OK, we've all gotten this message when playing online, and the server crashes, and we try to go somewhere else. I'm getting this message when I haven't been playing at all. It started last night, and I managed to play some this morning, but now I can't log into any servers. Has anyone encountered this, and how can I fix it, w/out buying a new game anyway.

There are two possible causes for such a message. Either you crashed but your status didn't update yet (you're still believed to be in-game), or someone else is using your CD key (illegally). In the first case, the situation is automatically resolved in 5-10 minutes. In the second case, the best thing you can do is keep trying until you can log in to a server, and leave the game running while you go about your day, or as you sleep, or both. The other person won't be able to use your cd key then, and if he/she gets frustrated enough they'll try another key instead.

From the description, it's likely it's the first case. Not being able to log in might be a gamespy issue, unless you're getting the same 'CD key in use' message as before.

If it gets really bad, you can always explain your problem to the guys over at Bioware. E-mail is probably better than a forum post there.

Yeah, I'd go for the crash theory, but I'm locked out even after my computer has been off for several hours. Can't figure how anyone would have gotten my cd key either, unless they broke through my firewall. You'd think the protection software would be able to inform you if that had happened. It may be tied to some scripting that was added at my home server, because I never had the problem until then. Hard to say though, but I'd hate to have to go buy another copy, just to get past this issue.

Another long shot is that someone has guessed your key using a keygen, though its strange that its co-insided with a crash that they got on with your key.

Check with Bioware via the Tech Support (Self Help Forums)

Starting to lean towards some scripting problem at my home server, as it seems that I can log into games if that server has been reloaded, and I hadn't been in game. I can't say for sure, but it seems like it's keeping my cd key tied up while it's running. Time for more research, I guess. *note* I've got a thread running at bioware, but the last time I checked it, it seems as if the one person who replied at the time read the title of the post only and replied. Can't get much help that way.

The situation has been resolved, so far anyway, thanks to Legolas suggestion of getting into a game and leaving a char in, even if I'm not playing. Thanks for the input, and that was a great idea Legolas, it seemed to work just fine.