Portal CD Key duplicate - help!

[harryashfield]

Damn You Steam!

I recently bought a copy of 'Portal' from Gamestation, which informed me it was pre-owned, leaving me skeptical. But, it was buy one get one free, so I thought what the hell, there wasn't anything better.
I tried to activate the product on steam, and I was told (surprise surprise) that It had already been activated, and I couldn't play it. Now it gets interesting.
The support centre (which offered no phone number) Told me that within 90 days I could get the key reset If I had the original receipt, which I don't, I lost it. They offer no other help, and even if I had the reciept, I would have to wait for about a month to get the key re-done.

So, can anyone help? I'm not asking for keys off anyone, that would be illegal I presume, and wouldn't work anyway. I just wondered If there was anything I could do, or anything I was missing, or if anyone knows the Steam contact number, which would sort EVERYTHING out, but as helpful as they are they do not offer one.

AAARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!:mad::mad::mad:

EDIT: Got through to the American Valve support number. I was told they do not offer phone support for any of their products...:mad:

[hicks]

It's really your own fault for buying a preowned copy, the original owner will still have the copy tied to their account, and as you say that you've lost the receipt there's no proof you've legitimately got the game. Steam i think works well and is helping to cut piracy in games, anyway to buy portal is £10 from steam and as you got portal free anyway, you'll be ableto just buy it from steam and add it to your account then use the dvd to install it quickly to play.

[harryashfield]

Can I do that? Just buy a new key?

[hicks]

Yes, once you've installed steam open the client up and find portal in the store, then you'll forever have portal. steam cd keys are like what keys have been like before because it tethers a game to an account thats permanently there,instead of for example just needing to install and play online with one key at once like blizzard.

[harryashfield]

Oh great, Thanks.

[basstard]

I suppose you could take it back to GameStation and explain the situation?

[The Mna]

It's really your own fault for buying a preowned copy, the original owner will still have the copy tied to their account, and as you say that you've lost the receipt there's no proof you've legitimately got the game. Steam i think works well and is helping to cut piracy in games

Steam's anti-piracy measures arn't doing much. Their games have been cracked and they are often easier to get running and use than their legit steam counter-parts. Even online based games have their own cracked private servers. If anything they're just causing problems for people who buy the game legally or buy the game pre-owned (which they should support more rather than just snubbing them off like they do now). /antisteamrant

[cliffhanger]

It's really your own fault for buying a preowned copy, the original owner will still have the copy tied to their account.

I'd have to disagree there. Gamestation should not be selling pre-owned Steam games because it's well known that you can't install and play it if it's second hand. I have several games that I have downloaded through Steam and I like not having boxes everywhere but I know that I can't just sell the game on once I'm finished with it.