Frequently Asked Questions & Licensing FAQ

[Adam Ryland]

This thread contains answers to many of the most frequently asked questions. For questions about licensing, please see the second post in this thread.

Frequently Asked Questions

"I can't start the game because it says my license code is invalid..."

You have most likely downloaded the wrong version of the game. Visit the licensing FAQ (the post after this) to check what type of license you are using. If you are an Elicense user then you MUST be running the Elicense version of TEW; you can tell if you're using this version because the license screen will have the Elicense / ViaTech logo on it and you'll have a file called elicen40.dll in your TEW folder. If you are a QLM user then you MUST be running the QLM version of TEW.

If you're using the wrong version, uninstall, download the correct version from the TEW2020 page, then install it. The Elicense version is available via the Elicense Download button, the QLM version is via the Retail Download button.

"I can't install / run the latest patch. It tells me that elicen40.dll is missing..."

If you're a QLM license user then this means you've simply downloaded the wrong patch. You must download the QLM patch, not the Elicense version. If you don't know if you have a QLM or Elicense, please see the licensing FAQ which is the post immediately below this one.

If you're an elicense user then this is because you are mistakenly using the file like an installer. It is not. It is a replacement file. To install, simply unzip the file and use the TEW2020.exe you find inside to replace your existing copy (usually found in Program Files > GDS > TEW2020 or My Documents > User Name > Grey Dog Software > TEW2020).

When I try to load the game I get: "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000005). Click on OK to terminate application." OR I'm trying to run the game but it just doesn't start (but the trial version works fine).
This is almost certainly because your license is being blocked from activating by your operating system. You need to disable your DEP (Data Execution Prevention), which can be done by:
1. Right-click on "My Computer" (if you are using a Windows version that does not have a My Computer icon, instead use Control Panel > System > System Properties and then skip to step 3)
2. Select "Properties"
3. Click on the "Advanced" Tab.
4. Click on the Performance "Settings" Button
5. Click on the "Data Execution Prevention" Tab
6. Verify that "Turn on DEP for essential Windows programs and services only" is selected. If it is not, select that option and click "APPLY". Restart your machine (this is important to do; do not skip the restart!) so that the changes take effect and then try and run the game. (Note: Even if you see that option checked already, go ahead and uncheck and then recheck it to ensure that its activated!)
7. If the problem persists, go back and select the other option "turn on DEP for all windows programs and services EXCEPT those I select" and ADD the following files:

"runservice.exe" (Will be found in C:\Windows)
"TEW2020.exe" (Found in your game folder)

8. Click APPLY then restart your machine (again, it is important to do the restart, do not skip that step) and then relaunch the game.

"When I try to load the game I get the hour glass, but it only lasts a few seconds and nothing happens. The trial version runs without issue."
This is most likely because your license is being blocked; please see the answer above about changing your DEP settings. If that does not work you would need to contact Scott, as per the Elicense FAQ.

"I have installed a picture pack but it is showing everything except workers..."
You have likely either :
- got more than the maximum number of pictures that can be handled (just over 32,000) in the folder; you must reduce the number
- downloaded a GIF-format picture pack but are using a JPG-format database (or vice versa); this is easily checkable by going into the editor and hovering over a worker's image to see what file is assigned to them and then looking at the available images. If the formats don't match, you've downloaded the wrong thing. A JPG database MUST use JPG picture packs, and GIF databases MUST use GIF picture packs. (You can use the Mass Edit feature to change all pictures to a different format if necessary.)
- are not using the picture pack that the database is designed to be used with. Picture packs are not plug-and-play. If their file names do not match those used by the database, they won't work. Again, this is easily checkable by hovering over the picture in the editor to see what the game is looking for and then comparing it to the list of available pictures.

The way pictures work in TEW is very simple - the game merely looks in the folder you've chosen (step 1) for the picture that has been assigned (step 2). Therefore if it's not showing then one of those two steps is not being completed properly.

"My virus checker keeps deleting TEW as it thinks it's a virus..." (i.e. the TEW2020.exe file has physically disappeared)
To correct this, access your virus checker and set an exception for TEW2020.exe. The game is not a virus, the checker is mistaken. [For McAfee, the following video explains how to do it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9kKd2M0TQQ]"

"When trying to run the game I get a message saying: 'In order to finish initializing, this application must first be run by a user with admin privileges. Please contact your system admin for help. 5-2'"

If you are using Avast as your firewall / antivirus then that is the likely culprit. To solve it, first you need to create exceptions for both the game (TEW2020.exe) and the eLicense service (Runservice.exe) within Avast. Then, you'll need to go into the DEP settings and create an exception for the eLicense service so that it'll be able to restart: to do this go into control panel > system > system properties > advanced > performance. Click on the data execution prevention tab and select ‘turn on DEP for all programs and services except those I select’. Then add runservice.exe. If this does not work, or if you don't understand any part, please contact Scott for further assistance, as per the licensing FAQ below.

If you're not using Avast then this error code means that your license has been reset by your operating system. To reset it, simply unlicense and relicense. Instructions on how to do this, if you're not sure, are in the licensing FAQ in the next post. If this does not resolve the issue, please contact Scott, as per the licensing FAQ below.

"I keep getting runtime error 3051 and it is preventing me from running the game..."

This indicates that your antivirus is blocking the game from running as it incorrectly believes it is a threat. Norton Antivirus is particularly bad for this. You need to set TEW2020.exe, and potentially the game's folder, as 'safe' in your antivirus software to proceed.

"TEW is no longer launching. I use MalwareBytes."
Sometimes when you apply a patch the game's signature changes and MalwareBytes (incorrectly) blocks it. You will need to go into MalwareBytes and exclude / whitelist both TEW2020.exe and the folder that TEW2020 is in. This will allow you to launch the game again. In the unlikely event that this does not work, you can also try excluding / whitelisting Runservice.exe to make sure the license can run.

"I can't see the whole screen, the right edge is cut off..."
As per the system requirements information, the minimum resolution is 1366×768. If you have a lower resolution than this you will not be able to play the game.
For other issues, here's a small, free app that allows you to create a shortcut that will help you to change resolution for a single game....when you use it, the game will run in the required resolution and then when you exit, it will auto return you to your normal setting without you having to do anything.

http://www.bcheck.net/apps/reso.htm

"I can't download the latest patch as I'm being told 'This file is not commonly downloaded'..."
This is usually related to the browser thinking the file is harmful. on FireFox, there's an arrow to the right of the message, click on it and then select "Open". The zip should then be whole in your download directory. On other browsers, you may need to clear your cache or specify that you want to continue.

The following link may also help you (links away from forum): here

"I want to apply the back-up of a save game..."
You can apply the weekly back-up by using the Game Recovery button on the Load Game menu.
If you cannot access this screen because the save game generates an error message then you can perform the same operation manually by replacing your TEW2020.mdb save game file, found in Databases -> Name -> SaveGames -> Name, with the one found in its Backup folder.

"I posted a thread and now it has gone..."
Threads are deleted once the issue has been resolved and patched, or, if a response had been requested and it was not addressed by the user in over 14 days. If you feel that the patch has not fixed your issue, please just re-post and we can discuss the matter further.

"My post has been closed..."
Threads are closed once they have been fixed (the fix itself may not appear until the following patch.)

"The game is giving me a warning that I'm not in admin mode, how do I do this?"
Please note that just because you are the owner of the computer, the sole owner, or your account is set to admin does NOT mean you are automatically running the game in admin mode.
To enter admin mode you must right click on the game's icon and specifically choose to run under admin mode. If you are playing via a Shortcut, you do this via Properties -> Advanced -> Admin mode (tick).

"I can only see part of the screen \ the screen looks weird \ the icons in the taskbar are not lining up properly..."
Right click on your Desktop -> Properties -> Settings, and click Advanced. You will see a place to set your DPI, make sure it is 96.

"TEW won't load, I get a message saying it has encountered a problem..."
The latest version of Zone Alarm's anti-spyware toolbar (as of July 16th 2010) blocks ELicense from working, you need to uninstall the Toolbar. Also, the Comodo firewall must be removed (not just disabled) as it does not allow any ELicense products to work (as of December 2010). NB: Updated Information: Apparently you do not need to remove the Comodo firewall, but can do the following:

 

Instead, users should just open COMODO Firewall, click on the Defense+ tab, Click Defense Settings, and then the Execution Control Settings tab. Clicking the Exclusions button to the right of the Detect shellcode injections (i.e Buffer overflow protection) and then adding TEW2020.exe in there allows it to work.

 

"DeepGuard on Charter Security Suite", which may also be known as F-Secure also causes games not to load; enabling compatibility mode solves this issue.

"The game crashes with a message telling me it "has stopped working" and gives me an exception number..."
This may be due to your DEP settings (see elsewhere in this FAQ). There have also been issues reported by people using F-Secure; if you use this software, you may wish to try disabling it temporarily to see if that helps.

"I am getting 'Connection Error (3050) .... (Could not lock file.)' regularly....'
You need to set TEW2020.exe to be 'safe' in whatever antivirus software you are using, as it's currently blocking the game from creating files. You will also need to go into the Databases folder and remove all ".ldb" files that may be there, to recover from the damage already done (while TEW2020 is closed!). Another thing you can do to help is access the Properties menu for TEW2020.exe; in the General tab of some operating systems there will be "Security: This file came from another computer...." and a button saying Unblock. Click that button.

"I cannot find my database \ files on my computer..."
The default path is Program Files \ GDS \ TEW2020. If the folder is not appearing, you have either installed it somewhere else (in which case, search for "TEW2020.exe") or you are not in administrator mode (see top of this post).

I was running the game outside of admin mode and now can't find my save games...
You will need to 'rescue' your save games from non-admin mode in order for them to work. The following method can be used (quoted from a user post):

You should be in admin mode all the time, but you should be able to move the save files from their current location in order to keep using them. Assuming you are using Windows 7, the files should be stored in a hidden folder called appdata. If you don't have hidden folders displayed, then appdata can be found by typing "C:\Users\USERNAME\AppData" into the Windows Explorer taskbar (or in your start menu), substituting USERNAME for, well, your username! Once in appdata, you should be able to find your save files by going into "Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\GDS\TEW2020\Databases\DATABASE NAME".

Copy the save folders from that location to your default GDS directory (within Program Files) and they should work perfectly. If you are struggling to locate the files within AppData, then another option would be to search the AppData folder for "TEW2020.mdb" (minus quotations). Once the results appear right-click on one of them and click Open File Location from the drop-down menu.

"The game will not load because it says I am not meeting the minimum screen size of 1366x768, but my screen is bigger than that...."
The game must have 1366x768 pixels available. If you have screen magnification turned on then you may have less than this, even if your screen is actually bigger. You must turn off the magnification or alter your resolution.

"Clicking OK on the pop-up message box doesn't do anything..."
This is because your DPI settings are incorrect, meaning the graphic is 'stretched' and therefore the picture of the OK button is not in the same place as the clickable area. See the earlier answer about weird-looking screens for information on how to alter your DPI settings.

"I started negotiations with a wrestler and now the game is freezing when processing hirings..."
This is almost always because you are using a number format where "1,000" means "one - decimal place - zero zero zero" instead of "one thousand" (such as German or Italian, for example). I've tried to block this by not using commas wherever possible and by having the game check for those numerical settings on start-up, but in some places these measures are not always effective. I would recommend that for the time being you switch either to English (or change the numerical settings so that a comma is not a decimal place), both easily done via your Operating System (Control Panel -> Regional and language settings, usually), when using TEW as that should allow you to play without problem.

"I am getting 'Runtime Error 3159, Not A Valid Bookmark' or 'Runtime Error 3343, Unrecognized Database Format' or 'Runtime Error 3011' or 'Runtime Error 3112, Record(s) cannot be read; no read permission on 'tblGameInfo'' or "Connection Error 3049, tblGameInfo could not be found" or "Connection Error 3049, File May Be Corrupt"..."
Unfortunately this means that the Microsoft database that we use for the game has been corrupted; currently it is not known why this happens (this is not an issue specific to TEW).
You should first go to Options -> Remote Assistance and try using the code repairdb. If you cannot get to the Options screen to try this then you can do the same thing by pressing the Repair button on the load game screen.
If that does not work, you should apply the backup file (using the Game Recovery button on the Load Game menu; if you cannot access this screen then you can perform the same operation manually by replacing your TEW2020.mdb save game file, found in Databases -> Name -> SaveGames -> Name, with the one found in its Backup folder).
In the rare case that none of the above works then you will need to start a new thread for further help.

Also, some virus checkers can cause connection issues. In particular, Avast is notorious for causing problems. You may have to temporarily disable your antivirus or alter its settings to stop connection issues.

"I am getting 'RTE 3021 No current record' when trying to view someone's profile when they have an accented / foreign character in their name OR when accessing a list where a worker with an accented / foreign character in their name would be the first person in the list OR the game is freezing when the first AI show is being handled..."
The first two reasons mean that your computer does not have the correct language settings to handle all accented / foreign characters. The third reason usually means this - you can easily check by trying to view the profile of a worker who has an accented character in their name (like many luchadors for example). The game should automatically detect this when you open the game. As the warning message will say, you can have the game automatically replace the accented characters with unaccented versions by running the Data Check utility (in the editor). If you already have begun a save game then you can apply the same process to your save game by going to Options -> Remote Assistance and using the code languagecheck.
If you do not want to use the fix described above, the easiest way to solve this is to change the language for non-unicode programs to English within Windows. The way to do this differs slightly depending on what version of Windows you are running, but it is usually found in Control Panel -> Region and Languages and then either under Administrative or Advanced. You should restart your machine afterwards for the change to take effect. If this does not work, you can also try changing your language to English. If that all fails, please try installing a Spanish language pack.
(NB: Please be clear that RTE 3021 is a generic error; just because you're getting it does not mean that this answer applies to you. If you're not getting warnings about language when you open the game and / or can happily access profiles with accented characters in them then the above probably does not apply to you. If you're already past the first month of gameplay then you almost certainly do NOT have a language issue.)

"I get runtime error 3061 as different times throughout the game..."

This can be an issue for some people whose computers do not use English as its base language. The easiest way to solve this is to change the language for non-unicode programs to English within Windows. The way to do this differs slightly depending on what version of Windows you are running, but it is usually found in Control Panel -> Region and Languages and then either under Administrative or Advanced. You should restart your machine after making the change.

"Some of the worker names have a "?" symbol where there would be an accented character..."
This means you do not have the correct language pack to show accented characters. Please see the previous answer.

"I am getting Connection Error 3447..."
Please see the following article: here

"I am getting Error 3358 or 'Warning! Connection to C:\Program Files (x86)\GDS\TEW2020\system\TEWSettings.mdb has failed (Cannot open the Microsoft jet engine workgroup information file.) The program must now close.'..."
This is appears to be an external issue where an update or other program has corrupted a necessary Windows file. Please see either this thread or this thread (external sites) for talk on the subject and possible ways to fix your issue.

"I am getting an error that says 'ActiveX cannot create object'..."
This would suggest that your ActiveX controls are out of date. this page explains about it and you should try the solution marked as Resolution 1. If that does not work, because the DAO360.DLL file is part of a bigger pack for database support in Microsoft called the MDAC then you may need to run that installer independently. You can find it https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/down...s.aspx?id=5793. You should install that, restart your PC, and then see if the game works. In the unlikely event that that doesn't work, you should try uninstalling the game, running the MDAC installer, reinstalling the game, restarting your PC, and then running the game (in that precise order).

"When trying to play the game, I get Runtime Error 429, Runtime Error 383, Runtime Error 339, or Runtime Error -2147024770 (8007007e)..."
First uninstall then reinstall the game, in case it didn't finish installing the DLL files correctly the first time. If that doesn't work, click Run from your Windows Start menu, and type:

Regsvr32 scrrun.dll (and press enter)
Regsvr32 dx8vb.dll (and press enter)
Regsvr32 ovsBooleanControls.ocx (and press enter)

You should now be able to play the game. If the message specifies a file other than the three above then you will likely need to download a copy and place it in Windows \ System32 first; if you cannot find a copy of the file please mail Adam for assistance.

There has also been reported success for the -2147024770 error with the following solution:

...using the system file checker resolved the issue. Opening a command prompt and using the command "sfc /scannow" apparently repaired whatever files had been incorrect.

 

 

I got install error "File size expected=24706418, size returned=256598"
This means you did not download the full file, you only got part of it. This is normally because your connection cut out before your computer could finish.

"I am being told "Application has failed to start because ???.dll was not found..."
Using this link, search for and download the file in question and place it in your Windows \ System folder or Windows \ System32 folder. If this does not work, try putting the file in the TEW2020 folder.

Does the game run on 64-bit operating systems?
Yes, it does.

"My pictures aren't showing..."
If you are not using the default database then you have probably forgotten to switch to the new picture package you want to use. You do this via the editor, under Database Information. Select the appropriate picture package and save.

"I can't assign any pictures to my workers despite being able to see the correct files in the list..."
If you have more than 32,000 pictures in a single folder, the game cannot handle them as this is bigger than the maximum folder size allowed by the Windows operating system. You must reduce the number.

"I am getting an error message saying that TEW2020 has encountered a problem and needs to close..."
Check that you have a file called MSVBVM60.DLL on your machine. If not, you are missing a critical file and need to install it.

"I am getting a crash when trying to assign a picture..."
The following is from the user Cainrok regarding how he fixed the issue: When I first installed the game it looks like my unicode settings in the language and region settings being Korean changed the names of some accented files to korean characters. When I uninstalled and reinstalled the game with the proper English settings applied it left behind the corrupted files in the pictures folder, which in turn caused the game to crash when it tried to read the folder and came across the files with Korean characters. I assume a similar problem could potentially occur in the case of others who have non-English alphabet unicode settings turned on when they instal the game.

"I am getting Runtime Error 481, telling me a picture is corrupt..."
As the message implies, one or more of your graphics is corrupt. You should be able to narrow down which one simply by trial and error - i.e. if it only happens on a certain company then it's likely their logo, if it happens on a specific worker then it's their picture, etc, etc. If the issue is with one of the default graphics then you simply need to run the installer again to get access to fresh, uncorrupted copies (remember that installing over the top of your existing copy would overwrite any work you've done on the database, so you may want to install it somewhere else and manually copy the files across). If it's a corrupted picture that you've created or gotten from a mod then you'd simply need to delete it and replace it with a proper copy. As a further note, often a corrupt graphic is that way because the colour mode was set as CMYK when created; pictures can only be RGB.

"My game has been corrupted..."
If using Game Recovery has failed because the corruption happened prior to the last save, if you are using Windows 7 there is another method for getting an older copy. From poster JHD1: "If you are using Windows 7 you might be able to retrieve an older version of the file by right-clicking on the save game's folder and going to the Properties and then Previous Versions tab. I'd suggest copying the folder to your desktop and then renaming rather than overwriting the file for now." Please note that you should not attempt recovering a corrupted game (either method) until you've posted about your error and gotten a response - otherwise you may remove valuable evidence that can be used to locate the source of the issue.

"The champion in an alliance no longer works for any member but still holds the belt..."
This is not an error; as long as the champion is not exclusive to a non-member and is thus still available to potentially be hired by a member company then there's no reason he should be stripped of the title.

"The auto booker is using odd matches, like mud wrestling or evening gown matches, that are inappropriate for my company..."
The auto booker works with the matches that have been set as your default selection, and if none are present, the matches that have been set as Basic in the database. If you have not set your defaults properly (which may well be the case if you ported over a TEW2016 game and did not make any adjustments prior to starting a new game, then you may have every match set as default and therefore would end up with the AI effectively stuck with no way to know what match types you want.

"The game appears to be running incredibly slowly even for basic things like searching a roster..."
Some virus checkers can see the game / its databases as a threat and check them every time they're used, causing a major slow down. Norton is one, for example, that may constantly red flag the game. If you add an exception for TEW2020 this should solve the issue.

"Some dojos are not generating graduates..."
This is almost always because you have Picture Requirements turned on in the Options menu, meaning new workers can't be created without a valid picture being available. If you have few (or no) free pictures for a specific area / gender / size combination then it can be impossible for graduates to be generated. You would either need to turn off the requirement or import new free pictures into your game to give something for it to work with.

"The 'A newer patch is available' message refers to a patch that is earlier than the one pinned to the top of the forum, why?"
The patch warning is only updated for major patches as some people complained about the frequency of the messages. The one pinned to the top of the forum is always the most up-to-date and will remove the warning message when installed.

"I go to Properties and click on run as administrator but it's unclickable....?"
This is an issue with Windows 10 whereby the E-License shell affects the context menu. You have to disable it. Look for a program called ShellExView. Follow the directions and disable the ELicense shell. You will then be able to right-click again.

"When trying to install the game I get a message that msvcr71.dll could not be opened..."
(Solution supplied by Derek DiBenedetto)
This is the Microsoft C Runtime Library and is used by mostly older Windows programs for various functionality. This error usually means that the .DLL is not registered properly in Windows.
You may need to reregister MSVCR71.DLL or scan and update/replace it.
1. First use Explorer to make sure that there is a copy of MSVCR71.DLL within the c:\Windows\System32 folder.
2. Click the Start button and type cmd. Right click the cmd listing at the top of the list and Run as administrator. Provide credentials if required.
3. To reregister the .DLL, go to Command Prompt and type regsvr32 msvcr71.dll then hit Enter. If that solves the problem, you're all set.

"After installation the game does not have its proper icon..."
1. Right-clicking the TEW2020 shortcut in the start menu (looks like a white document).

2. select MORE and then select Open file location

3. You will then see an explorer folder with the shortcut. Right click on the TEW2020 shortcut and click properties.

4. Click "Change Icon" and you will get an initial error talking about TEW2016. Click past that and choose "Browse" and go to your TEW2020 folder (normally %ProgramFiles(x86)%\GDS\TEW2020\).

5. Select the TEW2020.exe file and it will grab that icon. It looks like a moon a bit but it is actually a gold title belt.

"When installing I am getting the message 'C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\OLE2.DLL is either not designed to run on Windows or it contains an error. Try installing the program again using the original installation media or contact your system administrator or the software vendor for support. Error status 0xc0000131..."
Sorry, currently we do not have a solution for this.

"When pressing enter to search I hear the Windows noise that means an error has occurred..."
Currently we do not know why this is happening as it's at the system level. It does not impact your game however.

"When trying to install the game I get stuck in the installation because I can't see the pop-up confirmation box, it's only in my taskbar...."
If you run Task Manager and right click on TEW2020 and maximize it you should be able to see the pop-up.

"The scroll bars / sliders that appear down the sides of list have disappeared entirely meaning that I cannot scroll down."
This will occur if you are using an out of date version of Windows 10 (NB Microsoft stopped supporting 19H2 (1909) on May 11 2021). Updating to the latest build will allow the game to function correctly.

 

 

[Adam Ryland]

Licensing FAQ

IMPORTANT Please be aware that there are two types of license used by TEW2020 and you should only read the part of the FAQ relating to your type. If you purchased the game prior to 11th November 2022 then you will be using the Elicense system. If you purchased the game from that point onwards then you will be almost certainly be using the QLM system. If you are unsure which you are using, it easy to check: simply look at your license code. Elicense codes will start with the letters 'VT' while QLM codes will be a 25 character code that looks like 'XXXX0-X0X0X-XX0XX-X0XXX-0X0XXX'.

QLM License FAQ

"How many computers can I have my license on?"

Your license can be active on only one computer at a time. You can freely move it to another computer as often as you want as long as you deactivate it first. To deactivate, you can either click the License Management button on the game's title screen or use the support form outlined in the following answer...

"I need to deactivate my license OR I have forgotten / lost my license code OR I need to recover some information about my license..."

If you visit THIS PAGE you will find a support form that allows you to manually activate, deactivate, recover or gain information about your license.

In the unlikely event that you need further assistance, please contact Scott Vibert (scott@greydogsoftware.com) directly for help.

Elicense License FAQ

The Basics
ELicense is the software that protects the game from piracy. Prior to November 11th 2022 this was the method used for TEW2020, but since then we now use QLM; this does not affect customers using the old method, it is still supported, you just can't purchase new licenses under that system. When you purchase the game you are given a license code (this is also known as the "order ID" and will usually start with the letters "VT-"); this unlocks the game and allows you to play it. You should keep these details safe and never give them out to anybody (other than Grey Dog's Scott Vibert if it is necessary for technical support).

Please note that:

1 - You get one license per purchase

2 - Each license can be used on multiple machines but can only be active on one PC at a time

3 - The license is a separate item to the game; uninstalling the game does NOT remove the license, that can only be done through unlicensing.

Frequently Asked Questions

"How do I move my license from one computer to another?"

You must first unlicense the game from the original computer (see next question), then you simply run TEW2020 on the new computer and give your license code when prompted.

"How do I unlicense the game?"

- Right-click on the shortcut you use to launch the game. - Go to properties - Go to the target box and at the end of the current entry add: -unlicense - Press apply and OK to exit - Double click to launch the game. You will see the order ID and below there will be a box you can use to unlicense.

Alternatively, you can do the same thing as above in a slightly different way by using the command prompt method to unlicense it. Create a folder called Test on your hard drive and copy and paste TEW2020.exe and elicen40.dll from your normal TEW folder into it. Go to your Windows Start menu and select Run. Then type "cmd" (without the quotation marks) and press enter. You will see a command prompt. Type

"C:\Test\TEW2020.exe" -unlicense

This will unlicense the game. Notice that there is a space after the final quotation mark, and that there is no space between the dash and the word "unlicense".

"I am being told that my license cannot be activated as it is already in use?"

This means that your license is still active on another computer. The most common cause of this is that the license was automatically installed on the computer where you purchased the game. You need to unlicense it before continuing.

"I can't seem to license or unlicense and am using a multi-monitor set-up..."

If you move the game between your monitors you should be able to resolve this issue [we're not clear on what the root cause is or why this solution works].

"I had a hard disk crash \ my computer got wiped \ I no longer have access to my old computer, what happens to my license?"

Your license has been "locked" onto that machine. You will need to contact Scott (scott@greydogsoftware.com) to have it unlocked. Ideally, you should include your license code ("order ID") or, if you don't have this, your name and the last four digits (last four only!) of the card you used to purchase the game.

"How do I license the game on a computer with no Internet access?"

You can license it on a computer without internet access using a text based license. Install the game on the computer without internet access, when you go to license the game it will give you an option for offline licensing. Follow the on screen instructions, of course you will need a computer with internet access to go through the procedure, however you won't need internet access on your laptop.

"I have read through the FAQ and have not been able to solve my issue."

All licensing issues are handled by Grey Dog Software's Scott Vibert ("Scott at greydogsoftware dot com"). Please contact him by e-mail (preferably) or private message, giving him details of your problem. Ideally, you should include your license code ("order ID") or, if you don't have this, your name and the last four digits (last four only!) of the card you used to purchase the game.