I am only getting trial versions of all the software offered unless there is an activation key listed in the "read me" file. What am I doing wrong when there is not an activation key listed?
Activation Keys, read me files
(25 posts) (14 voices)-
Each software comes with a program called "Activate.exe". You have to run this program FIRST before you install the software. And if there is no "Activate.exe" program in the Zip folder then the activation key can be found in the "Readme.txt" file.
Posted 16 years ago # -
goodgotd
Memberusually it's because you're using the xp/vista 'view archive as folder' idioticware or the 'install' mode option of any of several GUI archive utilities.
the first isn't well thought out and behaves that way, and the latter are set up to just unzip to a tamp directory and run the main setup file, then remove the temp directory as soon as it quits- missing the activation step often needed.
You need to unzip the entire contents of the downloaded archive to a subdirectory, read the readme.txt there, and run the 'activate.exe' also there before the setup.exe if so stated, though if there is an activate,exe, do it regardless- it writes the needed data into the registry.
xp/vista you also need to right-click and use 'run as > administrator' to get the required permission level to get that data written.
Posted 16 years ago # -
laehop
MemberOk then... the directions included in the read me file are backwards. They read as follows on all the programs I am having trouble with:
Unzip the package you`ve downloaded and install the software by running Setup.exe,
then run the activation program Activate.exe which is included in the package.The ones I have done backwards work... I think???
Should I just uninstall all of the programs asking for key codes???
Posted 16 years ago # -
To Activate before or after - that is the question.
Really it shouldn't matter. If you activate after setup - you just need to make sure the program isn't running while you run Activate (sometimes this can cause the Activate to not work properly) - you would also need to make sure the program *really* isn't running (check the task manager/task list - and check there aren't any new icons in the system tray).
Because of all these extra conditions and things to check - many users would get confused - so in the early days of GOTD we decided that running activate first would get around having to check the software isn't running (because the software isn't installed at this point).
So for trouble free setups - we normally say Activate THEN setup.
But there are always "troublesome" setups - which will only work doing Setup THEN Activate. (This is because the Setup routine actually overwrites some of the Activate information *ie. n00b developers* - so in this case Activate will only stick if you do it last).
So which to choose? Activate THEN Setup - Unless the Readme says so (I'd take it with a pinch of salt, personally) - But if a whole heap of people start saying it will only work a certain way - in the comments section or the forums - they are probably right.
ok? no? I'm going to bed. G'nite. :)
Posted 16 years ago # -
laehop
MemberOk... one last question for today and then I give up AGAIN!!!
If it is already installed and wants the key code; that indicates that I am only running a trial version... correct???
If this is correct... Do I have to uninstall this version and try again?
If I do have to uninstall and reinstall... How do I make sure ALL of the contents are gone before trying to reinstall it??? (I only ask this one because I have had problems with the reinstall with contents remaining somewhere after running the uninstall program)PS>>>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOU HELP ON THIS... I love this site, but hate finding I program I love only to lose it later.
Posted 16 years ago # -
laehop
MemberOK... think I have it now???
This is what I did... (I DID NOT UNINSTALL OR REINSTALL)
Through windows explorer I located the files for this program.
Right clicked the activate tab and run as administrator.
Then Right clicked the set up tab and run as administrator.
The program then launched without asking for the key code.
Does this mean that I have a true copy now or am I still running the trial???Posted 16 years ago # -
Hi, laehop, welcome to the GOTD-Forums.
I am sorry that you missed some of the giveaways.
Hopefully from now on not anymore.When you speak about the giveaway of today - Wondershare PCS - yes you can see if it is installed.
In the upper right corner of the Wondershare window you'll find: "Register", click it and the window which opens will show: "This product has been registered!" and there will be a "Registration Code" with quite a lot of numbers and the "Licenced Name": ( in this program it is the name of GOTD ).
Most other programs have a notice about the registration under "About" or "Help"
Some programs don't mention it at all; then you can say, as long as there is no nag-screen the thing is registered.
Speaking about older Giveaways, you will certainly be without luck, as you can not activate a Giveaway on a later date. OTOH a try can't be too dangerous. Just try it, maybe it is already activated - only the setup had an error. If nothing helps, you can use an uninstaller to get rid of the files. I use the free:http://www.ccleaner.com/ or
http://www.revouninstaller.com/A word to Vista and that right-click-administrator: Not every program needs the higher rights. I mostly try first the installation without admin-rights; only when this fails, I redo the process and right click to activate the administrator.
I hope you will have fun with the Giveaways - and - did I say welcome to the forums? Yes - okay, have a look at our games section, it is really worth the trouble.
Games Discussion
See you.
notblockloxPosted 16 years ago # -
Having 2 files to download? I'm sure that would only create further confusion - and most days the giveaway download is usually less than 10MB. For larger giveaways - the giveaway team negotiate a longer time period to download (like 48 hours for this weekends game).
I've been told the trick is to not leave it until the last minute (although I've missed out on more than one giveaway - realising with 2 minutes remaining that I haven't actually downloaded the giveaway)
Posted 16 years ago # -
shaker42
MemberLet me first say, I love this site and concept! I look forward to what the give away is each day. Now having said that, I have been accumulating the programs I want for a fresh install of Vista, when i get around to it. But I just found out today that these programs have to be activated within the free time frame? I wish someone really made that clear to me! To everyone! That should be very pronounced on the giveaway page IMHO! Looks like the programs I been waiting to install on a rainy day, well Vista re-install day, are no good to me now?? Can i ask why? Aslo what happens when you do reinstall Vista? Are the programs lost? I can't activate them anymore? I'm confused. Please clarify for me. Thanks
Posted 16 years ago # -
g@rgoyle
ModeratorHi Shaker42,
Welcome to the forum!
It looks like you've been wasting your disk space!
Every day below the download link there are these lines:
.- "Unzip the package you've downloaded, and carefully read the instructions which you can find in the readme.txt file. This readme.txt file is included with all our downloads. Follow the instructions carefully to install and activate the software.
*software name* is available as a Giveaway of the day!
"
You have *x* hours *xx* minutes to download and install it..
Every day in the aforementioned readme.txt it clearly says:
.- "You have to install it before the Giveaway offer for the software is over."
.
If you have a good suggestion on how to make it clearer then please submit it via the contact form.Those who are computer savvy enough know how to get the giveaways and other software registered after a fresh install or on another computer, but it's against the forum rules to discuss it.
Regards,
LanPosted 16 years ago # -
lademars01
MemberI installed a program (Greeting Card Builder) and was using it and liking it very much. I had to do a system restore because my computer was acting up and just assumed that I would be able to just reinstall the Greeting Card Software but it appears that is not possible. Am I now out of luck? Is there a way for people who install a program within the time period to be able to retrieve it if they happen to lose it from a restore? It only seem right to me that if we install on time that we should be able to get it back if we need to for one reason or another.
Posted 15 years ago # -
Hi, lademars01, welcome to the forums.
I'm sorry, but you are out of luck. The rules say that you can ONLY download, install, activate and register during the 24 hour GOTD window.
When you like the programme so much, please buy it and pay the developer for their work.
Otherwise you have to wait until GOTD will rerun the programme.
When you read the comments of that day, you'll surely find some freeware alternatives.
God luck!
grayloxPosted 15 years ago # -
lademars01 - please do not post your questions multiple times. The terms of the giveaways are all giveaways can only be installed during the 24 hour period. If you delete it or something else happens that is just bad luck.
If you like the software very much and would like a copy that you can reinstall at any time, then you can contact the Greeting Card Builder developers and purchase a registered license - that should also entitle you to software updates.
Posted 15 years ago # -
lademars01
MemberJust want to say sorry about posting twice, I am new here and that is also why I didn't realize I would lose the software if I did a system restore. Anyway I wanted to say that I found a site to order from that saved me $7.49 and I have purchased it from there.
Posted 15 years ago # -
GMMan, Hexadecimal Blacksmith
BlockedDo you mean MultiStage Recovery? ParetoLogic Data Recovery was never given away here.
Posted 15 years ago #
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