Thank you - although I believe this to be a server-related issue, so “reproducing” the problem will depend on the state of the servers. I would suggest instead a slightly more thorough review of the logic flow chart for starting MSFS in relation to the license. Specifically:
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If the notarization server is (for whatever reason) unavailable while a connection to the internet itself is fine (an easy ping test to any other Microsoft server), there should be a graceful fallback - especially if the installation has been successfully notarized and opened recently with no hardware changes. This logic is standard for most software that uses a signature notary server of any kind.
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The error messaging around server-related issues continues to be inadequate (and frankly, quite lazy). If a particular server is not reachable, while the internet connection itself is fine (again, an easy ping test to any other Microsoft server), then it is a “server connection” issue, not a customer issue. The messaging gives the user the impression they have done something wrong, when they haven’t, and results in all kinds of frustration and needless troubleshooting - all while there seems to be no error collection about server connectivity issues that Microsoft should be collecting in real time to fix issues.
Thanks again! And Happy New Year.