moderatly annoyed (a lesson for all)

right,

i bought half life 2 off of ebay the other day, got the game in the post saturday and its mint, if i didn't know better the game looked like it was just outta shrink wrap. put the game in and it crashed half way through install gave me a error, i checked it out and it was something to do with needing to update steam no biggie i thought so i put the cd key into steam to activate the game that way and i get "dulicate key error", foolish me bought a game that i should have known would be used and therefor the cd key would be invalid *slaps self for being that idiotic* i emailed the guy a couple of times to try to sort it out and he hasnt replied so im going to ask paypal to sort it and get my money back, lesson learnt

"DONT BUY STEAM ENGINE BASED GAMES FROM EBAY"

 

http://support.steampowered.com/cgi-bin/steampowered.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=70

Try that lengthy process?

 

Your best bet is to do with slybeans said. You could get it reset.

 

I wouldnt go as far as that. I would say buy them, but make sure you read the auction thru and only buy those that specifically state that the key will be unused also. That way, if they key does end up being duplicate, you can complain to ebay and paypal that the guy misrepresented his auction. For all we know, you just bought the game cds and not the actual key also.

 

or if you have a good connection, buy off of steam.

 

the connection doesn't matter much anyway, because with the updates and decrypting during install, you end up downloading most of it from their servers anyway.

So if you don't have a good connection, don't buy a Steam game, period.

 

I figured the lesson would be "Steam sucks"

 

i like steam better than the ea link thing... but i always email people on line to makesure the key is 100% mine and unused when i purchase it.

 

The HalfLife 2 installation from the original CDs always crashes if you choose not to install CounterStrike Source along with it.

 

Woah woah slow down. Streather you have the original CD and packaging, which means you can contact Steam about the matter and get a new CD-Key. All you have to do is take a couple of photos and send them in I believe. This is a link for hijacked accounts, which applies to you---you just never played on your account before. Give it a try.

 

I had that problem with a brand new copy of half life 2 off the shelf. Like others have said (I think someone gave you a link already so I won't bother) you can send in your CD key and a few pictures and they will reset it so you can play. They don't take too long either, they do a good job with that stuff, I was impressed at least (and that is HARD to do, impress me).

 

i checked that link out and it says you need to provide a scan or picture of your receipt too and they don't take ones from online auction sites, as i bought it from ebay im unsure if that counts me out (perhaps im reading it wrong lol)

 

I never sent in a recipe, I don't recall at least. Give them a call (or email), ask them what exactly you need to do, and just don't mention were you got it, just that it won't activate.