License Key Automation?

[PTJim]

David, one thing I'd like added to the wishlist is some sort of automated license-key generation responder.

My TradeSim Enterprise was dead today, possibly because I added a SATA controller card to my system earlier this week.

Five hours after generating and sending a new license-request email I'm still waiting to reactivate it. This isn't too surprising considering the time-zone differences, but my expensive tool sits idle nonetheless.

Thanks for considering this.

[David Samborsky]

There will be some improvements in the hardware ID detection in the next release.

[PTJim]

David Samborsky: "There will be some improvements in the hardware ID detection in the next release."


Thanks very much, David.

I just discovered something that might help a little bit. I received my new key via email while at work, and just fired up TS to plug in the new key.

When I did so, TS came up and ran without complaint - with the old key!

I finally figured it out; it's not the new SATA controller that changes the machine keysum, it's the new external eSATA drive I have connected to that controller. This morning when things bombed, the external drive was on; tonight it was off and that made the difference. Easily tested by turning the drive back on; TS bombed again when I did so.

So for now I have two working keys depending on the state of my external eSATA drive. It's on intermittently, primarily used for routine daily backups and file archiving. A bit of a hassle for the time being, but at least I understand the situation.

If possible, it'd be useful if you could program your keycheck routine to ignore the state of occasionally-connected drives - this might apply to external DVD burners, flash thumbdrives and other I/O in addition to hard disks.

Perhaps you could key on slot-installed controllers or something; these are only rarely changed for most people, and always power up with the machine, so their state can be assumed to be static for keycheck purposes.

Or, just take a look at the halo floating above my head and forget the whole thing! :rolleyes:

[David Samborsky]

If possible, it'd be useful if you could program your keycheck routine to ignore the state of occasionally-connected drives - this might apply to external DVD burners, flash thumbdrives and other I/O in addition to hard disks.


It is supposed to do this but still not quite there yet :(

[PTJim]

FYI, David, version 745c still has the same issue with my external eSATA drive (see above).

No big deal for me right now, but thought you might like some feedback since you seem to have changed the license-key routines.

It installed fine and seems to run ok as long as I keep this external system-backup drive turned off.

[David Samborsky]

FYI, David, version 745c still has the same issue with my external eSATA drive (see above).

No big deal for me right now, but thought you might like some feedback since you seem to have changed the license-key routines.

It installed fine and seems to run ok as long as I keep this external system-backup drive turned off.

Are you running Vista by any chance ??

[PTJim]

No, not running Vista; using WinXP Pro SP2 with all current updates as well as MetaStock 9.1 EOD.

Any other specs I can help with?

[David Samborsky]

Can you send me the two different license keys you are getting with and without the eSATA drive ??

[PTJim]

Can you send me the two different license keys you are getting with and without the eSATA drive ??

Ok, they're sent; should be in your email inbox any second. Please let me know if you need anything more.