cd key not working

[mr_starfire]

i have quake 3 arena but when i put the cd key in it says that its a valid key but i still cant play online it allways says cant contact master server

[Tormentius]

Are you using the 1.32 patch? Is your firewall blocking the outbound connection which the game is trying to make?

[S@M]

cant contact master server sometimes occurs when ur using the ingame browser. Get all seeing eye (google it) then use that, the ingame browser sucs the big kahoona
and do what T says, he is bigger than the big kahoona.

[Cooldown]

says its valid but when i try online play it says couldnt contact master server basicaly i think someone is using my cd key illegaly

When you are connecting to a server what is the exact error that you are seeing? Are you getting an "Invalid CDKey" or "Someone is using this CD Key" error message?

Each individual copy of Quake III Arena has been issued an exclusive CD Key. A cdkey is only valid if you bought the game and have a cdkey on your cd-case. Using a cdkey generator will allow you to overcome the checksum check within Quake3, stating that your cdkey is valid, however it is only valid for single player and will not allow you to play on the internet. If that is not the case, read on.

Invalid CD Key errors may occur for a wide number of reasons. The most common causes of this error are configuration issues on the client (player) machine or problems with your connection to the id's Authentication Server.

Try the following:

• - Make sure you have one q3key file located in your "Quake III Arena\baseq3" folder and that it contains the correct cd-key. If you find any q3key files in your mod folders, delete them. (common cause)

• - Perhaps there is some type of firewall or security software blocking your game's communication to id's cdkey auth server. Be sure that UDP port 27952 is open for clear communication if you have a firewall or some type of security software.

• - Manually enter your CD Key into the Q3KEY file on your hard drive.
  • 1) Open Microsoft Wordpad.
    2) Open the Q3KEY file on your drive. Please note the file does not have an extension. By default the path is:
    
    C:\Program Files\Quake III Arena\baseq3\q3key
    
    3) Enter your complete CD Key in lower-case letters at the beginning of this file. Do not use any formatting or spacing.
    4) Save the file and try the game again.

• - You may also receive this error if you are moving rapidly between different servers. The Master Server keeps a record of your CD Key, IP address, and which server you're in. If you leave a server then jump into a new one the Master Server may see this as multiple uses of the same key. Generally speaking, it's a good idea to wait 5-10 minutes before joining a new server, especially if you've been dropped from the previous server due to a connection problem.

• - Be sure that your computer is not behind a software or hardware firewall of any kind. This includes firewalls built into routers or other equipment, as well as programs like Zone Alarm, Black Ice, and the integrated firewall in Windows XP. Activision does not support the use of our games from behind a firewall. If it is not possible to disable the firewall you will need to open the ports for Quake III Arena. Quake III Arena transmits and receives network traffic on ports 27950, 27960, 27965 and 27952 using both TCP and UDP. The exact details on opening these ports is specific to your firewall. For more information check with the firewall documentation or manufacturer.

• - Another common cause of problems is a poorly configured router or connection sharing solution. If you are using a router, ICS, NAT or a software gateway you may have problems playing on the internet. This is because the router may not be forwarding the correct information back to your machine. It may be possible to get around this problem using port forwarding or DMZ. You can find more information on configuring shared connections for multiplayer gaming at http://www.practicallynetworkd.com. Please be aware that like a firewall we cannot actively support using shared connections to play online.

• - Use the in-game browser to search for and join servers. Third party applications such as All Seeing Eye and those released by Gamespy may cause Invalid Key problems. Conversely, if you are using the in-game browser, try using All Seeing Eye.

• - If you are on a dynamic IP connection try renewing your IP address.
  Windows NT/2000/XP
  • 1) First launch the Command Prompt.
    2) At the command line type "IPCONFIG /RENEW".
  - If you have PunkBuster installed edit your Q3CONFIG.CFG file.
  • 1) Open Microsoft Wordpad.
    2) Open your Q3CONFIG.CFG file. By default this is:
    
    C:\Program Files\Quake III Arena\baseq3\q3config.cfg
    
    3) Add the following to the end of the file:
    
    seta pb_system "1"
    
    4) Save the file and try the game again.

If you are getting a No response from master server error, try the following:
While you are connecting, open up the console (to open the console press the tilde key "~" on your keyboard), are there any error messages?

- Try using an alternative game server browser, such as the All-Seeing Eye.

- Make sure a firewall is not blocking it, (better yet turn it off IF you have a hardware based one).

- This problem seems to afflict some users behind routers. If you have a router try the following:

• 1. Try playing online without the router to see if that works.
  2. If the router is using DCHP, try setting your computer to a static IP.
  3. Right-click on the Quake III shortcut you use to start the game and select Properties. In the Target field you'll see a line like "C:\Program Files\Quake III Arena\quake3.exe", add the Quake III net_port command to specify a unique communication port for each system. The complete field should look like this:
  
  "C:\Program Files\Quake III Arena\quake3.exe" +set net_port 27660
  
  4. Forward ports 27960 and 27660.

- As a temporary fix, try this: Edit your hosts file (located at "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc" in WinXP) and add this line to the end:

(Type it in, do not cut and paste)
127.0.0.1 authorize.quake3arena.com

- Open the console while you are trying to connect to the server by pressing the tilde key ("~") on your keyboard and type "/timescale 200". This will allow you to attempt to connect to a server at a faster rate.

Good Luck and Happy Fragging!

[^misantropia^]

Is your CD key legit or was it generated by a keygen?