HOSTER GONE did i do somethig wrong

[slsides]

Originally Posted by Beavis

you can re-install on the same computer as much as you like. as long as you dont reformat the hard drive.

i recently asked about this in a ticket and was told that i could install on the same computer an unlimited number of times. the reply i got did not include the caveat you mention about reformatting the drive.

i'd really like to get the real scoop on this particular aspect of the copy protection. the ticket i submitted was because i made a mistake with the video drivers and thought i might have to wipe everything and start over in order to get the machine fixed. the answer i got seemed to indicate that there would be no problem with this, even though i ended up getting stuff straightened out before resorting to such extreme measures.

if a hdd goes bad, the machine counts as a different computer? someone please give complete and thorough information about this.

shaun

[ddouglass]

If you change anything major such as the motherboard or C: drive then it is recognized as a different computer (may be based off of the Microsoft SID). The registration change won't effect them until the next time they upgrade.
Microsoft is worse than MTU. I changed my video card and had to re-activate my XP.

[northlander]

hi douglass
no i haven't made changes i believe its a code issue
microstudio and hoster i have all updates with no problem to download and install.I have never had a problem to install anything from mtu.I just installed songverter a while ago and no problem to install.

northlander

[goonie227]

Dale
i thiught that was the way things were too but I changed my motherboard a couple of months ago and used my old drives and everything still works
without any resets.
Dick

[ddouglass]

I have seen it happen both ways. Some computers if we replaced the motherboard then we would have to reload Windows. Some I have done would start right up. I love Microsoft......sigh.
To be safe I would let them know in advance if possible. Otherwise wait and see if it is required.

[Beavis]

Originally Posted by goonie227

Dale
i thiught that was the way things were too but I changed my motherboard a couple of months ago and used my old drives and everything still works
without any resets.
Dick

did you replace the motherboard with the exact same one ?? if you did, you wouldnt have to reload windows. tha would mean nothing changed.

[admin]

Originally Posted by ddouglass

If you change anything major such as the motherboard or C: drive then it is recognized as a different computer (may be based off of the Microsoft SID).

Not quite this way. Over the years, MTU has evolved our security to be very forgiving, yet still protect our rights. We use a number of fingerprint items from your computer to determine when it is the "Same" or "Different" computer. Obviously, if you change enough of our fingerprint items, it will be recognized as a different computer.

Year+ old versions of MTU software do NOT have the flexibility we provide today in current versions. It is hard to predict exactly what happens when doing upgrades from very old versions. In theory, the new version captures its new fingerprints which are compared to the past fingerprints in your database at MTU.com. If you don't change ANYTHING, the new version sees "Same" and installs. If you change any hardware, or reinstall Windows and your MTU program version was many years old, it probably will see it as a Different computer and limit installing again without MTU manual intervention. We do offer this as a free service. It takes a lot of out support time for a number of reasons.

The whole mess comes from MTU providing UPGRADES. We give FREE upgrades that usually don't create a problem. When we require buying an upgrade, instead of like our competitors who require you buy a NEW FULL version, this causes problems for us. We are trying to benefit existing customers, but it costs us dearly in reusing the same RegCode you already have.

With Hoster 3.320, we activated a new registration script that requires a Hoster or Hoster upgrade purchase since May 30, 2006. That's 24 months back. I truly can't believe it, but some users have a problem with MTU giving them free upgrades for ONLY for 24 months. Instant gratification and "entitlement" mentality regardless how much MTU must spend to provide the upgrades makes them unhappy people.

Suffice it to say that the current versions are very forgiving as to what is Same or Different computer. You can replace a hard drive AND reformat and reinstall Windows and it is still the Same computer.

Originally Posted by slsides

I'd really like to get the real scoop on this particular aspect of the copy protection. the ticket i submitted was because i made a mistake with the video drivers and thought i might have to wipe everything and start over in order to get the machine fixed. the answer i got seemed to indicate that there would be no problem with this, even though i ended up getting stuff straightened out before resorting to such extreme measures.

if a hdd goes bad, the machine counts as a different computer? someone please give complete and thorough information about this.

Shaun, we can't reveal everything about our security or it would be cracked.

Read the top part of this Thread as I tried to answer your questions up there.

Sometimes, our security scrpits, like any web program, can error. We sometimes find that the same computer has two registrations on it for the same program, but different versions. That should not be. When a prior one is removed, and the new installed, there should be one record for that computer. This is where the problem can creep in. In this case, we manually must view and delete one of the records so things work again. It is rare, but it does happen.

We also have some users who try to "break the system", so we have to document what we do. Then, when we see someone needing our intervention time after time and again, it is clear and we ask them to buy a new copy for their other computers.

[slsides]

Originally Posted by admin

Shaun, we can't reveal everything about our security or it would be cracked.

i wasn't asking for the precise algorithm. you did answer my question, and i appreciate it. this might make a good faq answer, especially given that two of the regular users who people rely on for answers to a great many questions were incorrect about it.

shaun