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Bad serial number given in setup - use this thread for help

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From now on, this thread is the only one to be used for the 'bad serial number given' problem. No matter if you have the Steam or the Retail version.

All other threads created in an attempt to get more attention will be deleted without further notice!

You usually can fix this problem by running the game 'as administrator' the first time to make sure the registry entries can be written.

If you still have the problem, check below numerous threads for additional solutions. Sorry for the long list of threads, but this is what happens when everyone thinks he must have his very own thread for a common problem.

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?138564 <- Working solution

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?134426

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?118027

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?134870

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?132892

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?129235

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?131583

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?133929

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?93515

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?100153

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?101277

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?76692

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?101448

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?115988

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?117997

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?118628

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?118979

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?120917

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?122969

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?76004

If after checking above threads you still have the problem, use this thread to get further help.

Edited by Placebo

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Excellent idea! :)

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I bought ArmA 2 combined ops yesterday. I played ArmA 2 with no complications, but when I try to run Operation Arrowhead, "No entry '.profilePathDefault'." shows up. Then, once the screen goes black and fullscreen, "Bad serial number given in Setup" pops up. I bought this through Sprocket, and have tried most of the suggestions in those threads.

My Specs:

Processor : AMD Turion II Dual-Core Mobile M500 2.2 GHz

Graphics (If you can even call it that) : AMD M880G w/ ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4200

4GB RAM

64 bit Win 7

Any help would be appreciated.

NVM I just downloaded OA weirdly.

Edited by blueguyz

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I also purchased the combined operations from Steam yesterday.

the weekend special Arma 2 Combined operations.

Both games appeared to install OK.

BUT- When launching the 1st game, Arma 2, it gives an error message "bad serial number in setup" and just fails to start.

The 2nd game "Arma 2 Operation arrowhead" runs fine with no problems.

System - Windows 7 64bit ultimate OS

QUESTION - how do you run Steam "as administrator" in Windows 7 ?

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QUESTION - how do you run Steam "as administrator" in Windows 7 ?

Right click your steam shortcut, then:

steamadmin2.jpg

Click ok, reboot, play.

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i looked through all of those threads and non worked for me. i have arma 2 combined operations on 2 disc that came in a pack and installed them both fine about a year ago and all the updates work. now the game has worked fine everytime ive played it ive installed ace and dayz mod to it also and been playing those quite often with no errors. now with operation arrowhead when i open it i get a bad serial number with setup. i reinstalled both arma 2 and operation arrowhead and installed the updates again and launched arma 2 first then operation arrowhead but operation arrowhead still said bad serial number with setup. idk what elese to do :/

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Did you have any antivirus active when you installed?

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Hello. I've got some problems because i reinstalled windows. Now,i can't start OA because i get an error saying:"Bad serial number given in setup." I know this is a registry problem because the game can't find the serial in the registry. So the question is,is there any way to fix this without reinstalling the game? I would appreciate the help,thanks. :D P.S:Sorry for my bad english :(

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Just two posts up, the answer with screenshots.

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ok i fixed it idk if this will help but if you have the combined operations disc what i did was click the start key and click on computer. then you see the operation arrowhead icon (your operation arrowhead install disc must be in) and after you install it you click play and a menu thing will pop up with the option to choose serial key saved by internet or by disc which means your disc will have to be in everytime you play. choose by internet and then you will get a box where you type in your serial key that was on the back of your operation arrowhead manual and type that in(you have to put capitals and dashes so it will look like this 2DYL-61T0-8C09 exc) and then you should be set. but run arma 2 original first the press alt tap and open operation arrowhead and then exit both and you should be done. let me know if i helped.

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Hi i was wondering if anyone could help, i have been playing dayz for a week or so, today i started Arma 2 OA and it's giving me Bad serial Number given in setup. if someone could reply it would really help, and i have right all of the stuff above none of it has worked... *ps* its for steam

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Are you sure you're permanently running Steam as admin?

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I have tried everything.

When I say everything, I mean absolutely bloody everything.

So don't ask if I've tried any of the obvious solutions that are in the hundreds of created threads by people that can't use the search bar, or google. I've used both for three days now.

I've:

Ran in administrator mode.

Verified game cache.

Use Regedit (Possibly not correctly)

Uninstalled and reinstalled game

And restarted computer several times.

It's on steam, and I get the bad serial number error like everybody else, and nothing I try works. Help?

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Did you have an anti virus active when you installed? When you installed was Steam running as Administrator?

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Hello.

So im new to the Arma games, I was told to come and check out this game Dayz. so i tried it and sucked and a fellow player in game told me to go to this link on youtube on download this program were i could get weapons. So being a total sheep I did.

Well I done what the instuction's told me to do, stated i should run this exe app as admin didnt work ingame so i thought oh ok never mind il go back to OA wich i was only playing like a hour before. But since trying to play now I can not seem to play Oa anymore.

I have Uninstalled the game 4 times. and when i go to install the it states that OA is installed but knowing i just uninstalled it like 3 mins ago. so i belive this exe file i click on as admin have corrupted my files as it keeps telling me i have got bad serial in setup.

I tried to patch the game once it was installed and it said no game found or files are corrupted.

I am at a dead end and i dont know what to do.......

Edit. this is not a steam version. I bought this from the Bohemia Store.

Benn.

Edited by BennyOj
Added content

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a fellow player in game told me to go to this link on youtube on download this program were i could get weapons. So being a total sheep I did.

Err that sounds really dodgy, what was the name of the program you downloaded? Obviously if it was Six Updater or something it should be harmless but you might want to PM me the URL so I can check it out.

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NEED HELP, i have this error and i cant get the game to work, i want to play dayZ but cant fix this error, please please someone tell me how to fix it, i've tried everything i found (admin mode, verify cache, re-installing, regedit) i really want to be able to play, i dont want to be thinking that i've waisted 25 euros.

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Err that sounds really dodgy, what was the name of the program you downloaded? Obviously if it was Six Updater or something it should be harmless but you might want to PM me the URL so I can check it out.

The Program what was in the WinRar file is called DayZ script Bypass V2.exe and has two other folder with it Resourses+BEpass and scripts folder And a note with RUN AS ADMIN!!!!!

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The Program what was in the WinRar file is called DayZ script Bypass V2.exe and has two other folder with it Resourses+BEpass and scripts folder And a note with RUN AS ADMIN!!!!!

same happebed to me, someone told i could get weapons and now bad serial is given to me ;(

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Why on earth you guys are executing some software you don't know where it comes from nor what it does? Maybe this tool reads your cd key and sends them to god knows whom who then sells them. And then you end up with a blacklisted, bad serial number because it is used by dozens of people.

Alone the file name would tell me that something weird goes on. Bypass v2.exe ... what to bypass? If you bought the game, there's nothing to bypass at all.

Sorry but... does anyone still use common sense these days? Or is just everyone running every executable he runs into without even thinking a minute about it. :confused:

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Great thought i would support bis and buy ACR and installed now its asking me for a cd key, ive tried all my discs, which one does it want ffs !

Edit: scrub that, case sensitive plus needed the acr serial yet again. Why i have to put it in twice anyones guess.

Edited by Thr0tt

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Thank you for adding such helpfull information, yes as humans we all make mistakes.

I have come here asking for help.

I won't be pressing anything I don't know now.

Benn

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Of course we all make mistakes, every day. That's why we're humans. I probably made a dozen alone today. But I would never, ever install some fancy software some guy on the internet gave me.

But come on, there are warnings about malicious software like virus and trojans all over the internet on a daily basis. By now everyone should be aware about this and being so smart not to execute every software he runs into. And especially not some software with such obvious names and from people you don't know. Good thing you only have your cd key screwed up and not your credit card details stolen. But even here I'm not so sure as you simply do not know what this "Bypass V2.exe" is doing on your system.

Edit: After some quick research it seem this bypassv2.exe is a hacking tool to cheat in games. For hacking/cheating your product key will be permanently banned on BattlEye no matter what excuse you come up with. So that error message you guys are getting has something to do with that.

Again, I'm sorry that you all have these problems now. But eventually this has a good side too and in the future you think before installing some software from unknown sources.

Edited by W0lle

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Wolle.

I understand were you are coming from 100% I have ran my security checks and i deleted the App. the checks came back fine.. I had to Pm erm Placebo. with the link so he could check it out. I know I played with fire and got burned and belive me i am rather P### of with myself because I am Usally carefull.

So i hope Placebo gets to check it out and lets me know whats it doing. as im rather fond of Oa!! Domination that is.

Holy shit I have got it working, I followed the regedit guide.

Edited by BennyOj
Fixed

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