Hardware Lock

Knightofoldcode · 06-17-2006, 02:36 AM

I am trying to get some more information on the Hardware lock. I understand from a previous post that it's tied to the harddrive. How is it tied? IE, if I have two harddrives, one primary drive, say 2G, and a secondary drive say, 80G, which harddrive is the code tied to?... I'm not trying to screw anyone, I'm trying to protect my investment.

If I can get this question answered, I'm very likly to go with this software.

Also, I think I heard something in the forums about changing the licence over to a new machie code?... is this correct, and what are the prices going to be for such a action?... Just rough ball park.

Much TIA,
Knightofoldcode.

ODYSSEY · 06-17-2006, 02:53 AM

From what I can guess the software will be/is locked to the harddrive it is installed on. You can move the harddrive to a different system. If you wanted to change to a differnet harddrive the software will no longer work.

god_of_cpu · 06-17-2006, 10:11 AM

The hard drive it picks will be the first it finds, this is usually teh primary drive. Once you tie the code to it, it will try and match it against all hard drives so even if you add more or change the layout, as long as the drive is in the system, it will keep you registered.

You will eventually be able to transfer the license up to 3 times for free.

Cheekz185 · 06-17-2006, 11:21 AM

WHat happend if the hard drive crashes? ANd you need a new HD

Knightofoldcode · 06-17-2006, 03:38 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

The hard drive it picks will be the first it finds, this is usually teh primary drive. Once you tie the code to it, it will try and match it against all hard drives so even if you add more or change the layout, as long as the drive is in the system, it will keep you registered.

You will eventually be able to transfer the license up to 3 times for free.

Sounds good! Is there anyway you could make it so that we could TELL it what drive to pull the machine code from?... I'd like to be able to use my jumpdrive.

Also, on my primary desktop system (Don't have a carcomputer running atm.) it doesn't generate any machine code, or check code when ran. I can take a screenshot if needed. I suspect this might be because my primary system is on two 74g Raptor drives that are in a RAID setup, so the Raid system might be causing the issue. Does that sound like that might be the problem?

Again, Much TIA,
Knight.

Knightofoldcode · 06-17-2006, 03:40 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by Cheekz185

WHat happend if the hard drive crashes? ANd you need a new HD

That's one of the problems I'm trying to avoid by using a jump drive, or a solid state drive. However, God_Of_CPU has said that you could transfer the software to a new machine, three times.

Quote: Originally Posted by god_of_cpu

You will eventually be able to transfer the license up to 3 times for free.

evandude · 06-19-2006, 03:55 PM

allowing a USB thumb drive to be used as the hardware lock sounds like a good idea, IMO. I've seen USB dongles for software licenses used before...(though not storage devices usually, but a thumbdrive is a cheap and non-proprietary solution that most people already have)

For one thing, flash drives are less likely to crash than mechanical hard drives. And, for those who want to run it on carPC but also set things up on their home PC, moving a flash drive around is certainly easy. Given the low cost, it wouldn't be unreasonable to have a small (64mb maybe) flash drive used for nothing other than being a dongle for the software... those small ones practically come as prizes in your cereal boxes nowadays.

Of course, I don't know if flash drives have hard-coded identification numbers like hard drives do, which would be necessary to use it as a secure hardware lock...

Knightofoldcode · 06-20-2006, 12:26 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by evandude

allowing a USB thumb drive to be used as the hardware lock sounds like a good idea, IMO. I've seen USB dongles for software licenses used before...(though not storage devices usually, but a thumbdrive is a cheap and non-proprietary solution that most people already have)

For one thing, flash drives are less likely to crash than mechanical hard drives. And, for those who want to run it on carPC but also set things up on their home PC, moving a flash drive around is certainly easy. Given the low cost, it wouldn't be unreasonable to have a small (64mb maybe) flash drive used for nothing other than being a dongle for the software... those small ones practically come as prizes in your cereal boxes nowadays.

Of course, I don't know if flash drives have hard-coded identification numbers like hard drives do, which would be necessary to use it as a secure hardware lock...

I agree 100%.

These reasons are my primary reasons for wanting the code keyed to my usb drive. I'd purchase a brand new one, exclusivly for StreetDeck, something in the range of 32-64 MB, but one that's a good quality, for longevity.

Maybe StreetDeck could aqquire some cheap ones to be included with the software?... I've seen that done before.

Knight.

mbkowns · 06-20-2006, 03:07 AM

ya I like the idea of a usb lock. My mom with her work software has a key that you need that goes between the printer port and the printer. If its not there you can't print.

Maybe that would be good.

DarquePervert · 06-20-2006, 06:59 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by mbkowns

ya I like the idea of a usb lock. My mom with her work software has a key that you need that goes between the printer port and the printer. If its not there you can't print.

Maybe that would be good.

It would also be more expensive for the StreetDeck crew and for anyone purchasing SD.
We sell sotware that uses a similar hardware dongle (parallel or USB). It ain't cheap.

Also, my USB ports are already accounted for and I don't want to use a USB hub.
A USB dongle could easily be mistaken for a flash memory stick and swiped by someone thinking they could get a free USB memory stick. Then you'd be screwed and probably have to buy a new USB dongle.
Tying the hardware lock into a USB memory stick runs the same risks, obviously.

god_of_cpu · 06-20-2006, 10:14 AM

We looked into many different ways of securing the product. USB Keys would add almost $50 to the price. Thumb and Flash drives do not consistently provide a hardware code, reading MAC Addresses is equally inconsistent.

Harddrives are universal and consistently give codes.

Not hardware locking would mean the free trial couldn't be the same binary as the shipping version and you would have to wait for and install the final shipped version after purchasing.

gosmondson · 06-20-2006, 10:15 AM

It might seem like a good idea at first, but they usually end up being more troublesome.. and I would be ****ed off if my nice carpc setup stopped working because some joker wanted a free mp3car flashdrive..

Puffanug · 06-20-2006, 11:58 AM

Maybe I missed it, but what is the point of having the software locked to the hardrive? Is it so if someone steals your system it won't work? Or is it to allow the developers a way to reduce piracy?

Kalt · 06-20-2006, 12:01 PM

So your copy cant be installed on all your friends on the internet PC's.

Puffanug · 06-20-2006, 12:18 PM

Understood, thanks Kalt.