2.0 clean reinstall directly expires

LEiPiE · 09-21-2008, 06:14 PM

Only using my van about every month, I just discovered the trial had expired. In the mean time, the trial download went from 2.0.801 (i think) to 2.0.806.
Completely removed CF from my carpc and installed the new trial.
After completely installing, I run CF and get a '0 of 30 days remaining' and 'no valid license found'.
I find this a bit odd... I've completely removed CF (program files/centrafuse dir, couldn't find anything in documents and settings nor in the registry).
How the hell does CF know to expire?
If a clean install doesn't remove ALL files, maybe it shouldn't be called a clean install?
Usually we call programs that hide information 'spy ware', but I'm sure there's an explanation for this?
Although I can of course understand if it's a bit of a corporate secret how the trial day calculation works

I'm still not completely satisified with CF and only get around to test it about every month or so, so I'm not prepared to pay for it yet.

(Though I like CF in general, it's an extremely polished complete solution. I especially am still not happy with the CAM's resolution and tweakability - I've read that DirectX has some way of adjusting brightness and such, but I couldn't find it. Also I find the new playlist/library construction a bit confusing and miss support for FM radio through a TV/FM card).

(I wanted to post this on the fluxmedia forum, but the server still hasn't sent me an activation email).

ContaiN · 09-21-2008, 10:05 PM

Well.. if you could uninstall and reinstall the trial and get another month everytime, why would people bother to buy it then? A lot of software has this, ands it near impossible to get rid of. Man up and Spend monies :P

Jan_RedGTiVR6 · 09-22-2008, 07:46 AM

Yes, this is completely normal. It only makes sense that the developers have added this protection to their software, otherwise, as was stated above, it would be very easy to circumvent the protection.

Please see this thread: http://forums.fluxmedia.net/general-...extension.html

And why not send an email into the forum admins or to Centrafuse directly to have your account activated?

veetid · 09-22-2008, 02:37 PM

we plan to add the ability to pull up the options on CAM devices in the future and you can probably get support for your FM TV card through the use of the Radiator Radio plugin...

david

LEiPiE · 09-22-2008, 03:22 PM

As a developer myself I do understand why this has been done, but I didn't think a *newer* version would overlap with the trial period of the previous version.
Maybe a suggestion would be that the installer checks this before installing? Not that CF takes ages to install or anything, but it was a bit irritating to only see I couldn't use it anymore after the full installation was completed.

I hadn't thought of mailing the forum admins yet, in the mean time the activation mail has come in. I'm sorry for overacting a bit.

Good to hear the CAM will be looked at! I haven't heard of Radiator before, I'll have a look at it.

I'll probably mail for a trial extension (or I'll reinstall windows, as some other apps have messed it up anyway, my BU-303 doesn't work as it should as well) as I can live without CF and am not completely satisfied with it and more importantly I just don't have 125 dollars to spare at the moment

Hadn't seen nor expected the option to extend the trial period (though I don't want to complain, but isn't it a bit odd that one can easily extend the trial period by just sending a mail, but at the same time CF hides some counter somewhere deep in the OS?)