I have a new computer -- Windows 7, 64-bit. I downloaded the game from Direct-to-Drive. I had to manually install the game.

After installation, I activated the game through the EA download manager. The game then would not start. (The game shows that it is an active process. But, even killing the process does not allow the game to start.) I rebooted. It then would start.

But, I have to do this every time I run the game. I activate. I then need to reboot. Then start the game. The reason is that after activation, the game leaves a process running. This first has to be killed in some fashion.

As well, the multiplayer serial number key is missing. Is this related. I have never manually typed in the serial number for multiplayer. Does this solve the activation problem?

Others have noted this same problem in this forum and have not received any replies.