Cracking Hardware Key?

[lxskllr]

We have some old GPS postprocessing software at work that checks a hardware key on the parallel port before it'll run. Right now we're dual booting Win98 and Win2kpro. The GPS software requires a DOS based O/S to run. I recently tried running it out of a VM, but the parallel port is a bit of a problem. In VirtualPC2004 I get an error that the port is in use by the host(Win2kpro), and won't be available to the client(Win98).

I have 2 problems. The first is I'd like to run the software from a VM in the present time, and second, parallel ports are very quickly becoming obsolete, and we'll be screwed when we no longer have access to a parallel port.

The company that made the software has changed hands a few times, so there's no support there, and it's also quite old(1995). We don't do enough GPS work to make buying all new equipment worthwhile, so while old, the software does exactly what we need.

Anyway, do any of you have any ideas that would work? The software is GeoTracer V2.x, which was made by Geotronics at the time.

 

[xtknight]

Try the free VMware server and see if the parallel port works there. Or VirtualBox may support it as well.

P.S. I am not sure about Windows 2K's permissions but it's very possible you need to run the VM software under an Administrator account to access the parallel port. If it doesn't work ask on the VMware forums but it should.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm in the process of trying VMware server. For some reason it won't let me drag/drop files to and from the host system. I need to do that so I can transfer the program I need. I tried the original floppies, but they're apparently corrupted(surprise :^/). The parallel port /should/ work in VirtualPC, but I guess I need to find out what's using it in the host. I will try VirtualBox(I have to find an old version, 2kpro isn't supported by the current(same as VirtualPC2007)) once I've gone through all the possibilities in VMWare and VirtualPC.

 

[OdiN]

They make USB parallel ports which *might* work in the future. I can't remember the brand but there were some which worked very well.

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: OdiN
They make USB parallel ports which *might* work in the future. I can't remember the brand but there were some which worked very well.

That's an interesting idea. I knew they had USB-serial, but I didn't know there was also parallel. Do you know if those are indistinguishable from a real parallel port to the O/S?

 

[Modelworks]

There are usb parallel ports , I have one by epson that works well with printers, but dongles can sometimes be picky, so it may not work.


If you could open the parallel dongle and reply what chip its using I may be able to point you to software that can extract the key.
That or if you know the system it is using, any hardware drivers that it tries to install for the key ?
There is nothing wrong with trying to keep software you legitimately own running, if the company that no longer exist or has no support .

I have a friend who does dongle conversions but he said he needs to know what system it is.
Some of them are:
* Aladdin Hardlock
* Eutron Electronic Technologies
* Feitian Technologies Co., Ltd.
* Matrix Software Protection System
* Microcomputer Applications, Inc. (MAI) -- KEYLOK
* Microcosm Ltd.
* Pace -- iLok
* SafeNet
* SecuTech Solution Inc.
* SPYRUS, Inc.
* Syncrosoft/Steinberg
* WIBU-Systems
* MARX Software Security GmbH

 

[lxskllr]

I opened the key, but all of the electronics are taped over with what looks like some kind of shrink wrap tape(it's almost looks like paint, but you can see blisters over the chips). The outside of the case is marked Microphar, Made In France, and it gives a phone number. Have you ever seen anything like that?

Edit:
As near as I can tell there's no special driver for the key. I'm guessing that it's checked through the program's .exe

 

[Modelworks]

yeah they probably put epoxy over the chips.
Microphar is now part of Rainbow (france).