Bought RealFlight 5.5 but it doesn't work

hackish · 11-20-2010, 10:12 PM

I'm more than a little pissed about RealFlight 5.5. I spent $200 on this software. Installed it on a computer that has more than the requirements. Typed in the serial numbers correctly but their activation system has failed.

Now I can't use the software. I paid for it. Give me a break, got their USB hardware, got their DVD, all 100% legit. What level of inconvenience are we willing to put up with? Is this thing going to need activation every time I want to run it? If the LHS were open right now I'd take it right back to them and look at whatever competitor's software is available.

ChrisH · 11-20-2010, 10:23 PM

I understand your frustration, but instead of complaining, could you give us some more info?

Have you run a sim or another version of RF on your computer before? What are your computer's specs? Also the middle number in the activation is a capital i (I) not a L or 1 (one).

hackish · 11-20-2010, 10:29 PM

Never installed RF before. Yes I see the middle number is an I, not an L or a 1.

Computer specs,
Dual core 1.3ghz processor, Vista. 4gb of ram. Running DX9 as installed by RealFlight installer.

I even tried their online validation feature:
http://activation.knifeedge.com/RealFlightG5/

Doesn't work for me either.

ChrisH · 11-20-2010, 10:32 PM

Interesting. Have you contacted KE Support?

hackish · 11-20-2010, 10:42 PM

Of course but they don't work on weekends. Requiring someone to activate their SW is fine but not bothering to have some sort of reliable activation server or activation process is stupid.

It just gives me KEERROR: 24035: Returned activation code failed validation.

Maybe I will try uninstalling and reinstalling. Personally I think their activation server is broken.

ChrisH · 11-21-2010, 12:19 AM

That may be the case. A fresh reinstall is always a good option so for sure try that.

marchambault · 11-21-2010, 12:59 AM

Should have bought Phoenix .... however I'm sure they'll get you sorted out come Monday. Chillax

32 bit or 64 bit OS? Did you install as an administrator?

Seems like their activation server has suffered a temporary outage.

baronluigi · 11-21-2010, 07:47 AM

Wow that sucks! Phoenix doesn't give you those kind of problems. For $200 you'd think you'd be able to talk to somebody. If it were me I'd probably return it back to my LHS.

If you keep it, youll likely go through that everytime you purchase add-ons and update discs. It takes me hours to install realflight and the addons on a new pc, And god forbid one of those codes becomes unreadable because they use an ink-on-plastic sheme (easily wipes off), and you can't put the code in, then you're really f@@@@@

I've been using realflight since v2 (now have v5.5) installing their software over the years has been a miserable experience compared to any other software I've bought in my lifetime. The add-ons 1 and 2 didn't even come with a serial number, you had to call to get one, (and write it down yourself).

Phoenix you install the software and it installs all the updates automatically from the internet. It is much more user friendly.

hackish · 11-21-2010, 07:54 AM

Tried reinstalling it no go. Logged in as admin and it's a 32 bit version of Vista.

Sorry if I sound impatient but I am. When I buy a movie I shouldn't have to wait for someone to "activate" it before I watch it.

baronluigi · 11-21-2010, 01:50 PM

That totally sucks (sorry said that before).....

Have you tried realflight website (links over from greatplanes.com), register on their forum and see if one of the ops can help?

You'll be happy in the end when you get it working, and at least you have something to look forward too

Squiggy Wigginz · 11-22-2010, 12:32 PM

Make sure you disable your anti-virus program on installation. Totally uninstall any installed files and try again. Let us know when you get it working so you can come fly with us. :-) My server is the Cincinnati, Ohio Flight School on realflight g5.5

Good luck! I've never had any problems with mine, ever. But I also bought the upgrade for $70 and upgraded from RealFlight 3.5 to 5.

marchambault · 11-22-2010, 03:56 PM

Looks like they repaired the activation service today:

http://activation.knifeedge.com/RealFlightG5/

dobent4 · 12-01-2010, 07:11 PM

I love mine and havent had any problems whatsoever, and I sold a Phoenix to get this 5.5..
Everyone has opinions of course, but to me the Phoenix is WAY too much of a hobby in its own right.
It seems like the Phoenix has a ton of helis that dont resemble at all what they're supposed to represent.
We all fly different set ups, but especially with new guys the set ups are pretty darn close , and some of these on the Phoenix were pathetic.
Don't buy the boorishly absurd 'it'll make you a better pilot crap either. Maybe experimenting down the road, but if that was the case it'd be good to learn only on helis incredibly out of trim, or perhaps with a Doberman gnawing on your leg.
Very tired idea, and very wrong. Doug

11-20-2010, 10:12 PM	#1
hackish Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada	Bought RealFlight 5.5 but it doesn't work I'm more than a little pissed about RealFlight 5.5. I spent $200 on this software. Installed it on a computer that has more than the requirements. Typed in the serial numbers correctly but their activation system has failed. Now I can't use the software. I paid for it. Give me a break, got their USB hardware, got their DVD, all 100% legit. What level of inconvenience are we willing to put up with? Is this thing going to need activation every time I want to run it? If the LHS were open right now I'd take it right back to them and look at whatever competitor's software is available.

11-20-2010, 10:23 PM	#2
ChrisH HF Support Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CA	I understand your frustration, but instead of complaining, could you give us some more info? Have you run a sim or another version of RF on your computer before? What are your computer's specs? Also the middle number in the activation is a capital i (I) not a L or 1 (one). __________________ Edge Rotorblades Thor/Voltz Batteries 450 Pro V-Bar 130X

11-20-2010, 10:32 PM	#4
ChrisH HF Support Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CA	Interesting. Have you contacted KE Support? __________________ Edge Rotorblades Thor/Voltz Batteries 450 Pro V-Bar 130X

11-21-2010, 12:19 AM	#6
ChrisH HF Support Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: CA	That may be the case. A fresh reinstall is always a good option so for sure try that. __________________ Edge Rotorblades Thor/Voltz Batteries 450 Pro V-Bar 130X

11-22-2010, 12:32 PM	#11
Squiggy Wigginz My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio	Make sure you disable your anti-virus program on installation. Totally uninstall any installed files and try again. Let us know when you get it working so you can come fly with us. :-) My server is the Cincinnati, Ohio Flight School on realflight g5.5 Good luck! I've never had any problems with mine, ever. But I also bought the upgrade for $70 and upgraded from RealFlight 3.5 to 5. Last edited by Squiggy Wigginz; 11-22-2010 at 12:35 PM.. Reason: I run Windows 7 Professional 64-bit btw.

11-20-2010, 10:29 PM	#3
hackish Registered Users Thread Starter My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada	Never installed RF before. Yes I see the middle number is an I, not an L or a 1. Computer specs, Dual core 1.3ghz processor, Vista. 4gb of ram. Running DX9 as installed by RealFlight installer. I even tried their online validation feature: http://activation.knifeedge.com/RealFlightG5/ Doesn't work for me either.

11-20-2010, 10:42 PM	#5
hackish Registered Users Thread Starter My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada	Of course but they don't work on weekends. Requiring someone to activate their SW is fine but not bothering to have some sort of reliable activation server or activation process is stupid. It just gives me KEERROR: 24035: Returned activation code failed validation. Maybe I will try uninstalling and reinstalling. Personally I think their activation server is broken.

11-21-2010, 12:59 AM	#7
marchambault Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver Isl	Should have bought Phoenix .... however I'm sure they'll get you sorted out come Monday. Chillax 32 bit or 64 bit OS? Did you install as an administrator? Seems like their activation server has suffered a temporary outage.

11-21-2010, 07:47 AM	#8
baronluigi Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Michigan USA	Wow that sucks! Phoenix doesn't give you those kind of problems. For $200 you'd think you'd be able to talk to somebody. If it were me I'd probably return it back to my LHS. If you keep it, youll likely go through that everytime you purchase add-ons and update discs. It takes me hours to install realflight and the addons on a new pc, And god forbid one of those codes becomes unreadable because they use an ink-on-plastic sheme (easily wipes off), and you can't put the code in, then you're really f@@@@@ I've been using realflight since v2 (now have v5.5) installing their software over the years has been a miserable experience compared to any other software I've bought in my lifetime. The add-ons 1 and 2 didn't even come with a serial number, you had to call to get one, (and write it down yourself). Phoenix you install the software and it installs all the updates automatically from the internet. It is much more user friendly.

11-21-2010, 07:54 AM	#9
hackish Registered Users Thread Starter My HF Map location Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Quebec, Canada	Tried reinstalling it no go. Logged in as admin and it's a 32 bit version of Vista. Sorry if I sound impatient but I am. When I buy a movie I shouldn't have to wait for someone to "activate" it before I watch it.

11-21-2010, 01:50 PM	#10
baronluigi Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Michigan USA	That totally sucks (sorry said that before)..... Have you tried realflight website (links over from greatplanes.com), register on their forum and see if one of the ops can help? You'll be happy in the end when you get it working, and at least you have something to look forward too

11-22-2010, 03:56 PM	#12
marchambault Registered Users My HF Map location Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Vancouver Isl	Looks like they repaired the activation service today: http://activation.knifeedge.com/RealFlightG5/

12-01-2010, 07:11 PM	#13
dobent4 Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: ashland,ohio usa	I love mine and havent had any problems whatsoever, and I sold a Phoenix to get this 5.5.. Everyone has opinions of course, but to me the Phoenix is WAY too much of a hobby in its own right. It seems like the Phoenix has a ton of helis that dont resemble at all what they're supposed to represent. We all fly different set ups, but especially with new guys the set ups are pretty darn close , and some of these on the Phoenix were pathetic. Don't buy the boorishly absurd 'it'll make you a better pilot crap either. Maybe experimenting down the road, but if that was the case it'd be good to learn only on helis incredibly out of trim, or perhaps with a Doberman gnawing on your leg. Very tired idea, and very wrong. Doug

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