I installed this 30 day trial of some software, only to find I used the wrong demo disk (I had an older one, and a slightly newer version). I thought that since I hadn't used it at all other than to open it once and since it was def under the 30 day limit - that it would be ok to delete the old one and install the new one over it.

Apparently it wasn't because it won't let me install the new one, it says I've already installed the demo software before. The person I spoke to with the company was being a dick, said I should have called before I deleted the other one b/c it says "Don't Try To Reinstall". I just thought that was for idiots thinking they could get unlimited demo time or something like that but the demo isn't complete anyway so why bother? I just want to make sure I like the layout/functionality before I plop down the $1400 for the software. I'd say screw them and go with someone else b/c of the shitty service, but the only other company that makes something similar is even worse so I'm stuck with this.

My question to the computer gurus around here is can I find the file it put on my computer that tells the installer software that it was there before and delete it so I can install it again? I'm not looking for a free hack or anything, like I said it's not complete (its missing needed software to software links, no saving files, etc) and it has "DEMO" written over every screen, etc. I just want to try it on a real job once before I buy.

TIA, -Michael

 

>> before I plop down the $1400 for the software


is that one-thousand-four-hundred US$ ?!
If Yes, forget it! don't bother trying to defeat all THOSE fancy shit wiseass things they put in to enforce the trial.

$1400 ? wtf, what is it ???


(whats a 20-yr-old do with $1400 software )

 

It's acoustic analysis software. If you really want to know the name/brand I'll PM you.

I have a few year old version I got for coughfreecough that I've used for a bit, and I decided it was worth it to upgrade legally to the new version with an tools additional package. Along with the software I have $650 in a high end USB audio preamp to get info into the computer, and a $500 measurment grade microphone. Shits expensive huh?

It's not really all that high tech, people have cracked the whole thing before. I just want to know how the software knows it was there before - and where that file is at (registry?). Heck I'd let them remove it or w/e so I didn't know where it was so I couldn't load it again but nooo they wanna be jerks...

 

at the risk of being ....why not just uninstall then re-install ?

 

That's what I was going to do, but some protection crap won't let you reinstall the demo. I want to know what/where that info is stored on my comp so I can 86 it...

Anyone?

 

just use another computer

 

I just bought a new laptop for this a few months ago, and it has to travel so I can't put it on my desktop!

 

If your not a total Newb with computers, then you can use FileMon and RegMon from www.sysinternals.com

Both are free and will show you in real time all the accesses to your files and Registry.

I reccomend using the Filter option and replacing the "*" in that line by default with the name of the EXE that the program uses when launched. You can either look at the shortcut or just use task manager to see the EXE name.

Only problem I ever had with this method is one time I tried to do that and the Game I was trying to re-enable said that I had a Debugging tool running and then shut itself down so I was never able to see what it accessed.

 

Its in the registry somewhere, but you probably wont find it.

 

Good luck...

 

If you want total freedom from this kind of crap plus others plus virus,....etc
Buy/get a copy of Virtual PC or VMWare.
When trial runs out just delete the "virtual pc" and start new with another one....infinite trial heheh

 

just search the registry for the name of the program or the company name who makes the software..whatever keys you see that has that name delete and reboot when your done...you should be able to reinstall afterwards