FOOTBALL MANAGER 09 – FAQ GUIDEPlease read the information below, the suggestions have been confirmed as fixing the issues you are experiencing.
I own a MAC – what’s the problem?Mac users have nothing to worry about there is no activation on the game for MAC users, just the normal disc check. Mac Book Air users will need an external Optical drive in order to play – we are currently looking into options for this.
ALL USERS PLEASE DO THIS FIRSTPlease check the ‘Football_Manager_2009_InstallLog.log’ located in ‘C:Program FilesSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009’ and report any errors. If you do have errors can you please also report where you purchased the game from.
When I try to activate, it says I'm not connected to the internet / other activation problemsWe have created a small activator script that should help anybody having trouble activating the game online.
Step 1 – Download the activator from
http://www.footballmanager.com/fix.zipStep 2 – Unzip the contents of the activator to your desktop.
Step 3 – Double click the activate.vbs file
Step 4 – Next you will see a dialog box prompting you for your license key.
Step 5 – Enter your license key into the dialog. Remember – to check your key at http://keycheck.fm2009.softanchorinsight.com
Step 6 – Press OK - then wait 30-60 seconds and you will receive a second message. If you are successful – the message will read:
"Activation Successfully. Please try and run the game."
If you get this message, open the game and run it.
If the activation fails, the message will read something like:
"Activation Failed with error -1003. Please make sure you have the correct key and try again."
The number in this message will help us understand the problem. For example, In this case the number -1003 indicates that your license key. If the error is -1003 enter your license key into the form at:
http://keycheck.fm2009.softanchorinsight.comIf it is something besides -1003, please send Muzchap or JMordetsky a PM on the Si Forum and they will do their best to help!
I’m receiving the Error [-10] what can I do?Fix: The error 10 is related to not being able see the server correctly; this could be due to a firewall blockage or ‘proxy’ issue. We are investigating further, but do have a workaround – please can you call one of the Customer Services numbers below and an Operator will talk you through activation:
UK - 0871 010 8002
FR - 08 20 37 61 58
All other number for support and their territories can be found here:
www.sega.co.uk/support/I’ve installed the game where are the files located?Fix: C:Program FilesSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009
You are receiving a [-703] error: ‘We were unable to process your unlock request. To receive a new key please visit sigames.com’
Fix: This indicates that the server is busy and has been unable to fulfill your request, please do keep trying, it will authenticate.
Phone activation fails - Drops out after 3rd key issueFix: This happens because the original key entered was incorrect and the phone line cannot validate the request. Please recheck the original 26 character key entered, you should validate your key (if possible) via the following URL:
http://keylookup.fm2009.softanchorinsight.comPLEASE ENTER THE KEY IN UPPERCASE LETTERS, otherwise you will ALWAYS FAIL at step 3.ERROR: Cannot run game:Failed to set up graphics systemFix: Please download the following update from the
Microsoft Direct X SDKYou should also check that you are running the latest graphics driver, you can do this by visiting the computer manufacturer website, or by visiting the graphics card manufacturing website.
You are receiving an Error [-821]Scenario: Install and activate with activation code on Steam and it works then launch the game, SoftAnchor asking to re-enter activation code.
Fix: You need to delete the certificates and re-activate the game
1) On receiving the error, please uninstall the game
2) Please navigate to the following directory:
XP users: C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009 Certificate
Vista users: C:Program DataSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009 Certificate
3) Please ensure that it is the certificate directory you are located in
4) Delete all content
5) Reboot the machine
6) Re-run the installation programme and retry activation - ensuring you have 'verified' your key using the following website:
http://keylookup.fm2009.softanchorinsight.com7) You should now be activated
You are receiving an Error [-1003]Fix: You are entering the key incorrectly please visit the following URL to correctly identify your key -
http://keylookup.fm2009.softanchorinsight.comError: You are receiving the Error ‘Product Key already Active’ messageFix: You need to delete the certificates and re-activate the game
1) On receiving the error, please uninstall the game
2) Please navigate to the following directory:
XP users: C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009 Certificate
Vista users: C:Program DataSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009 Certificate
3) Please ensure that it is the certificate directory you are located in
4) Delete all content
5) Reboot the machine
6) Re-run the installation program and retry activation - ensuring you have 'verified' your key using the following website:
http://keylookup.fm2009.softanchorinsight.com7) You should now be activated
Error: You are receiving the Error [-51] / [-52] messageFix: You need to delete the certificates and re-activate the game
1) On receiving the error, please uninstall the game
2) Please navigate to the following directory:
XP users: C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009 Certificate
Vista users: C:Program DataSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009 Certificate
3) Please ensure that it is the certificate directory you are located in
4) Delete all content
5) Reboot the machine
6) Re-run the installation program and retry activation - ensuring you have 'verified' your key using the following website:
http://keylookup.fm2009.softanchorinsight.com7) You should now be activated
Note: If the above does not fix it – please check the following:
• C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication Data is not set to read only.
• Also check that C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataSports Interactive and C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009 Certificate are not set to read only!
To check if a file or folder is read only, please right click the folder and select ‘Properties’ from the dropdown, you should the see a box at the bottom called Attributes – please ensure this is unticked or does not have a green square inside.
• Another way it could happen is if there is another instance of FM.exe or Activator.exe holding onto our certificate. In this case - the user should check the process list to see if another instance of FM.exe is open. If so - close it first.
To do this you need to open Task Manager (right click TaskBar, or CTRL+ALT+DEL), sort the Image Name column by clicking on it and identifying if Activator.exe or FM.exe are running. If they are highlight and click ‘End Task’
You launch the game via Steam and nothing happens
Please raise a support ticket at the Valve website: https://support.steampowered.com/
When launching the game you receive the following Error: “FM.exe application error. The application has failed to initialize correctly (0xC0150002). Click on OK to stop the application.”
Fix: This can be resolved by updating the Microsoft Dot.Net framework, please visit the following URL to download:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=0856EACB-4362-4B0D-8EDD-AAB15C5E04F5&displaylang=enYou receive the ‘Error: Application was unable to connect to the internet. Please check your connection.’ Fix:
1) Open IE and go to:
https://fm2009.sa01.softanchorinsight.com2) Here if you are using IE7 it will prompt you – “There is a problem with this website’s security certificate.”
3) Next, Click – “Continue to this website (not recommended)”. However – this is okay, it is safe.
4) Look up top at your IE address bar – you will see “Certificate Error”. Click this box, then click “View Certificates”.
5) Press, “Install Certificate…”
6) Select the “Place all certificates in the following store”.
7) Press “Browse”
8) Select “Trusted Root Certificate Authorities”. Not this will install the Go Daddy (a reputable) certificate into your trusted root certificate authorities if it is not there.
9) Press OK
10) Press Next
11) Press Finish
Close IE, then Reopen it and to go to
https://fm2009.sa01.softanchorinsight.com. Note: on this visit, you will be allowed without trouble.
From here –
1) Reopen your FM2009 game
2) Enter your key into the Activation Dialog
3) Select the “Online” activation
4) Press Next
You game should activate immediately.
If you are install the certificate incorrectly, the error message will still be visible – for more help on installing correctly, please visit
here.Please note: You will require your system clock to be set correctly, failure to do so will cause an error with HTTPS. Please therefore ensure your system time and date are set correctly.
I installed through Steam and cannot start the game or create a shortcut, or running without Steam being activeFix: If installed via Steam, you can find the game executable (exe) at the following location:
C:Program FilesSteamSteamappsCommonFootball Manager 2009
If you double click this the game will launch, you can also create a shortcut to this location on your desktop.
I installed through Steam and now I get an annoying block of colour on my screen (bottom right hand corner)Fix: In steam click the icon "settings", click the tab "in game" and untick the "enable steam community" and voila
You receive an error when trying to install the Patch - digital signature issue (Vista)
Fix:
1. Create a shortcut on the desktop to cmd.exe (if you don’t know how to see guide below)
2. Right-click on the shortcut and select Run as administrator
3. When the command window opens, type or paste the following and press ENTER:
Bcdedit.exe /set nointegritychecks ON
4. Reboot and then try installing the driver.
Quick Guide to Creating a shortcut:
1. Right click on an empty space on the desktop to open the context menu
2. Select New
3. Select Shortcut with a left-click
4. In the location box type cmd /k Bcdedit.exe /set nointegritychecks ON 5. Select Next
6. Name your shortcut and push Finish
You are receiving the error: ‘FM2009 could not run as ‘facegen’ was unable to initialize!’Fix: Please install the Patch, and ensure your graphics drivers are up to date
You are receiving the error: ‘This application has failed to start because saAuditMD.dll was not found. Re-installing the application may fix this problem’
Fix: Please download the file from here and place in the following folder: C:Program FilesSports InteractiveFootball Manager 2009
http://downloads.sigames.com/download/saAuditMD.zip
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