Release Date Check

[Boboid]

I bought BioShock 2 today, and after the installation I can't seem to pass the Release Date Check. It's an authentic copy of the game, I'm connected to the internet, and I just don't see what the problem is. It points me to this site: http://www.2kgames.com/bioshock2/activation/ which is of no help. Maybe it's an overload of people and I just can't get through, but if that was the case, you would think there would be more posts in the forums about this.

Any help is appreciated.

In addition, the Support site is a bit of a joke, don't you think?

[Tech Jamie]

Hi there,

Probably stating the obvious, but can you verify that the date/time on your PC is set correctly? Also, how do you connect to the internet? Are you behind any type of router or firewalll?

[Boboid]

Date and time is set correctly. I connect to the internet through ADSL. The only firewall that I'm behind while trying to connect is the Windows firewall.

[Jasmine]

I have the same problem too so you're not alone. I got up at 12 am to try and play and have had no luck.
I'll try and give as much info as I can. I am in the uk and use talk talk as my isp. I have a firewall, but I have tried disabling it and that doesn't help.
On the windows experience index my pc is 5.5 whilst the reccomended level for this game is 4 and minimum 2.
I am using windows 7 home premium, Geforce GT 220 graphics card and have 900 Gb free memory. My time and date are definatley right. Not sure what's going wrong at all.

[sp3rial]

Windows 7? You are not going to play bioshock 2... Wellcome in the club!
Does 2K games forgot that we are in 2010 and the standard operative system is W7?!

[Jasmine]

Windows 7? You are not going to play bioshock 2... Wellcome in the club!
Does 2K games forgot that we are in 2010 and the standard operative system is W7?!

Surely it must be able to run on windows 7, I had no problems running Bioshock on it.

I have re-installed 3 times, deleted my old Bioshock folder. I have the latest drivers for everything. I have cleared temp files for ie.

Can a tech give me any ideas what else to try.

[ACBurgdorf]

Problem isn't limited to W7, Im running vista and it is having the same problem.

Also noticed on the startup thing for the program Sony DADC austria
Does it think I am in Austria? and if so, what time is it there...

[Boboid]

And so after waiting hours and trying again, installing Windows Live updates, driver updates, etc. I STILL cannot pass this stupid Release Date Check. It loads then jumps to 30%, and then fails. Sometimes I can hit retry and it loads and fails instantaneously (usually after a fresh re-install, three times running now), other times it can take a fair few seconds to load and fail (usually after I close and open it again or click on the "support" link, and then usually every attempt after it slows down the first time). Is everyone else failing at 30% too?

It seems it's not OS related, as I am running XP, and above posters have stated they are using W7 and Vista.

Here's the information required by the DXDIAG:

OS: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6700 @ 2.66GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2046MB RAM

Display
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTX
Video Memory: 768.0 MB
Driver Date: 1/12/2010 12:03:34

Sound
Sound Card: SoundMAX HD Audio
Driver Date: 1/16/2007 10:09:00

[MadManDan]

Also in the UK same issues....
tho i get
' Binkw32dll. ' not found....

Tho ive also the collectors edition stuff to enjoy whilst awaiting help from the gods at 2K

[Jasmine]

As requested by tech support in the sticky topic here is my system -

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8300 @ 2.50GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 6144MB RAM
11107MB available

Display
Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220
Video Memory: 3802 MB
Driver Date: 1/12/2010

Surely there should be no problems running the game. Obviously there must be a problem with windows 7. Is there any work around for the release date check? It seems like it is a uk problem.

[Boboid]

I'm in Australia myself.

[Jasmine]

No problems from the US with this then? What do you get when you click on to the activation screen? Just a list of times when it can be activated in each area of the world?

[Tech Kris]

For those who are still having the release date check error It might be a good idea to try uninstalling and reinstalling the game in safe mode with networking.

[ACBurgdorf]

Hey, I think I found a fix for the problem.

All I had to do was get logged into the windows live acct. and then start up bioshock from the windows menu. breezed right past the error and activated, started the game right up

[Yachmenev]

For those who are still having the release date check error It might be a good idea to try uninstalling and reinstalling the game in safe mode with networking.

Does that use 1 of the 15 activations that GfWL has as a limit?

If it does, is it the same for both Steam and retail copies?

[Psicko]

Same problem here. How can I solve it please? I have no idea.

[Tech Kris]

Does that use 1 of the 15 activations that GfWL has as a limit?

Are you getting to the stage where it ask's for the cd key? If not then it won't have used any GFWL activations

[Psicko]

It doesn't ask me for the CD Key. The game stops at 30% and say the release date check error. How can I solve this problem with GFWL activations?

[Boboid]

I re-installed the game yet again, in Safe Mode with Networking, and I'm still receieving the same failures at 30% every time. Same thing when I try while logged into Windows Live.

I'm kind of over it for the night. Was really looking forward to playing, but I guess "oh well". Hopefully you guys can get some sort of work around for the release date check soon ...

[Psicko]

Any idea technic support?

[Tech Kris]

Possible solution from one of our fellow posters

Install the latest version of C++

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...d-389c36f85647

[Psicko]

Installed. It doesn't solve anything. I continue with the same problem. 30 % of load and the released check date error. I click in repeating but it does not work ever.
It is worrying and annoying because it doesn't ask me for the CD-Key because i can't solve the problem with the release date.
Can be the servers down or anything?

[Tech Kris]

Servers should be OK. Might be a firewall issue.

Are you going through a wireless router?

Have you made the game available through any firewalls on the computer.

[Jasmine]

For those who are still having the release date check error It might be a good idea to try uninstalling and reinstalling the game in safe mode with networking.

This worked for me. Many thanks for the advice. Looking forward to finally having a game.

[SecretMachine]

Still having massive problems with this.

I'm connected to the internet via a massive network at University. The release date check fails at 30% constantly. Is there anyway to complete at offline registration or something?

[NewGrendel]

No problems from the US with this then? What do you get when you click on to the activation screen? Just a list of times when it can be activated in each area of the world?

Jasmine,
Same problem here in the US (Virginia) re. the "Release Date Check" issue. Loads to 30%, then gives the "failed" message.

[NewGrendel]

For those who are still having the release date check error It might be a good idea to try uninstalling and reinstalling the game in safe mode with networking.

Not to appear obtuse, but can you provide a step-by-step procedure as to how to do this? (I have an XP OS, and meet all the system requirements with no problem BTW).

Do you mean deleting Bioshock 2, then rebooting the computer (and pressing whatever the heck puts it into safe mode), then re-inserting the CD again, and then re-loading the game, et cetera?

Just need some particulars on the process or a link that willl provide them. Thank you.

[Tech Kris]

Uninstall the game using add/remove programs

To start your PC in Safe Mode go to Start > Run > Type msconfig > OK > BOOT.ini > Select Safe Boot > Select Network > Apply > Close > Restart your PC

Then install the game as normal.

[bullet magnet]

Ah man why do you have to waste my time?

15 mins of looking for solutions, reading stuff on line and i'm still no further towards playing a game ive paid for one that i might add i preordered and have been itching to play.
I've bought the special edition, im using windows Vista and im in the UK yet i cannot connect to the release date check. imagine how pissed off i would be if id taken the day off to play this game?
My nights are short enough what with family life, work and sleeping without ruining my evening pissing about trying to get a game working.


I'm sick of seeing developers release stuff without thoroughly checking that it works. FFS sort it out i want to play bioshock 2 now, not in a couple of hours after ive found a solution or worse still after a couple of days when someone at 2K sorts it out.

Your official activation page is useless an absolute waste of my time. Thanks for all your help.

[NewGrendel]

Uninstall the game using add/remove programs

To start your PC in Safe Mode go to Start > Run > Type msconfig > OK > BOOT.ini > Select Safe Boot > Select Network > Apply > Close > Restart your PC

Then install the game as normal.

Tech Kris,

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly; appreciate it. In any event, I did as you instructed; unfortunately, it still resulted in the same exact outcome - the process stopped on the Release Date Check, with the bar stuck at the 30% completion level. The error message reads:

"An error occurred during the online release date check. Click RETRY to try again. If the problem persists, please click CANCEL to abort the process and find a solution at the support website: http;//www.2kgames.com/bioshock2/activation ."

Just in case you need it, here's my Dell computer info:

OS: XP Professional (5.1, build 2600).
Processor: Intel Core2 CPU; 6700 @ 2.66 GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 3070 MB RAM

Video Card: NVIDEA GeForce 9500 GT
Video Memory: 1024.0 MB
Driver Date: 1/12/2010 (nv4_disp.dll)

Sound Card: Sigma Tel Audio
Driver Date: 3/20/2006

As an aside, I've already downloaded that C++ microsoft update, which had been posted as another possible solution, also to no avail. This is obviously a frustrating situation for all involved. Is there anything else that I can try? Thanks again for your help.

[Boboid]

Yup, I'm STILL trying to get past this check. I've tried everything posted in this thread and more, and still I get the same thing; 30%, Fail. Could you give us a little information about what actually happens at the 30% mark? What could cause the check to fail at 30%? With that information, we might make a little progress, for at the moment I'm all out of ideas, and about ready to just give the game away (seems it is non-returnable!) ... Three days trying to get a game to work is three days too much. This is obviously an issue, and after three days we still haven't even got confirmation on a hotfix or work around in development. A little more help please guys ...

[bullet magnet]

for at the moment I'm all out of ideas, and about ready to just give the game away (seems it is non-returnable!)

If you are in the UK and the place you bought it from refuses to give you a refund you can use this letter template quoteing the sale of goods act from 1979.

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/theonesho...a_letter_1.doc

The product clearly fits into the category of unsatisfactory quality and is not fit for any purpose.

I reported the problem to 2K support and ive heard nothing back. I'm attempting to get my money back from HMV and im going to contact the UK regulator to report 2K for their indiference to my problem.

It seems 2K feel they can release untested software, provide inadequate support and ignore their paying customers.
I will let you know what our governmental watchdog thinks of their behaviour

[mc6126]

WELL,WHEN I GOT BIOSHOCK2
I REALLY HAPPY

INSTALLING THE GAME....READY TO TRAVEL THE WORLD

BUT,YOU GIVE ME A ERROR
A FXXKING ERROR!

I STILL CANT PLAY THE GAME

WHATS THE MEANING?

IM NOT THE BTer
I USE MY BLOOD MONEY TO SUPPORT YOUR GAME

BUT NOW?

WHAT HAPPEN?

SHOULD I SUPPORT YOU NEXT TIME?OR BECOME A BTer?

FXXK IT

[NewGrendel]

Yup, I'm STILL trying to get past this check. I've tried everything posted in this thread and more, and still I get the same thing; 30%, Fail. Could you give us a little information about what actually happens at the 30% mark? What could cause the check to fail at 30%? With that information, we might make a little progress, for at the moment I'm all out of ideas, and about ready to just give the game away (seems it is non-returnable!) ... Three days trying to get a game to work is three days too much. This is obviously an issue, and after three days we still haven't even got confirmation on a hotfix or work around in development. A little more help please guys ...

Boboid,
I feel your pain buddy, and am waiting for some type of resolution to this problem. Quite frankly, I'm not sure why the K2 folks even put in this "Release Date Check"; since we're a couple of days BEYOND the Feb 9th release date (in ANY of the planet's 24 time zones) this "Release Date Check" is utterly irrelevant, and does nothing more than preventing people from accessing their Bioshock 2 game. Given that [since Feb. 9th] it's become an entirely moot issue, can't they simply delete this "Release Date Check" mechanism lock, stock, and barrel?

[Tech Paul]

Hello,

Could you please try the following:-

- Go to Computer, right click on the CD/DVD drive with the CD in and select open.

- Look for the file with a blue square icon with 2 white triangles labelled setup.exe.

- right click this file and select 'Run as Admin'.

Regards,

Tech Paul.

[NewGrendel]

Hello,

Could you please try the following:-

- Go to Computer, right click on the CD/DVD drive with the CD in and select open.

- Look for the file with a blue square icon with 2 white triangles labelled setup.exe.

- right click this file and select 'Run as Admin'.

Regards,

Tech Paul.

Tech Paul,
I see what you mean, but I cannot do the Administrator option; quite frankly, I don't recall the password to employ (and don't recall ever assigning one). Actually, since this is my home computer, and I'm the only one that uses it, I'm a little mystified why the Admin thing is passworded at all. Any ideas?

[vegettosonlab]

Tech Paul,
I see what you mean, but I cannot do the Administrator option; quite frankly, I don't recall the password to employ (and don't recall ever assigning one). Actually, since this is my home computer, and I'm the only one that uses it, I'm a little mystified why the Admin thing is passworded at all. Any ideas?

Tech Paul is Epic Fail.

[BeaconClose]

Tech Paul,
I see what you mean, but I cannot do the Administrator option; quite frankly, I don't recall the password to employ (and don't recall ever assigning one). Actually, since this is my home computer, and I'm the only one that uses it, I'm a little mystified why the Admin thing is passworded at all. Any ideas?

tried just pressing enter (i.e blank password)?

[NewGrendel]

tried just pressing enter (i.e blank password)?

Yes. It gives me:

X (circled) Unable to log on:

Logon failure: user account restriction. Possible reasons are blank passwords not allowed, logon hour restrictions, or a policy restriction has been enforced.

When I attempt various passwords, I get:

X (circled) Unable to log on:

Logon failure: unknown user name or bad password

[bullet magnet]

hi

i am a local admin on my home machine. When trying as you have suggested it attempts to uninstall the game (as running setup when bioshock is already installed results in the game uninstalling). I've already installed it three times cant say i want to go through that again when i am a local admin anyway

thanks for the suggestion though