Newcomer / Intro Linking to Steam / updating game - I REALLY need help 'cause this ain't working.

[NorthernDevo]

Hello folks, I'm bashing my brains out trying to sort this all out, but it is simply NOT working for me.

First of all - I'm not dense, I HAVE looked up every scrap of info on these forums, on Steam and at Frontier that I could find and none of it is helping. (pardon me; I'm just highly agitated at the moment.)
To wit: I cannot login to ED, with originally the same issue others have had: the 'invalid machine id' error once the game updated at the launcher. Following advice here, I used the 'log out machine' procedure. Using the 'log in' button gets me the validation code sent to my E-mail, which I am aware won't work because I'm on Steam. Retrying and selecting "Steam Log In" allows me to only play the Demo.
OK - so that's the launcher from the shortcut.
Going into Steam, I did make sure that ED was set to high priority for updates. I went and turned updates OFF for all other games, just in case there was any confusion. The game will not update, I assume because it had updated from the desktop launcher. Closing Steam completely offers no change - it will not update. (Again, I assume because it already had from the launcher.)
My game IS currently linked to Frontier.
Checking the update files gives...nothing really. Just a notice that this is a known error. Validating files says all files are good.
I uninstalled then reinstalled the game, then re-validated. All good.
There is nothing that says this game is not updated and ready to go.
Yes, I completely shut down Steam several times. I even rebooted to computer; still no effect.
Oh - and yes, before someone says it, I AM using the proper accounts on both.
Nevertheless, when hitting the green PLAY button on Steam I get this:

As far as I can see, it won't update because it HAS updated, but Steam is not recognizing the update.
How on EARTH do I fix this?

 

[Para Handy]

Apparently there is a "thing" where you get Steam to check its files - different from verifying integrity of game files (which I think you have done) - I read this today and can't find the post now.

Ignore that, I had mis-read the post, it was actually about verifying the integrity of game files after all. So did you do that? https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335

 

[NorthernDevo]

Apparently there is a "thing" where you get Steam to check its files - different from verifying integrity of game files (which I think you have done) - I read this today and can't find the post now.

Ignore that, I had mis-read the post, it was actually about verifying the integrity of game files after all. So did you do that? https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=2037-QEUH-3335

yep, twice. Everything as listed above. I have now deleted the game again and reinstalling it to my C: drive because there was another game (which I can't recall ATM) which only worked on C.
Problem THERE is I have 51Gb left on my C drive (solid state) and 1.41Tb on my D:, and ED requires 21. So this is going to fill C: up quite a bit, something I've been avoiding.
Edit - and no bloody clue if it will make any difference.
Edit to the edit: you'd think reinstalling the thing would include the update, and it clearly did - so why it's not recognizing that is beyond me.

 

[Para Handy]

yep, twice. Everything as listed above. I have now deleted the game again and reinstalling it to my C: drive because there was another game (which I can't recall ATM) which only worked on C.
Problem THERE is I have 51Gb left on my C drive (solid state) and 1.41Tb on my D:, and ED requires 21. So this is going to fill C: up quite a bit, something I've been avoiding.

My steam installation is on D: (an ssd) whereas my legacy version is on default in C: (a M2 ssd) so it shouldn't be the drive gining issues.

 

[NorthernDevo]

My steam installation is on D: (an ssd) whereas my legacy version is on default in C: (a M2 ssd) so it shouldn't be the drive gining issues.

Shouldn't be lol - and mine has ALWAYS been on D as well, I just remember one game (it might have been Battlestations: pacific) that I could only get working on C. So basically I'm trying ANYTHING at this point.
Is there anything in the Saved Game files that might be doing this? I can't imagine so, or we'd have seen it here somewhere. (Shrug) I'm spitballing at this point - and wondering if the Fdevs are going to put out a hotfix that might trigger the update.

 

[John Stoutbeard]

In this case it seems ED launcher doesn't recognize your license for the product which you should have received as part of the Account linking between FDev-store and Steam.

To be perfectly clear:

• Steam can be installed wherever you like. I have it on C: on one machine, and on D: on another.
• You can tell steam that you want your Games installed on D: regardless of where you install steam. (Add new library or so in Steam).
• I have my ED games on E: for this purpose.

I'm able to use both Steam edition Launcher on one PC, same account but with Legacy-launcher (no steam) on another PC. But it requires a bit of linking to work.

I think you need to further investigate the account-linking in the FDev store. I'll have a look at my own and see if I spot anything.

 

[Para Handy]

.....

• You can tell steam that you want your Games installed on D: regardless of where you install steam. (Add new library or so in Steam).
• .

I should have been more clear - whilst Steam is on C: I have 3 different Steam Libraries - the one with FSX is on C: (it benefits most from access speed) - Elite is on D: and some non-intensive stuff is on E: (a partition of a mechanical HDD).

.. that I could only get working on C. ........

It seems that Elite only works with TrackIR if that is in its default C: installation - lord knows why but that came up last week or so elsewhere.

OT - This "update required" issue is a recurring thing with Steam - I don't know the answer but hopefully support will sort you out soon.

 

[John Stoutbeard]

Okai, tried to research a bit.
1. I couldn't see any particular stuff in my store page that confirms that I have linked my accounts to Steam. A bit strange I think, I was expecting to confirm Steam-FDev account linking.
2. However there's a warning saying you may have to purchase all DLCs you're planning to use, as well as a few more steps regarding the 'Redeem' message.

When I login I see "Please purchase / redeem Elite Dangerous to continue" :: Frontier Customer Support

A message stating

support.frontier.co.uk

Still checking to see if there's more relevant steps to take.

 

[John Stoutbeard]

Additionally, you could try to rename / move the Frontier Development folders in C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local and the \AppData\Roaming.
They do contain machine-keys (the part that verifies the logins) which may be corrupted from previous installations?
Note: They do contain your joystick/keybindings so don't delete them.

If you just rename them to "-old" new ones should be created when you re-verify ED on Steam and start it yet another time.

 

[John Stoutbeard]

Okai, found the article I was looking for:

Link your Frontier account to your Steam account.

Should you need to link your existing Frontier account to your Steam account, please follow these steps: Step 1: Open Elite Dangerous via the Steam client. You will be greeted with two options, '...

support.frontier.co.uk

 

[Para Handy]

..... I'm spitballing at this point - ....

What happens if you try to run EDLaunch.exe directly? Do you get the "Login Failure" message? (Which is what happens to me when I try this.) It was a recommendation in the Steam Support forum for this issue, thought I'd try it before suggesting it. (No doubt it was from before the no-cd versions.)

 

[NorthernDevo]

07 folks; sorry for the delay in getting back to you.
As of last writing, I had begun a new installation and then went to bed; I was exhausted. I just got up - there are a FEW improvements post-reinstall; namely that when I go to the launcher page and use 'Steam login', it now gives me the opportunity to redeem the product. This takes me to Frontier Store's redeem page, where I can enter the 4-block code.
the problem NOW is that the Elite Dangerous CD code provided in Steam is not accepted - it says it's already in use. Well NO KIDDING!!! I'm trying to start MY game, not activate a new one!
And now it wont let me leave that screen until I've finished redeeming.
Uhh...let's see. Going back to the Steam page, I pressed 'Stop', the green 'Play' button returned, I closed it, and am now trying Para's suggestion and looking for the .exe. One sec..
Edit ...And that only allows for logging in through FD, not Steam.
So somehow, I need to get the product key that the thing will accept, which does not seem to be the one actually for this game.
This might prove helpful; at least it is something I can point to and take out a support ticked with Fdev - doing that now.

 

[NorthernDevo]

Additionally, you could try to rename / move the Frontier Development folders in C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Local and the \AppData\Roaming.
They do contain machine-keys (the part that verifies the logins) which may be corrupted from previous installations?
Note: They do contain your joystick/keybindings so don't delete them.

If you just rename them to "-old" new ones should be created when you re-verify ED on Steam and start it yet another time.

OK; I'll give that a shot, thanks.
Edit: They do not appear to exist, probably because I uninstalled and have not managed to load the game.

 

[Para Handy]

....... it now gives me the opportunity to redeem the product. This takes me to Frontier Store's redeem page, where I can enter the 4-block code.
the problem NOW is that the Elite Dangerous CD code provided in Steam is not accepted - it says it's already in use. ..........

Aha - so was this a new purchase from HumbleBundle or similar? There have been reports of the codes from that sort of seller being invalid. F D support have manually authorised these in the past so it is worth mentioning that to them in your support ticket.

Purchases of Elite on Steam since April 2019 no longer have "cd-key codes", that is why I asked. (I bought another Elite Dangerous humblebundle offer recently as a test and that worked fine with no issues at all, and that version in Steam has CD-Key codes - go figure.)

One other thing re codes: one had to redeem / register / whatever the base game key code first, registering the horizons key first bollixed-up the whole registering shebang and needed support to untangle things.

 

[NorthernDevo]

Okai, found the article I was looking for:

Link your Frontier account to your Steam account.

Should you need to link your existing Frontier account to your Steam account, please follow these steps: Step 1: Open Elite Dangerous via the Steam client. You will be greeted with two options, '...

support.frontier.co.uk

Yes; did that, it is very definitely linked. Unlinking and relinking takes you through the steps to get a FRONTIER access code, which doesn't work. I've tried several times, being sure to follow the instructions precisely, but no go.

 

[NorthernDevo]

Aha - so was this a new purchase from HumbleBundle or similar? There have been reports of the codes from that sort of seller being invalid. F D support have manually authorised these in the past so it is worth mentioning that to them in your support ticket.

Purchases of Elite on Steam since April 2019 no longer have "cd-key codes", that is why I asked. (I bought another Elite Dangerous humblebundle offer recently as a test and that worked fine with no issues at all, and that version in Steam has CD-Key codes - go figure.)

One other thing re codes: one had to redeem / register / whatever the base game key code first, registering the horizons key first bollixed-up the whole registering shebang and needed support to untangle things.

I'm not sure what Humble Bundle is; I can't recall when I bought the game, it's been a couple of years. I think I bought Horizons in June 19 along with the DLCs - Cobra mods, Pilot Starter Pack, Stealth etc. and in Steam's 'Manada CD keys' those keys are all available.
Sigh - I'm sorry this is being such a pain.

Question: while I am loathe to do this, will just buying the bloody thing from Frontier allow me to use a non-steam version to access my current CMDR? I DON'T want to lose him.

 

[Para Handy]

I'm not sure what Humble Bundle is; I can't recall when I bought the game, it's been a couple of years. I think I bought Horizons in June 19 along with the DLCs - Cobra mods, Pilot Starter Pack, Stealth etc. and in Steam's 'Manada CD keys' those keys are all available.
Sigh - I'm sorry this is being such a pain.

Question: while I am loathe to do this, will just buying the bloody thing from Frontier allow me to use a non-steam version to access my current CMDR? I DON'T want to lose him.

If you bought it a couple of years ago then you don't need to run it via Steam at all. Just download the installer*, install the game and LOG-IN (not Steam log in) - you should be able to log in with your Frontier Store account and password and they will email a four-digit verification code for you to paste into the installer.

BTW Steam have the Commander DeLuxe edition on sale at £11.99 - just to tease you into buying another account.

* installer direct download: http://hosting.zaonce.net/elite/Client-Installer.exe


EDIT - BTW your current commander is that on a console? - you can't transfer the commander to a different platform.

 

[NorthernDevo]

If you bought it a couple of years ago then you don't need to run it via Steam at all. Just download the installer*, install the game and LOG-IN (not Steam log in) - you should be able to log in with your Frontier Store account and password and they will email a four-digit verification code for you to paste into the installer.

BTW Steam have the Commander DeLuxe edition on sale at £11.99 - just to tease you into buying another account.

* installer direct download: http://hosting.zaonce.net/elite/Client-Installer.exe

Yes, but when I try that, Frontier says I don't have the game! I'm sorry; I thought I said that earlier - that's my fault. Repeated attempts to use the authentication code - I'm up to about 20 now - tells me I need to buy or redeem the game.
EDIT - oh wait, what you're saying is a bit different. One sec, let me try it.
....and nope; we're right back to the same spot.

 

[Para Handy]

Yes, but when I try that, Frontier says I don't have the game! I'm sorry; I thought I said that earlier - that's my fault. Repeated attempts to use the authentication code - I'm up to about 20 now - tells me I need to buy or redeem the game.
EDIT - oh wait, what you're saying is a bit different. One sec, let me try it.

The "please purchase" thing is long-standing here is the FAQ (remember to use the blue arrow log-in):

When I login I see "Please purchase / redeem Elite Dangerous to continue" :: Frontier Customer Support

A message stating

support.frontier.co.uk

I see that was linked earlier - second time won't hurt, sorry @Panzertard for not noticing.

 

[NorthernDevo]

The "please purchase" thing is long-standing here is the FAQ (remember to use the blue arrow log-in):

When I login I see "Please purchase / redeem Elite Dangerous to continue" :: Frontier Customer Support

A message stating

support.frontier.co.uk

I see that was linked earlier - second time won't hurt, sorry @Panzertard for not noticing.

Ahh ok; I think we're on the right track here - I think we're narrowing it down. Thanks for your help; giving this one a shot.
Edit - but no; that is precisely what I've been doing. Sorry.