broncobusterppg

Join Date 03/2006

Offline Activation Required

I require offline activation for the copy of Windowblinds 5 I just purchased. It wants to connect to Stardock upon installation. I've paid for this and cannot use it on an internet free machine. Could someone please tell me how to do this?

I've sent an email to Stardock per the program's request in order to activate it but man... I DON'T want to be punished by Stardock the same way Microsoft does with it's online activation just because of someone else's piracy.

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how long ago did you email?
recently? it's the weekend, you may have to wait.

the auto response also contains instruction on how to followup if you don't get a reply.

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Maybe 20 minutes ago.... I'm impatient as all get out

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Well chances are you'll be waiting until tomorrow. Most people don't work on Sundays.

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Here's what I've managed to do.

1) Hooked machine to internet

2) Activated the software

3) Traced what file was added to my file folder

4) Backed up the Stardock portion of my Windows Registry

5) Stored that with my serial number and "activation file" in my backup directory on my backup CD

Now, next time I do my nearly monthly format on that machine I SHOULD be able to "activate" it on my own right?

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Join Date 10/2001

+21

Remember that they are human ... !!!

Hope you will get response within 24 or so hours

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Neil Banfield

Join Date 04/2001

+1105

If you reformat windows then you will need to reactivate.

I am curious why you would reformat every month (vs ghosting the pc)

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If you reformat windows then you will need to reactivate.

I am curious why you would reformat every month (vs ghosting the pc)

Performance issues with constant upgrades and driver updates. I'm big into tweaking, gaming, 3D modeling and I believe nothing compares to a fresh install of an OS with a new driver set. Sounds like I just wasted $20 if I have to register this thing every single time online. That really burns my biscuits too because I got a volume license of WinXP Pro so that I never ever have to go online to register. For that reason I won't use Steam either.

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Join Date 10/2001

+21

Sounds like I just wasted $20 if I have to register this thing every single time online.

Simply ... backup your WB using SDCentrall and whenever you reinstall your OS ... install SDC and restore the archive,

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I'm not installing Stardock Central again. I don't like Stardock or Steam. I have registered and paid properly. It is unfortunate that I had to do this but after a long tedious process I have bypass the copy protection and tested my method by uninstalling completely and reinstalling on a seperate machine. It works but I will not be detailing the method here as I do believe in PAYING for what you use. Hopefully in the future Stardock developers will take people like me into consideration.

All is good and I love Windowblinds

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

backup your WB using SDCentrall

What is this of which you speak? I didn't know you could do that.

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Po'

open SDC, right click on WB - you'll see 'archive application' with options.

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open SDC, right click on WB - you'll see 'archive application' with options.

That won't work. You can reinstall WB by using the "Restore Archive" button, but you still have to activate the product online after installation.

By the way; a cracked copy of WB5 was already available online when it was still in the early beta-stages. Another good example of how anti-piracy measures only inconvenient the honest customer, never the hackers/pirates.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central

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Join Date 10/2001

+21

There is another 'very' simple method.

If you have a "purchased and activated" (or inother words 'legal' version of WB), goto your WB Dir (normally c:\program files\stardock\object desktop\windowblinds) and look for a file called sig.bin and mirror it to a safe location.

Whenever you do a fresh installation of WB, just paste sig.bin to WB Dir ... !!!

Important: This method only works on the PC on which WB was originally activated in the past. You CAN NOT use this method for mass (illegal) activation(s)

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1846

Sounds like I just wasted $20 if I have to register this thing every single time online.

No.

You need to re-activate the product each time you re-install, not pay for it again.

It's exactly the same as WinXP...it has to be activated, that's all...

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It's exactly the same as WinXP...it has to be activated, that's all...

Not mine

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1846

It works but I will not be detailing the method here as I do believe in PAYING for what you use.

Not mine

Makes me wonder why we even bother to help.

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Look... my copy of WindowsXP is legit... it's OEM volume license. No registration. My copy of Windowblinds is legit. I just bought it from Stardock. This copy of WinXP doesn't need activated every time you reformat and that's how I like it. If I reformat Windowblinds wants me to reactivate. It's security is more invasive than Windows XP to me. It aggrivates me and that is all. The software is great but I just don't care to be inconvenienced with something I paid for. That's all it is though, an inconvenience and I'm not complaining anymore because I found a way around it. I just wish I didn't have to.

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Jafo

Join Date 03/2001

+1846

That's all it is though, an inconvenience and I'm not complaining anymore because I found a way around it.

...and probably violating the EULA.

...and you don't show as a 'Current Customer' [possibly same reason].

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PoSmedley

Join Date 04/2005

+788

Would OEM mean it is embedded? So what you're doing is a once a month system recovery? Why???? Even the Pro's tell you that you only need to do it once every 2 years, minimum. My XP is OEM and the last thing I would want to tangle with is the stupid recovery discs.

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Nothing beats a fresh reformat and reinstall for performance.

Trust me, I paid for Windowblinds 5 and WindowsXP and I'm not going to argue about it. I came here for a little help. I got flamed so I cracked it myself. No problems.

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Join Date 10/2001

+21

Nothing beats a fresh reformat and reinstall for performance.

Then why don't you buy a new system whenever you want to test something??? You know, nothing beats new hardware for performance?

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You didn't crack it because you got flamed, you cracked it cuz you were impatient.

you couldn't wait until monday.

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Good grief...

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You didn't crack it because you got flamed, you cracked it cuz you were impatient

They sent me an SIG file. Great that unlocks it. But it was very specific that it was only for THIS install of Windows. It said if you reformat you will need a new file. Didn't like the way that worked. So, I did what I wanted with what I paid for. Didn't share it, just modified it to my own use. Is that so bad?

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It probably violates the License Agreement. When you buy something, you can't do 'anything' with it.

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