Sounds like it's already been used up somehow. You're better off with another product key. Finding a working product key however is going to be really hard since it only has 5 tries.

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] StainingBat26 Thanks Wilis_kid. I just got off the phone. Spoke with a Microsoft service representative (not a technician). She was no dunce though, and was happy to explain that Microsoft does not re-issue CD/DVD keys for unsupported software, blam. I did fully update GFWL before installing Halo 2 for the second time. At this stage, I feel like Microsoft is preventing the operation of an unsupported product on purpose, to boost sales of Halo 4, and their Xbox console, something that I will likely not buy. I'm holding out hope that my problem is a legitimate technical issue, but would like to hear from others in the same situation who HAVE successfully installed/run Halo 2 since 10/9/2012.[/quote] I'm sorry to hear about that. You could try again in a week or two and hope that you get to speak to someone different but i'm unsure if this would make a lot of difference. As for not supporting H2V, Microsoft has been trying to distance itself from the game for years. Whilst Halo 2 was a resounding success on the Xbox, the team that Microsoft quickly put together "Hired Gun" did a terrible job porting the game resulting in the huge numbers of problems that people encounter. The game was poorly received with PC gamers due to it essentially being a Console game running on a PC rather than ported properly like the original Halo was and as such, coupled with the brilliant feature to enhance gameplay with only 5 installs...well, you know the rest.

Thanks Wilis_kid. I just got off the phone. Spoke with a Microsoft service representative (not a technician). She was no dunce though, and was happy to explain that Microsoft does not re-issue CD/DVD keys for unsupported software, blam. I did fully update GFWL before installing Halo 2 for the second time. At this stage, I feel like Microsoft is preventing the operation of an unsupported product on purpose, to boost sales of Halo 4, and their Xbox console, something that I will likely not buy. I'm holding out hope that my problem is a legitimate technical issue, but would like to hear from others in the same situation who HAVE successfully installed/run Halo 2 since 10/9/2012.

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] StainingBat26 Wats up g0st. Yes, and yes. I bought my "new" copy of H2V from an Internet wholesaling source (or somesuch), basically the lowest-cost domestic item from Buy.com ($13, all the shrink wrap, all the extras, I sincerely doubt it isn't an original copy, but who knows), and your screenshot is identical to my own. During installation, key activation (which appears to require a legitimate server query) goes just fine. Only during the in-game MS Live ID login process, does the problem show. From what I've read on various forums, it's likely NOT my system that's at fault. For the record, I have a new Apple MacBook Pro, running Windows 7 via. Bootcamp. Bootcamp works pretty darned flawlessly these days, particularly with a time-tested version of Windows. I have taken basic troubleshooting measures. I did not manually download the "Application Compatibility Update for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2: February 2010" (specifically, the package for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7, which is of course what I'm presently running), but I trust that it (or an equivalent) was downloaded when I installed/fully updated my retail copy of Windows 7 a few days ago. During installation, I did receive the message, "LIVE gaming on Windows failed to initialize. This may be because another LIVE Gaming on Windows application (such as Halo2 dedicated server) is running on the same machine. Otherwise, reinstalling the game may fix the problem." I followed Microsoft's prescribed measures (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941208) and haven't seen the same message since. After getting the original message (as seen in your screenshot link), I uninstalled Halo 2, took various system cleanup measures, restarted, then re-installed Halo 2 from the DVD. Separate from the "failure to initialize" problem, which was solved during the first install, results were identical. Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, indeed. Did you ever get Halo 2 up and running, g0st? If you did in fact give up, I'm sure you're happily duking it out in Halo 4 multiplayer by now, without too much remorse at having missed part of the epic campaign storyline, but I've ONLY ever played Halo 1, and will be heartbroke if I can't revive this "legacy" game. Cheers. PS Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but is it possible the issue is internal. According to this site, official support for the game HAS only just expired. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?c1a=525 Products Released - Halo 2 for Windows Vista Lifecycle Start Date - 8/31/2007 Mainstream Support End Date - 10/9/2012 Extended Support End Date - Not Applicable Service Pack Support End Date - Notes - [/quote] If indeed your copy is brand new without having been opened prior to you owning it then it is likely you may have a "bad" CD Key, in which case only Microsoft can help you, if they so chose. They do sometimes give you a new key if you explain the situation but it also depends on which rep you get to speak with. As for GFWL, update the client separately before trying to install or run the game. This usually fixes any GFWL related errors (not including the CD key). Hopefully some of this is of use to you. [Edited on 11.18.2012 11:44 AM PST]

Wats up g0st. Yes, and yes. I bought my "new" copy of H2V from an Internet wholesaling source (or somesuch), basically the lowest-cost domestic item from Buy.com ($13, all the shrink wrap, all the extras, I sincerely doubt it isn't an original copy, but who knows), and your screenshot is identical to my own. During installation, key activation (which appears to require a legitimate server query) goes just fine. Only during the in-game MS Live ID login process, does the problem show. From what I've read on various forums, it's likely NOT my system that's at fault. For the record, I have a new Apple MacBook Pro, running Windows 7 via. Bootcamp. Bootcamp works pretty darned flawlessly these days, particularly with a time-tested version of Windows. I have taken basic troubleshooting measures. I did not manually download the "Application Compatibility Update for Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, and Windows Server 2008 R2: February 2010" (specifically, the package for all supported x64-based versions of Windows 7, which is of course what I'm presently running), but I trust that it (or an equivalent) was downloaded when I installed/fully updated my retail copy of Windows 7 a few days ago. During installation, I did receive the message, "LIVE gaming on Windows failed to initialize. This may be because another LIVE Gaming on Windows application (such as Halo2 dedicated server) is running on the same machine. Otherwise, reinstalling the game may fix the problem." I followed Microsoft's prescribed measures (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941208) and haven't seen the same message since. After getting the original message (as seen in your screenshot link), I uninstalled Halo 2, took various system cleanup measures, restarted, then re-installed Halo 2 from the DVD. Separate from the "failure to initialize" problem, which was solved during the first install, results were identical. Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, indeed. Did you ever get Halo 2 up and running, g0st? If you did in fact give up, I'm sure you're happily duking it out in Halo 4 multiplayer by now, without too much remorse at having missed part of the epic campaign storyline, but I've ONLY ever played Halo 1, and will be heartbroke if I can't revive this "legacy" game. Cheers. PS Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but is it possible the issue is internal. According to this site, official support for the game HAS only just expired. http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/?c1a=525 Products Released - Halo 2 for Windows Vista Lifecycle Start Date - 8/31/2007 Mainstream Support End Date - 10/9/2012 Extended Support End Date - Not Applicable Service Pack Support End Date - Notes - [Edited on 11.18.2012 8:51 AM PST]

D'oh, my bad... Then again I have heard of stores putting plastic back on boxes to make it look new. (I doubt that happened here, though.)

[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Dr Syx the previous owner probably maxed out the keys then sold it to the shop. :P[/quote] [quote][b]Posted by:[/b] g0st The game is new, right out of the plastic. [/quote]

Do you know if it was new or used? Halo 2 Vista has a 5 use per key limit. If it was used, the previous owner probably maxed out the keys then sold it to the shop. :P

No, it was from a Swedish retail shop. No piracy. Call the producer? what have you been smoking? :p

Maybe you bought a piracy game , You may contact with you seller and talk with him. If will be no results You may contact with game producer and talk with him. I had a problem with soft i talked with product company and this company gave me a proper key for registration. See [url=http://www.matysart.pl]Integracja Allegro[/url] [Edited on 11.01.2012 11:00 AM PDT]