Help! I can't use MyDVD Express - won't activate?

[Danno111]

I have never had this problem before, but when I try to launch MyDVD Express from Creator 9 home I get a message that says "Warning - the following codec must be activated before using this application: MPEG-2. So I click OK and then it connects to the Internet and tells me: There was a problem activating your product due to an invalid product key. I purchased Creator 9 direct from Sonic.

 

Does anyone know what I should do to resolve this problem?

 

Danno

[grandpabruce]

Thanks... How many hours does this take? The phone number goes to an automatic holding pattern... The online chat indicates that nobody is in the office and the trouble ticket... Well, I submitted one....

 

Other than editing my registry and doing a complete uninstall/re-install, I am out of options. The offline thing does not work, the online thing does not work.

 

All I did was update my stinking firmware for my burner. How and why did that do anything to my registered and previously activated program?

 

By the way, I do not think the issue is that the server is down.

 

The server returns with an error message and tells me that my product key is invalid. Wow, that is neat. The retail box, discs, etc. are sitting right here in front of me. I paid my money. I want my stuff to work.

 

I have a simple problem that needs a simple fix. Can you help me understand why this is so much trouble?

 

http://forums.support.roxio.com/index.php?showtopic=12074

 

http://forums.support.roxio.com/index.php?showtopic=10779

[kirkifer]

http://forums.support.roxio.com/index.php?showtopic=12074

 

http://forums.support.roxio.com/index.php?showtopic=10779

 

Thank you for your help, Bruce ! Please hang in with me.

 

I completely uninstalled Roxio, registry edits and all. There are two .dll files hanging around which I cannot get rid of...

 

So, on a fresh install, it is telling me that I have an invalid product key. I see the link for the patch. I will try that and report back.

 

 

UPDATE:

 

 

The patch allows my valid key.

 

It is installing again.... I really like the EMC9, I just wish it were a little less vulnerable to other changes in the PC.

[grandpabruce]

Thank you for your help, Bruce ! Please hang in with me.

 

I completely uninstalled Roxio, registry edits and all. There are two .dll files hanging around which I cannot get rid of...

 

So, on a fresh install, it is telling me that I have an invalid product key. I see the link for the patch. I will try that and report back.

UPDATE:

The patch allows my valid key.

 

It is installing again.... I really like the EMC9, I just wish it were a little less vulnerable to other changes in the PC.

 

You are welcome.

[High Tech Kid]

You are welcome.

 

Well - I was identifying with this thread ALL the way - up until I tried the patch, now everything is expired.

 

So situation: And this is getting very very PAINFUL!

Loaded Roxio initially and my MPEG2 would NOT activate

Tried many many things - no go

Tech Support emailed me an activate progam - no go

RELOADED everything - OS Vista x32 and all Programs

Solved the problem then ... I believed that maybe Life was good .. NOT SO FAST

 

Reloaded a NEW computer with Vista RTM x64 from scratch

Loaded everything over - all good

Roxio running nicely and even burned a few DVDs - cool

Then that *&%(*$&^ MPEG2 activation kicked in and would NOT activate - INVALID KEY

Tried Manual activation - Invalid Package

Tried the patch - now I have an EXPIRED Trial version - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

Sooooooooooo, now what ???

[gi7omy]

Couple of queries - are you using the trial version or the full version?

 

Vista x32???? Just what version is that?

[grandpabruce]

Well - I was identifying with this thread ALL the way - up until I tried the patch, now everything is expired.

 

So situation: And this is getting very very PAINFUL!

Loaded Roxio initially and my MPEG2 would NOT activate

Tried many many things - no go

Tech Support emailed me an activate progam - no go

RELOADED everything - OS Vista x32 and all Programs

Solved the problem then ... I believed that maybe Life was good .. NOT SO FAST

 

Reloaded a NEW computer with Vista RTM x64 from scratch

Loaded everything over - all good

Roxio running nicely and even burned a few DVDs - cool

Then that *&%(*$&^ MPEG2 activation kicked in and would NOT activate - INVALID KEY

Tried Manual activation - Invalid Package

Tried the patch - now I have an EXPIRED Trial version - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

Sooooooooooo, now what ???

 

Get rid of Vista! Pretty much a no brainer.

[sknis]

I have never had this problem before, but when I try to launch MyDVD Express from Creator 9 home I get a message that says "Warning - the following codec must be activated before using this application: MPEG-2. So I click OK and then it connects to the Internet and tells me: There was a problem activating your product due to an invalid product key. I purchased Creator 9 direct from Sonic.

 

Does anyone know what I should do to resolve this problem?

 

Danno

 

The server may be down again. Try again later or read some of the activation posts here.

[High Tech Kid]

Get rid of Vista! Pretty much a no brainer.

 

OK I'm running the released to manufacturing version of Vista. Just like XP, it comes in two flavors 32 bit (x32) and 64 bit (x64). The 64 bit version does rock when given headroom - like 2Gig of Ram.

 

As for Roxio - I have the FULL version purchased ONLINE - hence two files to be installed. It has been working grrrrrrrrrreat on Vista until today - when the MPEG-2 activation kicked in.

 

So I tried everything - manual activation and the likes. Now for the fun aspect. At least I had the sanity to create a restore point before running the patch - just in case it did change my version to trial - which it quickly did - some patch.

 

Now - after that, I decided to do a restore to before I ran the patch - and right now, everything is working again - go figure.

 

I do believe I'll see this MPEG error again soon, so hopefully we'll have a way to resolve the invalid key issue.

 

 

Al

[kirkifer]

As for Roxio - I have the FULL version purchased ONLINE - hence two files to be installed. It has been working grrrrrrrrrreat on Vista until today - when the MPEG-2 activation kicked in.

 

 

Okay, there must be something going on that happened today. While your issue is different than mine, there is obviously a problem.

 

I totally uninstalled EMC9, edited the registry, installed the patch for CD key errors, re-installed the software, started the program and MyDVD gives me the mpeg activation error again... That is just wrong. What is going on ????

 

The only thing that I have done prior to this SNAFU was to update my firmware for my Lite-On DVD burner.

[High Tech Kid]

Okay, there must be something going on that happened today. While your issue is different than mine, there is obviously a problem.

 

I totally uninstalled EMC9, edited the registry, installed the patch for CD key errors, re-installed the software, started the program and MyDVD gives me the mpeg activation error again... That is just wrong. What is going on ????

 

The only thing that I have done prior to this SNAFU was to update my firmware for my Lite-On DVD burner.

 

The Mpeg2 activation IMHO happens at some random interval AFTER installation. For example I installed EMC9 fresh Dec 10th on a NEW system and the MPEG-2 is just now asking to be activated, 11 days after the fact and I have been using it as well. So your Mpeg2 failure "may" not be related to your new DVD firmware and it is co-incidence you are seeing it now. All I know is this MPEG2 activation is an issue that Roxio needs to address quickly.

 

Al

[Beerman]

Have you tried the manual activation that is mentioned here?

[Chris1]

I am having the same problem. I've tried to re-install, I've tried to re-register, I've tried the "patch" (which forced me to reinstall as it told me that my trial version had expired).

I am extremely frustrated! HELP!

[Shard77]

Have you tried the manual activation that is mentioned here?

 

 

I'm having the same problem as well. I've attempted the manual activation and received a ERR_Activation_Invalid_PK message. I've read one post that offered a telephone number for activation....that doesn't work. I've read another thread where one user got it to work using a clean install of Roxio, but you have to jump through several hoops to even get to that point (Including editing your registry).

 

This has to be one of the worst examples of customer service I have ever seen. There is obviously a major issue here and even the workarounds Roxio has devised don't work. I shouldn't have to disable programs on my computer and edit my registry to simply activate a product for which I paid $70.

[Beerman]

I'm having the same problem as well. I've attempted the manual activation and received a ERR_Activation_Invalid_PK message. I've read one post that offered a telephone number for activation....that doesn't work. I've read another thread where one user got it to work using a clean install of Roxio, but you have to jump through several hoops to even get to that point (Including editing your registry).

 

This has to be one of the worst examples of customer service I have ever seen. There is obviously a major issue here and even the workarounds Roxio has devised don't work. I shouldn't have to disable programs on my computer and edit my registry to simply activate a product for which I paid $70.

I do agree with you and don't know why you're having so much trouble. I know many have had to try for a few days before they got lucky. Don't give up yet!

[lisastuf]

I'm having the same problem. Installed EMC9 about 2 weeks ago, bought the downloadable upgrade version (to upgrade from ver. 8) direct from Roxio and everything worked fine until today.

I tried to open up a videowave production that I was working on and got the MPEG-2 activation message and when I tried to activate it gave me this error: "There was a problem activating your product, This could be due to: Invalid Product Key". I know my product key is valid, I checked it with my Roxio Receipt to be sure. Anyway...I tried to do the manual activation and received the ERR_ACTIVATION_INVALID_PK error.

Also tried calling 1-877-627-6619 and getting a key that way, also got an error.

I am so frustrated as I was in the final stages of a video that was for a Christmas Present, that now cannot be finished because I can't get this problem resolved! I am too afraid to try the total uninstall of Creator 8 & 9, as messing with the registry scares me and it's Murphy's law when you start uninstalling a bunch of stuff, your computer inevitably takes a dive. (At least mine always does!) Is there anyone out there that can help me FAST??!! I feel greedy in asking that, but I only have two days left to get this production finished and on DVD to give for Chirstmas. I've been working on it for months and am just about ready to cry or throw-up! There are over 400 photos in it and some video clips too. I downloaded a trial version on Adobe Premiere on my other computer and I guess if I have to, I can try to move everything into that program and re-piece it together, but I am just feeling exhausted at the thought of that.

Is there ANY way to make EMC9 work without having to uninstall and reinstall?

Thanks!

Lisa

Sony VAIO PCV-RS720G

Pentium 4, 3.00 GHz

2.0 GB RAM

Windows XP Home Edition Ver. 2002, SP2

[kirkifer]

Allright !!!! Listen to the folks out here !!!!!

 

I just tried to re-activate at 05:00 in the morning EDT. Well, this time it worked, so it must really have been an an issue with the Roxio server. So, I guess I am up and running for a while anyway. If anyone gets wind of new patches, etc. please post them on the discussion group. This forum is what has allowed me to maintain my stress level.

 

The telephone line does not seem to work, but that could also be due to the server being down. (I think they are using EMC9 to control it )

 

Something I have learned is to totally uninstall previous versions of this software. Roxio gives very good directions for registry editing. Yet, that is still a little invasive IMHO.

 

[gi7omy]

OK I'm running the released to manufacturing version of Vista. Just like XP, it comes in two flavors 32 bit (x32) and 64 bit (x64). The 64 bit version does rock when given headroom - like 2Gig of Ram.

 

Just as a fyi - there is no such animal as 'x32'

 

Vista comes in a variety of forms - from Basic to Enterprise and also on two CPU platforms

 

x86 (32 bit CPU) and IA64 (64 bit CPU)

 

'x' refers to the prefix of the CPU (prior to the introduction of the Pentium) 8086, 8286, 8386 and 8486 with the first two numbers being 'x' - IA refers to Intel/AMD (early Intel 64 bit CPUs wouldn't work )

 

That being said - for Vista, there will be no patches until after Vista is released - while some people may have early copies, the OS still is not officially 'released'. As far as I'm aware there will be a patch sometime in the New Year - AFTER the official release of Vista

[kirkifer]

Yep, this kinda ticks me off too. I have a valid, official copy of EMC 9. I have been using it for more than a month with only minor issues... I went out and updated the firmware for my Lite-On LDW-411S burner. After reboot, I start my DVD and it tells me I must activate... What????

 

This is a real pain, ROXIO.... I am not going through all of the registry editing hassle to fix this. I should not have to. IT SHOULD JUST WORK !!!!

 

I am sorry if you need to protect yourself from software pirates... I am not one of them and my stuff should work......

[ogdens]

Yep, this kinda ticks me off too. I have a valid, official copy of EMC 9. I have been using it for more than a month with only minor issues... I went out and updated the firmware for my Lite-On LDW-411S burner. After reboot, I start my DVD and it tells me I must activate... What????

 

This is a real pain, ROXIO.... I am not going through all of the registry editing hassle to fix this. I should not have to. IT SHOULD JUST WORK !!!!

 

I am sorry if you need to protect yourself from software pirates... I am not one of them and my stuff should work......

 

Go to this site: http://www.roxio.com/enu/support/emc9/contact.html

[kirkifer]

Go to this site: http://www.roxio.com/enu/support/emc9/contact.html

 

 

Thanks... How many hours does this take? The phone number goes to an automatic holding pattern... The online chat indicates that nobody is in the office and the trouble ticket... Well, I submitted one....

 

Other than editing my registry and doing a complete uninstall/re-install, I am out of options. The offline thing does not work, the online thing does not work.

 

All I did was update my stinking firmware for my burner. How and why did that do anything to my registered and previously activated program?

 

By the way, I do not think the issue is that the server is down.

 

The server returns with an error message and tells me that my product key is invalid. Wow, that is neat. The retail box, discs, etc. are sitting right here in front of me. I paid my money. I want my stuff to work.

 

I have a simple problem that needs a simple fix. Can you help me understand why this is so much trouble?