ask serial number while installing

[swathi]

Hi

Is it possible to add a VI or something to ask for a serial number while installing the set up so that the set up is run only once (to prevent unauthorised distribution).

Thanks..

[GerdW]

Hi swathi,

you can add an exe that is run after the installation has finished. Here you may ask for a serial and do what ever you want to...

[swathi]

Hi

Thanks for your reply..Actually i have to give a set up CD to the customer.so that he can reinstall it whenever he wants to(After formatting e.t.c).And i want the Setup to be installed on only one PC..Checking the computer name every time my exe runs is an option but can be cracked easily..Is there any better option other than this and USB dongle?

[GerdW]

Hi swathi,

search the forum for threads on "serial number" or "copy protection".

You will find a lot of useful information, and there are more things to check than just the computer's name...

[Henrik_Volkers]

With exec.vi "VOL C:" you get the HD serial number .. add some salt (or the MD5 of your exe file) and  XOR with some more obscurity  to create a string for a license key request .

Your private program decode this string and create a key that is send to the customer and is stored .

Your program read that key, decode the volume ID and validate it with the volume ID found.... 

No, I have never done it, and don't know if it will work nor if that is a secure* way nor if it is a good idea to annoy the customer......

 

You will spend time in programming and testing.  What is the current price of 'professional' dongle?    Hey maybe a USB memory chip also has a not so easy to fake ID number. Don't know how to read it, but that would be an easy dongle ...

*) Here it would be easy to write an own VOL that will always answer with the same ID. However it will need someone willing to crack it or to pay somebody else to do it.

[GerdW]

Hi swathi,

there are other people out there like you…

[Coq_Rouge]

Copy protection is a difficult subject. Microsoft, National instrument, CAD and ECAD producers have different copy protect regimes. Do they work? Not very good at all. If a software is popular enough it will be "cracked". Of course this is not legal, but well try to tell  that to the illegal users. One thing you can do is to take the CPU serial number and perhaps the network card MAC. Then have your customer to send you the number(s). Mix those numbers to key file. That your software reads. This could give some protection quite cheap. Some sort of dongle is not a bad idea. This way your customer can install the software on several machines. But they can only use as many licenses simultaneous as the number of dongles they have. If they feel you are to greedy with your license policy your costumer may be tempted to "crack" your software. Life is hard as software manufacturer 😉

Message Edited by Coq Rouge on 05-03-2010 05:15 PM

[Ramsgt]

Hi swathi,

 I am also facing the same problem. As of  now i am reading the Computer Id and athenticating. Please let me know if ther is any other solution for the same.