NemesisTheWarlock Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 I launched Steam in online mode today as I wanted to download a Mod from their workshop. It didn't seem to be recognising my Skyrim game although I was still able to see my achievements and the last time I'd played (15/1/2013) It said that there was an update for Steam fixing various issues so I agreed to the update. No joy, every time I try to launch Skyrim, it takes me to the "Purchase Skyrim" page. My copy of the game is perfectly legit and registered with Steam, as my game history shows, but, for some reason, I am no longer allowed to play the game.This is partly a warning to others and partly a request for help if anyone else has experience of this issue. I haven't been able to get a response from Steam customer support. It's been suggested I have to re-install Steam, can I do that without deleting Skyrim? I know that I can just re-install the entire thing, but will I lose all my Mods? If anybody knows a simple solution to this, that'd be great.When(or if) I do manage to resolve this issue, I'll post the resolution.All help gratefully received. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guReMcO Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 Hmmm well when was reinstalling my pc I copied my Fallout New Vegas Data folder to the drive I wasn't doing anything with. On this same drive NMM had a folder where it placed all the installed mods. So I when Steam, FNV and NMM where installed again I copied the Data folder back and it worked like a charm. Long story short I think you can backup the Data folder and place it back savely. Might depend on what, if any, mod manager you use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NemesisTheWarlock Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Good point actually, thanks. Not gonna be too annoying to make a backup of the entire folder, just in case I do require a complete re-install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guReMcO Posted January 30, 2013 Share Posted January 30, 2013 It's by far the easiest thing to do if you are happy with how the game is set up. Just be aware that I didn't try this with Skyrim so don't shoot me if it doesn't work. Also make sure if using NMM that it is looking in the right folders. With me when scanning for games after the reinstall it actually thought the backup was the game. The same goes for the folder where it stores the packages you installed via the manager etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NemesisTheWarlock Posted January 30, 2013 Author Share Posted January 30, 2013 Yeah, also a good point, I've had issues with NMM finding games in the past, so I'll bear that in mind. Still really hoping I don't have to re-install. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NemesisTheWarlock Posted February 3, 2013 Author Share Posted February 3, 2013 Well, the latest is that Steam support have FINALLY got back to me, five days later!! Rather than trying to help however, they have requested that I provide them with a picture of the purchase receipt and pictures of the original packaging etc. According to their response, my receipt must be no more than 90 days old!!! Seriously? They clearly haven't even bothered reading my complaint or the details of my issue. How the hell can I provide a new receipt for a game I bought last year? Does this mean that, as my game is more than 90days old, I am no longer entitled to customer support? I think the users of Nexus could learn a very salient lesson here. I paid good money to this bunch for a legitimate copy of the game so that I could enjoy all the benefits that law abiding citizens should expect. I have now waited five days for them to address my issue, only to be accused of being a thief instead. I have downloaded I don't know how many Mods here, for free and I don't think I've ever waited as long as a day for a response and they have, without exception, been polite and attempted to resolve whatever issue I was in need of help with. Also the community support here is fantastic! The users here really ought to appreciate just how well served they are by the Mod authors and users here, Steam is abysmal! I wish Bethesda would find an alternative to us being forced to use them :mad: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NemesisTheWarlock Posted February 5, 2013 Author Share Posted February 5, 2013 Latest update - Steam have now reinstated my game after a WEEK without being able to play it!! Still absolutely no explanation or apology, but I can now confirm, for the benefit of anyone else that suffers this problem, that the source was entirely at Steam's end, I haven't even had to turn my machine on. I intend to pursue the matter to try to find out exactly what went on and will post the results here when I have some answers, but, at least for now, I am back in Skyrim!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NemesisTheWarlock Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 The saga continues, I'm posting below the latest response from Steam, if anyone can shed any light on this I would be most grateful Hello Nemesis, You should not need to reinstall Skyrim. Our records indicate that the CD Key that you originally received with your copy of the game may have been used more than once by the publisher, thus creating a situation where more than one user registered the CD Key. We have remedied the situation by registering a new, unique CD Key to your account. If you have any further difficulty, please let us know - we will be happy to assist you. So it's Bethesda's fault? :confused: P.S. I have no idea what this new CD key is btw :facepalm: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
septeracore Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 (edited) The saga continues, I'm posting below the latest response from Steam, if anyone can shed any light on this I would be most grateful Hello Nemesis, You should not need to reinstall Skyrim. Our records indicate that the CD Key that you originally received with your copy of the game may have been used more than once by the publisher, thus creating a situation where more than one user registered the CD Key. We have remedied the situation by registering a new, unique CD Key to your account. If you have any further difficulty, please let us know - we will be happy to assist you. So it's Bethesda's fault? :confused: P.S. I have no idea what this new CD key is btw :facepalm: Was this your first time dealing with Steam Support? Given that I faced a similar issue the day I bought Skyrim, I can understand (and laugh at it at the same time - hooray, wasn't me suffering this time :D). Jokes apart, one thing I would suggest, and which you pointed out as well, the CD key issue. You might want to make sure you clear it up with Steam support before closing that ticket - best to include a scenario where you will have to show a CD key. Another thing to do might be to save a copy of the ticket along with the entire history somewhere. Highly doubt you will need it, but given the fact that you don't know your CD key anymore, might come in handy. EDIT: As for the question "So it's Bethesda's fault? :confused:"Looks like a Steam issue to me. Even if Bethesda gave out the same CD key to multiple users, Steam verifies that the CD key is not in use by someone else - otherwise, hypothetically, me and my friend wouldn't have to buy two copies of Skyrim (At least that's how I assume it works. I actually never bothered trying same key two accounts.) How it slipped under their radar - no clue. These links might help with the CD key issue:https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=4950-EKAM-2644http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1225151 Edited February 8, 2013 by septeracore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NemesisTheWarlock Posted February 8, 2013 Author Share Posted February 8, 2013 (edited) Thank you for that, nice to know that I'm not the only one that has suffered this issue, I was beginning to think that they'd singled me out for persecution! :wacko:It is my first encounter with Steam Support, I haven't had any problems up until now and this is the first time I've used them. I have specifically never bought a game that used Steam in the past due to their reputation and my own understanding of how they work, but Skyrim was just too good so I bit the bullet and shelled out for it in the hope that I'd get lucky. I was surprised to get this far without issue to be honest and had begun to allow myself to believe that they maybe weren't that bad after all, my mistake!Thank you for all of your suggestions but I'm glad to say that I've implemented ALL of them already. I'm not letting them close the ticket until I have this new CDkey, especially as I've only today got access to my game again on my home machine. I've pointed out to them that I will need the CD key to do a reinstall, or, of course, to prove that my copy of the game is legit!! I am also keeping a complete copy of my communication with them, just to be on the safe side, I've discovered that Steam have a habit of quietly "disappearing" inconvenient comments and posts. It's also been suggested that I should be careful as I may be banned for complaining!Looks like a Steam issue to me. Even if Bethesda gave out the same CD key to multiple users, Steam verifies that the CD key is not in use by someone else - otherwise, hypothetically, me and my friend wouldn't have to buy two copies of Skyrim (At least that's how I assume it works. I actually never bothered trying same key two accounts.) How it slipped under their radar - no clue.Yeah, it makes no sense to me either, something else I've pointed out to them. Either I was the first one to use it and so the next person should have had the problem, or I shouldn't have been able to use the CD key when I registered my game. I don't think they're too happy about me not dropping the issue and just being grateful to have my game back, but I want them to explain to me exactly how it happened. From their explanation, it would appear that they have failed in their obligation to prevent piracy, so what are Bethesda paying them obscene amounts of money for? Anyway, I'll cease ranting, my purpose with this was to try to help anyone else who suffers this issue and to let everyone know what to expect from Steam and, hopefully, speed up their own resolution should it happen to them. Getting information out of them is like extracting blood from a stone though :wallbash: P.S. Thanks for the links, they may come in handy for anyone else in this predicament. Edited February 8, 2013 by NemesisTheWarlock Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts