Question Vandyke SecureCRT 4.0.x registration in Windows 10

[BarkingGhostar]

Way back in 2000 when I worked for one of the baby bell companies I was issued one of a 100-license for Vandyke SecureCRT. I really like this software and even though it was a lowly version 4.0.x back then it was still mighty good for me to use up until today. Through various laptop lease rolls and operating system software upgrades SecureCRT just worked.

I knew with each laptop lease roll that I would have to re-register the multi-part requirements but it always worked and I had no problems therein until the latest operating system upgrade, which was to Windows 10.

The software was still installed as-is but the registration information was gone. I can key in the registration information and then click on the About SecureCRT screen and see that the software thinks it is registered, but as soon as I close the application and re-launch it it acts like the software isn't registered.

I went through the process of uninstalling the software and re-installing it but the same issue continues. I can only conclude that something fundamentally different as to where the registration information is stowed has changed and the version 4.0.x is not compliant with Windows 10.

My employer will not pay for a current license/version of this software. My employer will complain--AND REMOVE AUTONOMOUSLY--any copy I might install that is current and paid for by me (with me as the license holder).

I doubt many of you have run into this problem--betting I'm the only one--since I didn't get anything of value doing a Google search on the problem. I do have local admin rights so I think the issue is Windows 10 compatibility. Ideas, suggestions?

 

[corkyg]

" My employer will not pay for a current license/version of this software. My employer will complain--AND REMOVE AUTONOMOUSLY--any copy I might install that is current and paid for by me (with me as the license holder)."
Seems to me that you need to have a conversation with your employer.

 

[Muadib]

With my old employer, you would be terminated for doing what you are trying to do. Take the hint, and use something that your company approves. Surely they must have a list of approved software. If there is no terminal emulation software on it, then contact your it department so that they will get one.

 

[mxnerd]

My employer will not pay for a current license/version of this software. My employer will complain--AND REMOVE AUTONOMOUSLY--any copy I might install that is current and paid for by me (with me as the license holder).

That means you installed your own SecureCRT 4.0 that's not approved software on the leased laptop issued by your current employer like what Muadib described? Yeah, you could get fired.

SecureCRT 4.0 is old. Platform: Windows 2003, XP, 2000, Me, 98, NT 4.0 , pretty sure it will not be compatible with Win10.

Download - SecureCRT 4.0.9

www.vandyke.com

Do what @Muadib suggested, talk to IT dept if you need a new version of the software to get the job done. But again, if your IT dept found that you used the software doing non work-related stuff, you could get fired.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I never said the version I had installed wasn't approved. I said they wouldn't buy a current version. In my center there is a group that got a bulk license a couple of years ago for their need, not company wide. The version 4 of the software was purchased by the company some 19-19 years back. It was a static license and I continued to use the company purchased and assign to me software.

The reason it isn't working is lack of compatibility. BTW, I just checked with a friend whose been in the company for as long as I've been and using the same original version 4 he got when I got my original license. His stopped retaining the serial registration, too. I guess that ends that.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

" My employer will not pay for a current license/version of this software. My employer will complain--AND REMOVE AUTONOMOUSLY--any copy I might install that is current and paid for by me (with me as the license holder)."
Seems to me that you need to have a conversation with your employer.

Keep in mind that my employer is about as detached from reality as one can imagine. And my direct report to has had conversations about buying bulk licensing for the group but wouldn't when they were $179. But even with the recent price drop the problem is the recent public flogging of my employer by one big investor and my employer's response, which included marginalizing operating revenue. So, I doubt there would be a change in position on not buying my group a bulk license.

 

[mxnerd]

Try the following alternatives then , find the one that's either free or portable

Qodem Terminal Emulator

Download Qodem Terminal Emulator for free. Qodem is a a terminal emulator that resembles the BBS-era Qmodem. Includes phonebook, scrollback, capture, X/Y/Zmodem, Kermit, ANSI (+ music) / Avatar / VT102 / Linux emulation, Unicode, and keyboard macros.

sourceforge.net

SecureCRT Alternatives: 25+ Similar Terminal Emulators | AlternativeTo

The best SecureCRT alternatives are PuTTY, OpenSSH and mRemoteNG. Our crowd-sourced lists contains more than 25 apps similar to SecureCRT for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone and more.

alternativeto.net

Slant - 20 best alternatives to SecureCRT as of 2021

Get the answer to "What is the best alternative to SecureCRT?" See a list of the top 20 options and learn their pros and cons.

www.slant.co

Google Search

 

[Red Squirrel]

We use that at work, but it's through Citrix and not local and it's through this special app, not directly, where we can login to DMS switches from a list. Another program that may work is Procomm which we also use to connect to our own DMS100 locally. Technically putty and similar apps should work too, so might just be the thing of trying to find an alternative you can make work.

One thing you could experiment with is to see if you can run it off a flash drive. If it can be ran stand alone instead of being installed there is less chance of detection or it being removed. You could even use it off the flash drive or shove it on your "home drive". I had to do this with Firefox since they kept deleting it, and lot of our stuff won't work in IE.

While I don't normally suggest circumventing IT, sometimes it's just necessary to do your job especially in big companies where IT has a big ego and just does stuff because they can and they won't listen to the needs of departments. My company has this out of province IT department that kind of appeared out of nowhere many years back who are like that, they rule even over our own local IT guys and their hands are tied. Just make sure whatever you do your manager is ok with it. We have all sorts of weird stuff we do in my department just so we can get around the stupid crap imposed by the company.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I have access to putty and dislike it. I think it is just because I have almost 20 years experience with SecureCRT and I'm at an age I do not like change. I also use the keymapping for scripts, etc. to automate commands when I log into a router or switch, conduct pre checks and post checks and if the case warrants it to run batch scripting. Other than putty at the Windows desktop, I can log into one of many Citrix servers and use a Terminal program without all of the benefits I had with SecureCRT and that is most likely what I'll have to do.

And my employer does employ a gatekeeper if you will, but only to formalize a recording process of your actions. Acts like a policing agent but the actual permission-grantor in the end is RSA/SecureID. I routinely virtually touch thousands of network elements every year. The idea of efficiency is self-defining/explanatory to all but bean counters--and its the bean counters, literally, that run my employer.

 

[mxnerd]

Apparently SecureCRT is very important for what you do and your employer/IT dept definitely know it, yet that they wouldn't spend money (less than a day's wage) on a software that helps their employees tremendously?

Googled.

Maybe Netmiko. But it's a huge change.

https://www.reddit.com/r/networking/comments/4qwcab

 

[mxnerd]

Tips for creating portable SecurCRT 4.1. Probably also works with 4.0.

SecureCRT - USB Flash Memory Drive

www.vandyke.com

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Hmm, I'll have to give this USB Flash Memory Drive a try next week. They have installed software on company laptops that prevent USB based HDD/SSD but Flash drives are still allowed.

My employer doesn't give a crap about productivity, efficiency, etc. as long as the job can be done with chisel and hammer. This is the difference between my original Employer and their current suitors. Thanks for providing this information. If it works I'll definitely be passing it on to friends.