..but I wouldn't know:
Purchased on Wednesday.
Tech supports answer (a day later...) was "try pasting the serial number in." A fantastic way to burn a day of turn around communication. I posted the following on the BI thread,

Did you ever get this resolved OP? I'm having the same issue.

-Firewall is COMPLETELY OFF

-set user email as exact caps as on my account, and tried several variations. My email contains no special characters or spaces.

-ToH is @ version 1.05 and I confirm it works (used the 1.01 to 1.05 version of the patch, not the 1.04 then the compatibly patch)

-run the install program as administrator (Win7-64 bit)

-SN is copy/pasted directly from my email

Also,just to be clear, when you say CD key, you mean serial number, correct?

I contacted support by email, figured I'd ask here too.

By the way, why the hell does the help link on the activation pop-up take me to the Impulse store...


So that's pretty cool. They happily took my money, but take their time giving me the product.

Is this the steam version.

It happened to me with the steam version, on their forum was the fix ( worked for me).

1/ Exit steam
2/ Launch Steam as administrator
3/ start TOH Hinds within steam
4/ The program will then do the installation

Worked for me both in 32 bit vista and 64 bit windows 7.

If its not the steam version, cant help you, sorry

You've probably done this - but I had trouble with activation because there was a space on the end of the serial number when pasted into the activation app from my email. You need to ensure there are no extra characters around the serial number when you enter it.

@digger, no, it's not the steam version but thanks anyway

@Agent X20, I did check that (even tried entering the code manually) and no luck. Thanks anyway

I have that one aswell the non steam version, customor support was very nice, but now just quiet, the last advise I had was: "try to run Windows in safe mode with networking and reinstall"!

For me wasted money, and I have heard nothing for nearly a week now.

Staffan

Try searching/posting on the BIS forums...I'm sure there will be more people that could help you out so you can get the game running: http://forums.bistudio.com/forumdisplay.php?114-TAKE-ON-HELICOPTERS

I do think that there tech support staff should be able to assist with activation issues.

Staffan

If I've heard nothing by monday, it's time to drop the F-word.

Fraud. Taking someones money+promising something in return+not delivering=stealing. This becomes a fraud case in that event.

Simply unacceptable.


http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?132527-Installation-Problem-With-Take-on-Helicopter-HIND!

No answer^


I think the Gamestop/Impuse side of things is screwed up, and that's the problem. I'll be clear: That's still on BIS.
I didn't buy a game from Gamestop/Impulse, I bought one from them. The support burden falls to them, and them alone. Equipping your game with DRM is a choice, and they've made us deal with the consequences.

A fun little update from tech support:
"Hello,

please try to reinstall everything - uninstall TKOH, reboot your PC and
install TKOH again. Patch TKOH to 1.05 and try to install and activate
Hinds. Also, prior to this procedure please make sure that you
deactivated Windows User Account Control, anti-malware programs and
firewall and are logged in as Administrator."

Next they'll ask me to reinstall windows. These smell like stall tactics.

My response:

"Just tried all that. It didnt work.

These are all obvious things to try in this situation. Whats being done on the bis side to ensure its not an issue with your servers? I've ran across others having similar issues, and they've been given either silence or basic answers."

If this isn't resolved by tomorrow, I'll be reaching out to paypal for a refund, on the basis that bis failed to deliver their product."


BTW, if their activation is so picky it requires a deactivated firewall and user account controls, that's a serious problem. Basically, in the interests of their security, it's ok to compromise the customers is what BIS is saying.

Quick note, when trying to access my registrations in te account settings on the IMPLUSE/GAMESTOP (not Sprocket/BIS store!), it gives a 500 error page and has since I've been trying to get this DLC to work. That's why I'm so sure this issue is on their side.

If it's an issue with my account, I'd understand be forgive them.

Well, I would have been, if the support guy had elevated this from day one,and reached out to DBA.