Open the crack.
Put your "Registered Number" on this. THe crack going give you a serie number.
Open 3ds Max, and do "Activate the product". You put all...Fake name.. And for Serial Numer, put "666-12345678".
After, it's worked. if i remember it's that...
I believe that's what he did to activate it the first time. I know i did back then, never had this problem either..