VS11: Activation was unsuccessful

[jader]

Hopefully someone here can help me.

I purchased VS11 about a year ago, and haven't used it in a while. I pulled it up today, and it tells me that I have "0 days remaining for trying this product", even though I had registered it. So I dug up my key and attempted to re-activate it, but it tells me:

Activation was unsuccessful. The activation code is incorrect.

So I think maybe my code is bad, and remember that I got my code when I purchased the product. So I logged into my account on Corel.com, and pulled up my products page. It has this listed:

2007-12-17
ESD VS 11 PLUS ENG PURCHASE FIRST

Along w/ my serial number -- which is the same one I entered before. I tried it again by copying it straight from this page, and it still tells me the code is incorrect.

Out of desperation, I tried uninstalling and reinstalling (fortunately I still had the original download, since I can't find it on the site), but it's still telling me "0 days left" and won't accept my code.

Any ideas why this is happening, and what I can do to correct it?

Thanks in advance.

PS: In case it's needed, I'm running Windows XP SP3

[sjj1805]

Step 1:
manually remove VideoStudio11

Step 2:
Activate your new insallation

[Ron P.]

Have you tried looking in Corel's Knowledge Base? I tried providing the link to the specific answer for activation of VS11, however Corel uses extra long urls, which don't work on this forum. The answer ID is 759593. That will open another page, where you need to scroll down until you find the one for VS11.

[jader]

Thanks for the tips.

Yeah, I tried several searches, on the forums, on the KB, and on Google, none of them saying anything about this specific issue (based on searching for the error message).

Thanks again, I'll give this a try.

[jader]

No luck.

After manually uninstalling everything and reinstalling, I get the exact same results -- 0 days left in my trial, and "Activation was unsuccessful. The activation code is incorrect."

Some of the links you provided are pretty basic, just giving me instructions on how to enter the activation code. I know how to do this, it's just not recognizing my code as valid.

Any other ideas?

Thanks again.

[Ron P.]

I think that you need a new activation code. Does your VS try to connect with Corel when you press the activate button? You may need to contact Corel by phone or email to get a new activation code.

This is another reason why we recommend against activating trial versions...

[sjj1805]

.......
Activation was unsuccessful. The activation code is incorrect.

So I think maybe my code is bad, and remember that I got my code when I purchased the product. So I logged into my account on Corel.com, and pulled up my products page. It has this listed:

2007-12-17
ESD VS 11 PLUS ENG PURCHASE FIRST

Along w/ my serial number -- which is the same one I entered before. I tried it again by copying it straight from this page, and it still tells me the code is incorrect.

......

A Serial Number and an Activation number are two different things.
You "Activate" a trial version.
You enter a "Serial Number" when installing a full version.

[jader]

Thanks again, for your responses.

I'm a little confused. I thought the "trial" version was nothing more than a full version that hasn't been activated? In other words, there is no download (that I know of) for the "full" version -- I have to download the "trial" version and activate it.

I'm pretty sure this is all I did originally, but again, it's been over a year, so I don't remember for sure.

Do you guys know of a different download that I can use my serial number? I will also go ahead and email Corel support.

Thanks again.

PS - Also, I just checked my product page, and it says this:

Your serial number may also be known as "Purchase Key", "Activation key", "License Key" or an "Unlock Key"

[timtak]

sjj1805 the site administrator says
"A Serial Number and an Activation number are two different things.
You "Activate" a trial version.
You enter a "Serial Number" when installing a full version."

But whenI downloaded the X3 and as the previous poster says, the trial version is the full version as can be understood from the message just above the link to download my new X3 where it says

"If you already have the trial version of the software you have just purchased installed on your computer there is no need to download the software again. Simply launch your trial and enter the serial number (SN) provided below and follow the instructions. You will then have a fully functioning version! If you do not have a trial version installed please click the download link below to download your new software. Click on the 'Installation Instructions' link to learn how to install your product."

I downloaded and installed and then ran the software. I pressed active, and entered the serial number which is written in both the email that I recieved from corel and the download page and on my product page in my account at corel (they all match) but I get the same message, "Activation was unsuccessful, activation code is incorrect"

I have never had this happen to me before.

Could it be because
1) I am using a japanese operating system and they want to sell me the Japanese version which is about three times the price?
2) I am using windows 7 64bit? (the trial version seems to work okay so that does not sound like it is an issue)
I am emailing them.

After failing to find my CD for photoimpact 10　(as per my other posts to this forum)　 I decided to buy a new X3 which can be had for only 29 USD from Corel as a download. A real bargain methinks.
I can't get back to the page where it is being sold though. It is hidden in their site. I got there from the link on download.cn.com.

[Ron P.]

Timtak,

With earlier versions of VS, such as VS11, the serial number and activation codes were totally different, and not interchangeable. However with VS X3, they've changed that somewhat. I had to provide both serial and activation. If I recall correctly I first had to enter my serial number, then the activation. You must be connected to the internet for the activation process, or must telephone Corel. There's a small anti-piracy utility called Protexis Licensing that is installed, which must be running or allowed to run, or VS will fail to launch, (just a heads-up for when you get past the activation).

It could be that the language version is causing your problem. When you initially registered with Corel, if it was the Japanese version, and now trying to use a serial number intended for a Japanese version in a version for another language such as English.

On a couple of occasions I've had to reinstall PSPP X3 and/or PSPPX2, and VS due to hardware problems. The only way I could get them activated again, was to call Corel for a new activation code. They put a 3x limit on activations, any more and you must telephone them. Which is really no big thing, just told them why, and they reset the activation clock, providing me another 3x of reinstalling.

[timtak]

Dear Ron

Thank you for your reply.

I am connected to the Internet.

On the start up splash there is only a button for activation (that and trial, buy and help), which asks for
an activation code or number.

The only number that I have in the email/download screen/my products in my account is a serial number.
There does not seem to be a way to enter two numbers even if I had them. But then perhaps if I had an
X3 activation number, I would proceed to a screen asking for a serial number. Alas, I am not seeing an
activation number/code in any email/screen.

The serial number does not activate X3. It is a three part number with two hypens. The pdf regarding
activation says that it should be a two part number with only one hyphen.

I was careful to download an English version, because I am an English speaker. (And I wanted to pay
the English price.) The purchase screens were all displayed in English, but the system did ask for my
address, so it knows that I live in Japan. Perhaps in spite of the fact that I only paid the English/US
price, I was supplied with a Japanese serial number as per my address.

(As an aside, in general the Corel site has a problem, for me, in that if one selects Japan as ones country
of residence, then the site language and the software language can only be Japanese, which is a bit of
a bummer for me an anglophone living in Japan)

There does not seem to be any hardware problem since the trial sofware is working super duper.
While the new Corel (as opposed to Ulead) gray look is a bit drab, I am finding the software as
good if not better than always. Plus there is the fact that it is really fast on my new machine.

I hope Corel comes up with an activation code before the software expires, and does not demand
that I purchase the Japanese version or pay the the Japanese price.

Something strange is going on though. When I try and open a file from PI, my windows system does not
like it. I can only open files from within the software and I can't drag and drop to PI, but that may well
be a different problem.

Tim

[Ron P.]

Scenario 2

If you have previously installed the Trial version of the software, and purchased the download version direct from the Corel store, there is no need to download again. The installed trial version can be unlocked using the serial number provided on your Corel Store receipt.

To unlock/activate your trial with your download serial number:

Launch the trial version and then immediately close the application.
A trial dialog will appear with a Buy Now or Already Purchased button (button lower left hand corner).
Click the Button that says Already Purchased.
In the next window (at the top), enter the serial number provided on your Corel Store receipt, and click the Connect button.
This will unlock/activate your trial version to a fully functioning version of the product.

If you done the above, did you do as the instructions highlighted in red? This is for those that have downloaded the trial, then purchased the full ESD. If you downloaded the trial and then just purchased an activation key:

Scenario 1

If you have not already done so, locate the download link on your Corel store receipt and click the Begin your download. When prompted, select to save the file. When saving the file, select a location you are familiar with to make it easy to locate the file after it finishes downloading.

When the download is finished, locate the file that was downloaded and the double-click to begin the file extraction process. It is recommended that you accept the defaults.
When the file extraction completes, the installation process will begin automatically.
When prompted, enter the serial number provided on your Corel Store receipt. Follow all prompts to install the product. Unless you are an advanced user, it is recommended to accept the default installation location for the software.
When the installation process is complete, click the Finish button. You can now use your fully functional software product.

Try both scenarios, one of them should work for you..