30 Day Free Trial - Hmmm???

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

I was just wondering about some programs, specifically spyware, where you get to try the program FREE for 30 days.

I'm zeroing in, actually, on "TrojanHunter".

So, when the 30 day trial period is up, and I don't buy in...[and get booted]...

Can I re-download again for another 30 day FREE trial? Or do they have my number [well of course they do] and will deny another 30 days of FREEDOM?

I think I heard [years ago] you could get around this by changing your email, or just create a different email, and circumventing this. But I think, now, that those sites in question are now hip to this game.

Any bodies know for sure?

Chipper

basilh · From: United Kingdom

Some programmes can be fooled by you changing the date.. I know that Quark can.

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Gary Shepherd · From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA

Normally, those programs create a hidden file somewhere on your computer and in the file is coded an expiration date. You'll have a hard time finding the file. Some of them just put it in the Windows Registry, but again, it will be hard to find. A better idea is to just by some backup software, get your computer set up like you want (with whatever programs you'll be using) and make a backup. When your computer slows down or gets a virus, just install your backup and you're in business again.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Basilh,
Can you explain furthur on this date thing? I didn't enter any date when I first downloaded.
TrojanHunter, tho, has me on the clock.

Gary, I'm thinking you may be missing my point.

I don't want to pay for TrojanHunter. A lot of spyware/malware programs I already have on my PC are FREE.

All I want to know is - Can you re-up for another 30-day free trial after your 30 day free trial has expired? Or will the "masters" deny you this?

Just wondering if they'll cut you off.

They're so many "free" programs out there, that I say, why buy anything if you can get it for free.

I've spent a lot of money unnecessarily over the years for software programs. Bought WINZIP for $50, and about a month later found out from my brother-in-law [PC wiz of sorts] that PKWARE would do the same thing, and it was FREE.

That just fried my brain.

Thanks anyway fellas, for your input.

Chipper

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

I wouldn't take a 30 day "free" trial of anything. Companies that offer "free trials" just do it to get their hooks in you.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

I know b0b, but Wiz recommended TH [among others] as something I should use to keep my PC clean. I'm sure you are aware of the trojan/worm infection I had, cuz Wiz and others helped me here on COMPUTER to straighten this out.

I don't see how they're "getting their hooks in me". I still can refuse, can't I? And still haven't got a positive answer, one way or the other.

[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 24 June 2006 at 09:51 PM.]

[This message was edited by CHIP FOSSA on 24 June 2006 at 09:54 PM.]

Gary Shepherd · From: Fox, Oklahoma, USA

My point was that because of the hidden files, you will not be able to reinstall, restart, re-anything the program without paying for it. If you uninstall the program, the hidden file will be (intentionally) left behind. If the program is then reinstalled, to circumvent the 30-day thing, it will look for and find the hidden file and will not reactivate. You'll have to buy it to use it past the 30 days - unless of course, you have a backup image of your hard drive before the program (and its hidden files) were installed.

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Gary Shepherd

Carter D-10

www.16tracks.com

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Pay the piper and be done with it. Programmers are entitled to profit for their good work. If you are benefitting from a shareware program and the trial has expired, purchase a license and help keep that program from becoming vaporware.

As Gary said, you will not be able to re-up the program after your 30 days trial expires.

------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Thanks Gary - I understand what you are saying.

I wouldn't think to go in and try to manipulate hidden files or registry entries just to get another 30 free days.

I'm just asking whether or not anyone's free time with a 30 day program is basically OVER/FINI after 30 days; OR WILL THEY LET YOU DO IT AGAIN FOR ANOTHER 30 DAYS?

I guess I'll just wait out the 30 days, and see if I can re-download the program.

Wheew.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

OK - Thanks all - you can close this one.

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Before I close this topic I want to offer a brief explanation about how trial software keeps track of time.

There is a realtime clock in your computer. You are aware of it because of the clock in the systray area. That clock reads out in common 12 or 24 hour format for human use, and in seconds, or smaller increments, for internal program use.

When trialware is installed onto a computer it makes a reference of the exact clock time when install was completed. It then counts seconds until the 30 day (or whatever) period has expired, then triggers the expiration notice. Once this occurs the trialware will not let you reinstall that program unless you can input a valid license to unlock it.

Your options to defeat this are absurd. Search the hard drive and registry hives for every entry made by that program, rollback the system clock 30+ days (in the BIOS), use system restore to restore a point before you installed the software (breaks all current installs or upgrades occuring after that restore date), format C and reinstall everything, or purchase a dad-gum license for it.

Some geeky people use a registry monitor and record a log of all entries created during program installations. They can use these logs to erase all references left behind after an uninstall, such as the trialware timer keys, but this is tricky business and can render your computer unbootable if you make a serious mistake.

The people who write programs do so with the hope of profitting someday. Thirty day trials are included to give ample time for users to determine if they want to keep using those programs (useful, no conflicts or crashes). Shareware is usually priced very reasonably, to make it more likely that happy trial users will purchase a license. They include termination timers to protect their intellectual work from people that refuse to pay after trying the program.

Commercial companies that offer a 30 day trial may allow you to continue to use that program, but with limited functions. ZoneAlarm Firewall is capable of running in full feature mode for 30 days, then reverts to a straight firewall after the trial period, unless you buy a license.

Finally, there are sources of alternative freeware programs that never timeout, nor require a license. Nonags is one place to find free utilities of all kinds. All the programs listed there are supposed to be free to use, with no "Nag" screens.

------------------
Bob "Wiz" Feinberg
Moderator of the SGF Computers Forum
Visit my Wiztunes Steel Guitar website at: http://www.wiztunes.com/
or my computer troubleshooting website: Wizcrafts Computer Services,
or my Webmaster Services webpage.
Learn about current computer virus and security threats here.
Read Wiz's Blog for security news and update notices

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Bob Martin · From: Madison Tn

No one actually mentioned that it's against the law to thwart any protection scheme to use software for free that is intended to be purchased either after the trial period or non trial commercial sw for sale. It's what they call in the industry as Pirating and if they would happen to catch someone pirating sw they could and often do prosocute. Chances are they would just cripple the sw and warn you if it was your first encounter and it was just one program but just the other day an individual here in TN got a 10 year prison sentence for pirating many sw apps it was his 1st conviction but he had over 200 pirated apps. He now resides in a maxium security prison in Illinois. This post was not meant to be a warning towards any posters on this forum it was meant as a general information post for those of you that maybe did not know it was illegal. No flames please :-)

Bob

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Gheez fellas,

I never intended for this post to rile up folks.

I believe certain websites/programs certainly do have a right to make a dime on their software,

I would never try to go thru the mechanics that
Wiz layed out as to how futile it is to try and get another FREE 30 days.

b0b posted, not too long ago, a link to a huge website where many diversified websites offerd up their programs for free or for shareware.

Then it seems, I'm being lambasted for no reason. I'm not trying to "beat" TrojanHunter.
If they're policy is 30 days, then pay, that's OK with me.

There seems to be a bit of contradiction here.

I just asked a simple, stupid question. I certainly wasn't looking for a brawl.

My problem with a lot of this internet download stuff, is - why is some "free" and other's are not.

I know - it's advertising. With the "free" ones, you have to allow unobstructed screen
viewing [ie - don't cover up the ads]

Advertising pays the bill for the FREEBIES.

So these hold-out websites [30 day free trial] - why don't they just jump in and get some ads going, and be done with it? If big sites, like ZoneAlarm can allow this, I don't see why smaller sites just don't do it this way.

I don't know. I'm cornfused.

Chipper

b0b · From: Cloverdale, CA, USA

Why do some web stores chanrge for shipping, and others don't? Why are some things $4.95 and others $5.00? These are rhetorical questions.

Every company makes its own rules for its own business model. Some succeed, others fail.

Wiz Feinberg · From: Mid-Michigan, USA

Some types of software are write-once, use forever. These programs are usually given away for free. These include firewalls, utilities, games, screensavers and miscellaneous programs that perform one function, all the time. Others require regular updates to perform as expected, like anti-virus and anti-spyware programs. Sometimes these programs require security patches to be written and uploaded. All of this takes time and is worth money to the people involved with writing and maintaining those programs. Those are worth protecting with timers and required payment for continued use. Some programmers have enough money to do this without asking for payment, as a labor of love, while others are not so well off and live off the sales of licenses.

We're not bitching you out Eric. This is a legitimate discussion about the whys and where-for's of using shareware/trialware and whether one can (not should) reinstall it once it times out, without paying a license fee.

I believe the original question has been answered; no, you probably cannot reinstall that program without acquiring a license. Whether you should try is entirely up to you.

Chip Fossa · From: Monson, MA, USA (deceased)

Thanks again, Wiz. It's "Chip", BTW.

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