CD Key in use Error (Fix)

[Chameleon]

       As most of you know, recently I have had an issue with my cd key being in use, so once I found a solid fix for this issue I decided to share it for anyone else who may have or will have this same problem.

 

These notes are the same that I used, if you follow them step by step you should be fine. There is a video at the bottom and the user shows you step by step how to fix this issue also..

 

Hope this helps guys

 

-If you are running in Windows Vista or Windows 7, please completely exit Steam, 
and right-click on the shortcut which you use to launch Steam and select "Run as 
Administrator." 

-If you are running in Windows XP, take the following steps: 
1) Exit Steam. 
2) Go to the "Start" menu, select "Run", type "regedit" and click "OK". 
3) Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\VALVE 
4) Right click and select "Permissions" 
5) Check the boxes for "Admin" and "System" to "Full control" and "Read". 

First, verify the GCF Cache for the game: 
Title: Verifying GCF Cache Files 


Verifying the GCF Cache solves most CD Key issues for most users. 

NOTE: The CD Key for this title is not shown to the user in Steam. 


If it still does not work, please try deleting your Call of Duty 4 registry 
entry: 

Go to the "Start" menu, select "Run", type "regedit" and click "OK". 

If you are using a 32-bit version of Windows, navigate to the following registry 
key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Activision\Call of Duty 4 
Note: In 64-bit operating systems, this path may begin as: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Activision\Call 
of Duty 4 

The contents of the registry entry "codkey" is your CD Key. Please write this 
key down for future reference. 

Right-click on the entry "codkey" and select "Delete". 

Exit regedit. 

Restart your computer. 



Log in to your Steam account using the following instructions: 

-If you are running in Windows Vista or Windows 7, right-click on the shortcut 
which you use to launch Steam and select "Run as Administrator." 

-If you are running in Windows XP, ensure the the following steps have been 
taken before starting Steam: 
1) Exit Steam. 
2) Go to the "Start" menu, select "Run", type "regedit" and click "OK". 
3) Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\VALVE 
4) Right click and select "Permissions" 
5) Check the boxes for "Admin" and "System" to "Full control" and "Read". 


From the Library list, right-click on "Call of Duty 4" and select "Properties" 
from the menu. 

Select the "Local files" tab and click the "Verify integrity of game cache..." 
button. 

Steam will verify the game cache files (GCF's) - this process may take several 
minutes. 

Once the process is completed, the "Check" window will automatically exit and 
you should be able to launch your game. 

You may also try using the key previously found in your registry if COD4 asks 
for a CD Key again

 

 

This is a link to a video that also does most of this process step by step: 

Edited May 12, 2013 by DJ aka GDR DJ
moved to tutorials section

[Angry Mosquito - Alex]

the phx givin classes aight!!!

[jaie]

Why not make it a tutorial?

[The_Dom]

Tutorial and pin it. Very helpful.

[Chameleon]

That would be cool.. Need to get a leader to move it and pin it..

[DJ aka GDR DJ]

/moved to tutorials section