One of my software's trial periods has expired, and even after deleting it from my hard disk, and downloading it again, it still shows the 'trial expired!' error.
2007-05-03 03:22:15 · 4 answers · asked by DichloroDiphenyl 5 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Is it really illegal if I re-download the program and reinstall?
2007-05-03 03:31:56 · update #1
when u download a program it stores ur system date on its program n also many files get updated in the system registry(a place windows has created invisible to users n if fiddled with could cause serious system damage). every program u download n then install then checks this very registry to see if u've already downloaded this software and voila! it shows that ur cmputer has. what u could do is take a backup of the entire system registry before downloading any software and create a restore point. then download n install the software. once the expiry date has passed u go to the restore point u created n switch ur system bak to its state b4 u installed the software, that way when u can keep installing software tension free. to create a restore point u go to the all programs menu -> accessories -> system tools -> system restore. a wizard will open n follow the instructions to create a restore point. also when u want ur computer to go bak to the prev restore point then go to the same menu. hope that answers the question
2007-05-03 04:15:36 · answer #1 · answered by roadrunner 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The offending software has left a registry entry somewhere in the registry. You need to find that registry entry and remove it. Then when you install the software again it will think it's the first time it has been installed. Registry Mechanic should find the entry and remove it. If that fails you can try catch the program as it installs be check you temp folder when the software is installing and see if they list the registry entries they are going to add or change. It can be tedious to find it but, it can be done. Just another reason to complain to the author of the software for not removing all registry entries when you remove a program.
2007-05-03 11:13:20 · answer #2 · answered by mcgranem 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the program is useful to you and you wish to keep using it, do the programmers the courtesy of paying for it. Or find an Open Source equivalent.
2007-05-03 22:17:22 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a variety of implementations. It might involve a complex registry trick or serverside activations and checkings.
2007-05-04 09:29:17 · answer #4 · answered by Deepak Vasudevan 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋