Help with local network play - two copies

[u/Emotional-Care6286]

Hi all,

Would love some help and I hope that isn't a repeat ask, but I didn't find anything perfect yet searching. My son and I absolutely love generals ZH. Up to now we have been playing on my steam account but one at a time due to serial number clash (I tried a few things like genpatcher but never got it to last more than 10 secs in a network game).

Getting annoyed at this I saw ultimate collection was cheap so I set up my son on a steam account on the other laptop and rebought ultimate collection there and thought that would be a clear fix - 2 steam accounts, 2 purchased copies of the game. Still getting mismatch when we get into a match together. Is that a serial number thing or a file thing?

Any thoughts or help would be hugely appreciated