I applied a Ripple Dissolve transition and get a Red X over the video. It says its licensed and I selected "Activate" and put in the activation key and got a message saying Plug Ins were removed and I still have a Red X. What's up with that?
You've posted under the Vegas Effects category. Vegas Effects is an additional editing program that comes with Vegas POST. Are you referring to a ripple dissolve within the Vegas Effects program or a ripple dissolve within Vegas Pro?
If Vegas Pro, is the ripple dissolve that you are referring to the BorisFX BCC ripple dissolve transition? If yes, have you purchased separately from BorisFX the BCC Transitions Unit or even the entire BCC Suite? The reason is that many Vegas Pro purchasers think that the Boris FX Primatte Studio that comes with the Vegas Pro package also includes the entire BorisFX BCC Suite. It doesn't. Primatte Studio is one FX only within the BCC Suite and that is the only FX that is licensed. For installing just the licensed FX and without all the unlicensed FX (those with a red X), please see the following YT tutorial by BorisFX: 
from about 03:00.
If the issue is something different, please get back to the forum and explain in more detail.
Okay. I followed the video. The transition is licensed and activated but still not working. I've tried it in Vegas 14 and 19. I cannot even see the BCC transitions now even though I did not select the 'Remove" option. Can someone please help me by phone or live chat? Or should I just go back to Adobe Premiere which had lots of great transitions included without all this BS?
Can someone please help me by phone or live chat?
Please note that this forum is a peer-to-peer user forum, not Vegas Support. If you want to contact Vegas Support, please click on the Support link in the forum's header and follow the process to reach "Contact Support".
From point 6 in https://www.vegascreativesoftware.info/us/forum/faq-how-can-i-get-help-and-support-for-vegas-pro--104781/ re Live Chat:
6. ONLINE LIVE CHAT
Pre-sales and registration help is available via online live chat from Monday to Friday, 12pm-4pm U.S. Central Standard Time. Go to https://www.vegascreativesoftware.com/us/support/ and click the chat bubble in the bottom right corner.
For the BCC licensing/activation issue, you may need to contact BorisFX Support.