I own a Battle.net collection which includes Diablo, Starcraft, and Warcraft 2: Battle.net Edition. Games have their separate CD-keys.
Thus I'm wondering if it would ever be possible for us to "activate" our old physical copies of WC2 B.net edition using the CD-Key provided? My CD is so badly preserved I can't even install it, and beside that, the old version of WC2 uses CD as a DRM, you had to play with CD in the drive.
I tried the key on Battle.net, but it doesn't work. They don't offer the ability to download the client either, even tough they do let me download Starcraft, Diablo 2, WC3, go figure...

Save 4.4 in a different location then your previous Combat Edition if you already play on .RU.

Visit http://en.war2.ru/downloads/

Scroll down to version 4.4 "War2Combat 44". Download the STANDARD version.

When installing if you are having problems hosting/joining games I suggest trying out "random port" option. Might help. If not there is a guide for port forwarding at http://en.war2.ru/hosting

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Add your CD key that GOG gave you on their website

How to access Warcraft 2 CD Key from GOG - YouTube

https://i.imgur.com/UPBDjWL.jpg

You should select combat folder and then remove that "\Warcraft II BNE" from path on top of window. Stupid changer adds "\Warcraft II BNE" automatically, but it's not needed.
You should have path: "C:\War2Combat" or where you installed this version.

https://i.imgur.com/IthIJIe.jpg

After you are finished adding the key you can load up with the No Cd loader

https://i.imgur.com/Vwu7KGz.jpg

Finally you can connect to the GOG server

https://i.imgur.com/dlmPZYE.jpg

idk if it's ever been stated but... as far as I know war2.ru is a private-server community.. and since Blizzard never allowed any private servers, this version's illegal.

you may correct me if i'm wrong.

In addition to that: Post 2 doesn't answer the TO
The Question was, if ppl will be able to activate their CD-key here, so they can download it legally

All of these do-gooders like any of the music they listen to on their ipod is bought and paid for

If you have a CD key from the originally b.net that you bought and paid for, but have a moral dilemma about using a pirated version of war2 to make that bought and paid for key work because it's the only way to do it.. you sir are a saint.

not sayin' that I'm a saint, but if gog made it possible for us to reexperience war2 on modern systems in a legal way, I think we shouldn't promote an illegal version "just because it's free". saw several posts already that promoted war2.ru "cause it's free".

only reason i'm supporting it is because it's pretty obvious GOG is giving no real support to the server/client they just released.. and that we paid for (most of us).

pirated version is constantly getting updates.

how does GOG release something that is not functional for most. that is what bothers me the most.

GoG uses a Global Battle Net the made for their game. Warcraft 2 and Diablo both share the same global. Your original Blizzard CD was related to Blizzard Battle net server, so it would not work here.

As for Blizzard side, only Diablo II still has the ability to have CD key redeemed on you Blizzard Account since the game is still active on their own battle net. Warcraft III can no longer be redeemed but you may downloaded the updated client and use your CD key to log into the game from playwar3 website.

There is a simple answer to this. If you're not already aware, KHB (A longtime War2 vet) worked for Blizzard for about 10yrs and he helped build the War2Combat server by testing it. Blizzard has aboslutely NO issues with the War2Combat version/server because it's NEVER asked for money from it's users. Now, if it were charging it's users, Blizzard would probably have a problem with it. It should also be noted that the RU server has been around since I think 2005/6? Been so long I lost count.

There is absolutely NOTHING illegal about the War2Combat version of the game. In fact, it's far superior to the GoG version and it's 100% compatible with the GoG servers as of yesterday. It includes a TON of patches that the GoG client just doesnt but should have. What they released was as close to the original as possible (which was the goal I believe). And not only is the War2combat client superior, the server itself is EONS ahead of the garbage that GoG uses. I think it has like what, 2 commands you can use? The RU server has well over 20 useful commands for users to use such as /watchall, /games, /con, /whois, and a status page here: status.war2.ru that lets you see whos where even when you're not in the game or when your waiting in a game lobby.