Fatal error: Key is Invalid".

   Then the installation process stops !!!! No install is completed.

   I have tried downloading from the main site, and from the mirrirs.. same problem.

   This is getting VERY FRUSTRATING... and I'm about to give up on this site.. No point in Coming here everyday and downloading if I can never Activate.

   I hope someone can HELP... PLEASE!!!!!.
   CS

   Posted 7 months ago #

2. Niloy
   Member

   I activated it and installed it with no paroblems but the activated code took about 2 min. to show up and I am using Vista and Plato DVD doesn't list Vista as supported but it still works maybe its a problem with XP but there shouldn't be all the problems are with VISTA

   Posted 7 months ago #

3. RunesageMagik
   Member

   Cosmo, You typed that you are trying to Activate/Install, but at least when it comes to the Plato software, the order of steps is "backwards":

   a) Unzip
   b) INSTALL by clicking SETUP.exe first
   c) THEN hit Activate... and expect 2 popups to land on top of each other.

   Please read my longwinded response to Alison - http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/2083?replies=3

   Posted 7 months ago #

4. CosmicSurfer
   Member

   Sorry.. I thought I was clear when I wrote my first post..

   When I Un-Zip folder, I ONLY have 2 files - Readme and Setup (Which I am calling Activate/Install) The ERROR happens when I click on the Setup.exe.. I can't get past the initial popup to request the key to allow setup to continue and to get the Activation PopUp.

   Your suggestion to allison is NOT APPLICABLE in my case.
   [Quote] "This activation procedure was more convoluted that usual, but it worked. This was an "Install, then Activate". When I clicked Setup.exe, the "checking with GAOTD" pop up appeared briefly, then disappeared.

   The installation wizard then appeared and I installed the software, whereupon two new boxes popped up simultaneously"[/quote]

   I have seen these before, I have done it successflly before... But not in the last few months.. It Fails and I get this error everytime.

   You suggestion is to get the Key After a successful install.. I don't have any installation AT ALL.

   Thanks,
   CS

   Posted 7 months ago #

5. BuBBy
   Administrator

   Possibly you are running low on free disk space? Try running CCleaner.

   Posted 7 months ago # | Login to Send PM

6. RunesageMagik
   Member

   Seems like what you're downloading is right, Cos. There is no activate FILE in the zipped file this time.

   When I clicked Setup.exe I got the typical File Download Security Warning (because none of these programmers seem to know how to use digital sigs)

   I click RUN and my firewall asks if I really wanna do that... while behind that warning box lies the GAOTD box.

   As soon as I authorize my firewall to allow the call out to GAOTD, the GAOTD box behind it also disappears without seeming to do anything.

   The Set up Wizard pops up. I run the Wizard. The Where to Install box pops up.

   I tell it where, it does its thing and when done 2 new boxes show up. (I said I hit activate at that point but maybe the button I hit said something else, like FINISH)

   One box contains the user name and reg key (which I will never ever ever - hope to stick a pin in my eye and break my mother's back - ever post again here or on any other forum so help me santa) and the other one is the Register Now or Die box.

   If you're seeing the thing hang at the initial GAOTD box with an "Fatal error: Key is Invalid", apparently what I saw as the box doing "nothing" is actually it retrieving the name and reg key, but with your system that data packet isn't being stored until the install is over but is allowed to run into a wall. Whoever is writing the code should be able to pick up on your clue, the error message, as well as the stage of the process. Sadly, it won't likely be fixed before the clock strikes midnight.

   Sorry I couldn't help. Guess I'll leave the tech support to the other experts and stick to what I know best... now where did I put my burger flipper??

   Posted 7 months ago #

7. CosmicSurfer
   Member

   [quote from BuBBy]"Possibly you are running low on free disk space?" [/quote]

   I have a NEW Computer, Running WinXP Pro on an Intel 2.66 Ghz Core-2-Duo processor.
   I have 3GB of RAM, 4 harddrives (80 GB O/S drive, 250GB Applications drive, and 2x 320GB Data drives (RAID 1)

   Low diskspace is most certainly NOT the issue here.
   I have NO PROBLEM downloading and installing any programs.

   My Problem only exists with this new SETUP.exe that combines BOTH (Activate and install) procedures. I have NEVER had this problem when using the seperate Activate BEFORE Setup installation.

   CCleaner is a registry and disk cleaning program.. I seriously doubt the this is the issue here.

   I have noticed that many people in this Forum are complaining of the same issue.. and all seem to have noticed this problem using this new Combined SetUp Process.

   I have also noticed that in EVERY CASE of these other posters, there has never been a successful resolution posted to this problem.. Usually the Thread seems to just peter-out from lack of response.

   I have also NEVER seen any Comment from any tech-support at "Giveawayoftheday"...

   For the last year I have been a regular user of this site, including making it my HomePage... But if this site is no longer of any value to me, and If this problem isn't rectified soon, I (and probably all the other users with the same problem) will have to discontinue our allegience, thereby defeating the intent of the site operators of building an ever-increasing base of users to generate more Business through the site.

   Is anyone at "GiveawayoftheDay" interested in commenting? Is there any fix to this issue? Is there any understanding to WHAT the problem actually is??

   My suggestion.. DUMP this new Setp/Activate procedure and RETURN to the 2-step model.
   CS

   Posted 7 months ago #

8. BuBBy
   Administrator

   Did this problem begin with the arrival of your new computer?

   Do ANY of the giveaways work? Todays game uses a separate Activate & Setup.

   Are you connecting to the internet via a proxy?

   I have just downloaded and installed the software giveaway on XP SP2 without any problems. Can you humor me, and redownload and attempt a reinstall - making a note of any error messages - and at which point during the install they occur.

   Posted 7 months ago # | Login to Send PM

9. CosmicSurfer
   Member

   Quote -
   Did this problem begin with the arrival of your new computer?

   I HONESTLY CAN'T REMEMBER..

   Do ANY of the giveaways work? Todays game uses a separate Activate & Setup.

   I JUST DOWNLOADED IT. OK.. ERROR SEEMS TO BE IN THE ACTIVATION ROUTINE. SAME PROBLEM.

   Are you connecting to the internet via a proxy?

   NO

   I have just downloaded and installed the software giveaway on XP SP2 without any problems. Can you humor me, and redownload and attempt a reinstall - making a note of any error messages - and at which point during the install they occur.

   AS I SAID IN MY PREVIOUS POSTS...
   DOWNLOAD... UNZIP... PRESS ACTIVATE (just now) OR SETUP (previous) ..
   I GET FIRST POPUP SAYING THAT IT WAS CONNECTING TO GIVEAWAYOFTHEDAY TO CHECK GIVEAWAY AVAILABILITY... ZONE ALARM POP-UP TO ALLOW INTERNET ACCESS... CLICKED "ALLOW"

   ERROR POP-UP > ACTIVATE - FATAL ERROR: KEY IS INVALID.
   NOTE THAT THE WINDOW TITLE IS "ACTIVATE".

   THIS IS ALL THAT I DO.. THIS IS ALL THAT HAPPENS.. CLICK ACTIVATE/SETUP and get ERROR.

   THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.. I HOPE WE CAN GET IT WORKING.. FOR ME AND OTHERS,
   CS

   Posted 7 months ago #

10. BuBBy
    Administrator

    Firstly - please don't type in all caps.

    Could you right click on the "ZoneAlarm Pro" icon in the system tray and select "Shutdown ZoneAlarm" then click "Yes" on the confim dialog that appears.

    Once ZoneAlarm has completely shutdown - can you try to run Activate once again.

    Thanks.

    Posted 7 months ago # | Login to Send PM

11. CosmicSurfer
    Member

    Sorry.. Used caps to differentiate my reply from your original.

    This forum doesn't seem to allow simple HTML Mark-Up

    Sorry again... I tried again without Zone Alarm active as you requested... still no good.

    BTW.. due to many issues with ZA v7, I'm still using the 'Tried & True' v6.5 so there shouldn't be any ZA issues either... Besides, previously I always 'Allowed" all activation attempts anyway.
    CS

    Posted 7 months ago #

12. cjkawg
    Member

    I solved this error by turning off proxy in IE7.

    Posted 7 months ago #

13. BuBBy
    Administrator

    The proxy is one of the first things I suggest.

    I'm glad it fixed the problem for you.

    Posted 7 months ago # | Login to Send PM

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