How does "Trial Software" remember when its been installed??

[anandtech2010]

How does a 21 day "trial" software application that I run in WIN XP "know" when it was installed after I uninstall the application? Meaning, does the "trial" software create a registry entry that essentially remembers when the software was installed? I'm 'test driving' a Windows 3rd party software application that was set to "expire" after 21 days and expired yesterday-however, I have not completed testing the application. I don't want to buy unless I know for sure that this application has the functionality I need.

Please tell me how I can extend the trial software for a few more days or where the "entry" it installs in Windows "remembers" when the software was installed thus preventing a -re-install of the same application.

Thank you for any help. I appreciate it.

This thread boils down to being about how to pirate software by extending the trial period indefinitely, thus is locked.
-Admin DrPizza

 

[lxskllr]

My guess is registry key. First look for any stray folders in the hidden User directory(as well as the normal places), then hunt down any registry keys it may have left.

 

[bruceb]

This may help (I have not tried it)

http://www.blogsolute.com/extend-trial-period-software/2502/

 

[jadinolf]

Yep and good luck looking for it.

 

[bruceb]

http://download.cnet.com/Time-Stopper/3000-2056_4-10868250.html

 

[Pretty Cool]

There is no universal way that trial software counts down the days. When software is installed, the program dumps files all over your hard drive. Anyway I have seen some software workarounds that involves changing the date, but whether they work or not is a hit or miss.

 

[shortylickens]

Registry keys.
And if you're slick, you can find the key, figure out how it works, and keep that trial going forever.

Also, as dude just stated in his ninja post, most software nowadays scatters shit all over your god damn hard drive. So its hard to be absolutely sure.

I miss DOS.

 

[Nothinman]

How does a 21 day "trial" software application that I run in WIN XP "know" when it was installed after I uninstall the application? Meaning, does the "trial" software create a registry entry that essentially remembers when the software was installed? I'm 'test driving' a Windows 3rd party software application that was set to "expire" after 21 days and expired yesterday-however, I have not completed testing the application. I don't want to buy unless I know for sure that this application has the functionality I need.

Please tell me how I can extend the trial software for a few more days or where the "entry" it installs in Windows "remembers" when the software was installed thus preventing a -re-install of the same application.

Thank you for any help. I appreciate it.

The right way, contact the company and ask them for an extended trial. The less than right ways are to use something like filemon to watch what files and registry keys the program accesses and inspect them all until you find what it's using to determine the original install date or to install it on another machine/VM to get a clean trial.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This would work, except for those apps that take a fingerprint of your hardware, and send it to their server, such that you can only ever get one trial period for the lifetime of your hardware.

 

[Modelworks]

There is a couple ways they do it.
Most do not use the registry to store the information because it is too easily modified.
The most common way is that when you run the program for the first time, the programs code generates a file it saves to the drive. That file is encrypted so it can't be edited. You could delete the file but first you have to find it and that can be a problem. Usually they are marked hidden or system and placed in directories in the windows system folder, the files are also kept locked so that even with take ownership you cannot delete them since windows will reply that the file is in use. Programmers are smart and will name the files something like ide0104.inf and place it in the inf folder so when you search it looks like a driver file.

Another way is to use NTFS ability to have a second file attached to the first file using streams. You can't see the second file unless you specifically look for it.

 

[HeXen]

There is a couple ways they do it.
Most do not use the registry to store the information because it is too easily modified.
The most common way is that when you run the program for the first time, the programs code generates a file it saves to the drive. That file is encrypted so it can't be edited. You could delete the file but first you have to find it and that can be a problem. Usually they are marked hidden or system and placed in directories in the windows system folder, the files are also kept locked so that even with take ownership you cannot delete them since windows will reply that the file is in use. Programmers are smart and will name the files something like ide0104.inf and place it in the inf folder so when you search it looks like a driver file.

Another way is to use NTFS ability to have a second file attached to the first file using streams. You can't see the second file unless you specifically look for it.

just use apps like "spyme tools" and not worry about it. thats what i do. you can see clearly what files and registries were made. A good uninstaller too helps, some will record installs and reverse them when you uninstall it.

alternativily there are time freezers that can target specific apps, i used to use them but now just use monitors and reverse them. i'm still on my second year of using Norton AV 90 day trials. lol

 

[Nothinman]

just use apps like "spyme tools" and not worry about it. thats what i do. you can see clearly what files and registries were made. A good uninstaller too helps, some will record installs and reverse them when you uninstall it.

alternativily there are time freezers that can target specific apps, i used to use them but now just use monitors and reverse them. i'm still on my second year of using Norton AV 90 day trials. lol

Besides the fact that piracy is shitty, why pirate Norton AV when there are so many free alternatives?

 

[Modelworks]

just use apps like "spyme tools" and not worry about it. thats what i do. you can see clearly what files and registries were made. A good uninstaller too helps, some will record installs and reverse them when you uninstall it.

That only works on some programs. If a program runs at ring0 those applications will not work.

 

[Nothinman]

That only works on some programs. If a program runs at ring0 those applications will not work.

Only drivers run in ring0. Although some services and such run as SYSTEM and can't easily be traced, that's not ring0.

 

[HeXen]

Besides the fact that piracy is shitty, why pirate Norton AV when there are so many free alternatives?

maybe cause i like norton?:whiste:

That only works on some programs. If a program runs at ring0 those applications will not work.

never seen a problem in 10 + years of windows trial apps in getting them extended. Advanced uninstaller pro does an excellent job for trialware...but its not like i keep reusing all trialware, i test out tons of apps all the time, i just like to make sure they leave as clean as they came in. spyme tools is a great way to visually see comparisons of before/after
More importantly to the thread is how the OP has used an app for 21 days and still doesn't know if it has the functionality he needs

 

[Nothinman]

maybe cause i like norton?:whiste:

So you like it enough to waste time working around it's activation but not enough to pay for it? Nice...

 

[bruceb]

Personally, I pay for a program that I really like. But the cost must be within a reasonable amount or the cost includes Lifetime Updates & Upgrades (like dvdfab) where you get a choice of 1 yr 2 yr or lifetime license (or lifetime if it was bought about 2 years ago) .. Some progs like convertxtodvd allow updates for 1 year. They also have a lifetime upgrade (which I should have gotten when I first paid for it) as it comes out much cheaper in long run than yearly update renewals. And then you have greedy companies, like Winzip, who charge almost full cost for each new major version. Same for Autocad

 

[Nothinman]

Personally, I pay for a program that I really like. But the cost must be within a reasonable amount or the cost includes Lifetime Updates & Upgrades (like dvdfab) where you get a choice of 1 yr 2 yr or lifetime license (or lifetime if it was bought about 2 years ago) .. Some progs like convertxtodvd allow updates for 1 year. They also have a lifetime upgrade (which I should have gotten when I first paid for it) as it comes out much cheaper in long run than yearly update renewals. And then you have greedy companies, like Winzip, who charge almost full cost for each new major version. Same for Autocad

How can you call them greedy without knowing how much time and cost each major version costs them? For WinZIP, I would probably agree, but AutoCAD?

 

[bruceb]

Autocad should offer discounts to current users. But for most of them it is likely to be a business need and will be written off on taxes.

 

[Nothinman]

Autocad should offer discounts to current users. But for most of them it is likely to be a business need and will be written off on taxes.

So the only people who care are those that don't really need the software? Yea, AutoCAD should be really worried about them...

 

[wirednuts]

some programs really do deserve to be cracked. case in point- garmin mobile pc. which is discontinued now go figure.

i paid $60 for it, and a month later i upgraded to win7. oh but wait, you can only activate your paid copy of garmin once every SIX months! i called them, haggled them, and they reluctantly reactivated my copy... but they said they wont do it again.

so, in my case, i refuse to not use software i paid for. and by the way, the EULA does not specify this 6 month reactivation period.

now to figure out how to get around it... i dont think its possible since the software phones in every time you use it. and thats the best part, because now garmin stopped supporting it theres no saying it will keep activating. fuck i hate garmin for that

 

[lxskllr]

Autocad should offer discounts to current users. But for most of them it is likely to be a business need and will be written off on taxes.

I think they do by way of service contracts, don't they? Autocad is expensive as hell, but it's a niche program. They have to make their money of the people who can use it. If everyone used Autocad, I'm sure it would be orders of magnitude cheaper.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Contact the vendor if you need to reinstall the S/W for a little longer.

Otherwise you are pirating it.

 

[llee]

My guess is registry key. First look for any stray folders in the hidden User directory(as well as the normal places), then hunt down any registry keys it may have left.

Exactly. If you're using windows, open up regedit and get to work with Ctrl+F and delete the remnant keys that are left after an uninstall.