When I try to start Plants vs zombies, I always get the same error message. It says I haven't activated the game, even though I was able to play it normally on Origin. I also have some ingame time. Any way to fix this?
I discovered that ProgramData is a hidden folder you have to use the View option to make show up. it has fixed the issue.
thanks ya'll!
I can't seem to be able to find this so called licenses folder. I'm using Windows 11 so it may be different than other users, like instead of Program Data, it's Program Files, and the Electronic Arts folder in said folder doesn't have a Licenses folder, so maybe it's located somewhere else?
Community Manager@in2action was 100% correct. I was having this issue as well. I originally had the Origin app installed and had played Plants vs Zombies several times before. However, now it looks like the Origin app is very dead, and the old license file was causing the issue. I ensured Plants vs Zombies was closed (easy to do since it wasn't working) and then I deleted the following file
C:\ProgramData\Electronic Arts\EA Services\License\71592.dlf
Then I reopened Plants vs Zombies, and it launched without issue. I went back to the folder listed above, and a new license file with the exact same name was in the folder. So it must have downloaded/activated the license from EA once it launched. This is absolutely a bug, and I would hope that EA would be looking at a way to resolve this issue.
Unfortunately for me, I'd tried uninstalling/reinstalling several times, so I have once again lost all my progress on Plants vs Zombies. Good thing this game has high replay value. Although, if it didn't, I might not have had to troubleshoot a 13 year old game :-)
Good luck everyone
Same issue. Had it for years and this week it started asking for a registration code, which it won't allow me to enter.
I got on with support and they walked me through clearing the cache, repairing, and reinstalling the game. No joy.
If the problem has been identified, why isn't it fixed? I've seen people from july waiting for it to be fixed. (I'm sorry if i sound mad, but i only got the play the game 2 days after i bought it untill this bug popped up)
Community Manager@HoshinoSOL What it comes down to is the way the downloads and DRM license used to work. Since the EA app license folder only has older games in it, if there are any leftover folders even from Origin, the registry will try to launch that license. Deleting that license file or all files and doing a registry cleaner does help.
Omg I have been dealing with this issue since switching over to EA from Origin and I was so sad!! Thank you this worked for me. I also found an empty origin folder chilling out in there after I thought I deleted them all already
If you didn't have it installed before, and you installed it in a different language, i don't think there's a way to solve it from what i know.
The error seems to have returned... I'll have to look into it more and find what's causing the problem
