ID number confusion

[Harold A. Climer]

I have a piece of software that is locked to one
computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software
company calls a system ID number
The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current
SID according to the company)
or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

What is this ID number?

1. HDD volume number?
2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?
3. Or what else could it be?
Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?
The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard
drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial
number for the current SID. What a rip off.

I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is
paranoid.
Harold A Climer
Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy
U.T, Chattanooga
Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building
615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403
(e-mail address removed)

 

[Twayne]

I have a piece of software that is locked to one

computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software
company calls a system ID number
The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current
SID according to the company)
or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

What is this ID number?

1. HDD volume number?
2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?
3. Or what else could it be?
Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?
The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard
drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial
number for the current SID. What a rip off.

I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is
paranoid.
Harold A Climer
Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy
U.T, Chattanooga
Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building
615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403
(e-mail address removed)

Details are a little vague for a detailed answer, but yes, that is
paranoid, possibly sensibly so however. If the program is necessary to
have and there aren't any alternatives to it, I'd pay the $40 plus use
this as a lesson in computer management: Namely, that software key
codes, usernames, serial codes, etc., need to be recorded and kept in a
safe place. ALL software applications I mean, not just this one. Same
goes for your other account names and passwords, anything you'll need in
the event of a total drive crash or loss of any of the programs or
reinstalls.
BelArc Advisor is a good program for listing most of those; google
for it. Personally I use SIW but that's probably overkill for this use.

Also, for any posts on any newsgroup anywhere on the internet, you
should not post personal information such as real names, addresses, and
especially e-mail addresses that are not somehow munged, and only post
an e-mail address when it's absolutely necessary. Same goes for the
e-mail address you have listed in your News Reader setup area:
Technically there is no need for an e-mail address on newsgroups and
your NEWS client will never care. Your MAIL client will, of course. A
handy non-existant address is (e-mail address removed).
The problem is spam. Robots will scrape your e-mail address and add
you to spam lists all over the world, and every post you make is copied
and saved in tens of repositories around the world.
The other problem is identity theft. It just makes a thief's job that
much easier when you supply all that information.
Remember, anything you post is recorded for all the world to see. Try
a search on Google for any of the identiying terms you posed in your
address; you'll find this and other posts you've used it on. Not
emails, just posts. Posts are public. If this is the first time you've
done that, it may take a few days to show up. Change your methods and
soon the info will become buried in the archives of posts and not be so
easily noticed by nefarious types.
Also, this is not literally MIcrosoft here. That's just the name of
the group. It's still public. But even private newsgroups get
categorized and saved.

HTH

Twayne

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I have a piece of software that is locked to one
computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software
company calls a system ID number
The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current
SID according to the company)
or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

What is this ID number?

1. HDD volume number?
2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?
3. Or what else could it be?

SID = security identifier. See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Identifier

Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

Nope, although you might be able to find some other way to fool their
software in the registry (I don't know how, but that doesn't mean it can't
be done).

The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard
drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

When you did that, *everything* got a different SID.

I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial
number for the current SID. What a rip off.

I'd call them up and complain, honestly. You should be able to reinstall
your operating system and use your software even if you have to somehow
"reactivate" it.

I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is
paranoid.

It's also unrealistic of them, if they truly are using your user SID.

 

[Gregg]

Harold, a lot of applications these days register themselves by using the
serial number of the software and matching that number to a number that is
unique to your computer hardware. If you make any hardware changes to your
computer it can change the number and the application won't work. The
software company should work with you on this one and be able to un-register
the old code and set up a new one. That way they can guarantee the software
is only running on one system. You would need to do the same thing if you
were upgrading to a new computer and getting rid of the old one.

 

[Bob I]

I think you are missing the point I am making.
I have all the serial numbers etc for all my software and
hardware. I make a hard copy of this information for everything I
purchase, as well as stroring this information in a Word or text file
on another computer and CD.
I learned about doing this the hard way many years ago.
I have all this information for this software. The only thing I did,
was to re-format my drive and re-install the OS software

Perhaps ask the company how THEY generate the SID that they use. We have
no way of knowing. But I'll bet they don't tell you either.

 

[Big_Al]

Perhaps ask the company how THEY generate the SID that they use. We have
no way of knowing. But I'll bet they don't tell you either.

I agree with Bob. I just retired but the company I wrote an
application for had a licensing program that extracted info from the
system to produce a system ID. I won't say its the same as your issue
but if our clients would reformat the HD or move the directory or rename
the PC, any of a long laundry list of things, it would blow up the
license. Pirates and all, you know. However if they are a valid
client we would freely re-license the product. I would think you
should try calling the company. There has to be some allowance for a HD
failure and reload or whatever you did. And I would find out from them
too what and how you broke it so you know not to do it again.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I have a piece of software that is locked to one
computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software
company calls a system ID number
The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current
SID according to the company)
or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

What is this ID number?

1. HDD volume number?
2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?
3. Or what else could it be?

It's an arbitrary (to everyone but the software developers) number
generated/assigned by the software installation routine during the
installation process. Ask the software vendor, if you're interested in
the precise mechanism.

Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

You'd need to direct this question to that software vendor or
application's technical support folks. We've know way of telling,
primarily because you've very carefully kept the identity of this
software a secret.

The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard
drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

And then you presumably reinstalled the application in question? Did
you expect this inanimate piece of software to somehow understand that
it was just being reinstalled onto the original machine, and not that
the fresh install doesn't necessarily mean it's being installed on a new
(or even second) computer? If so, precisely how?

I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial
number for the current SID. What a rip off.

Have you expressed your displeasure to the software vendor, and then
taken your business elsewhere, preferably to a competitor?

I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is
paranoid.

It is quite a stringent (but also quite common) method, although
there's usually no charge for a new registration, unless there was a
specific contract/support time span mentioned in the original purchase.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:


http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375

They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell

The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has
killed a great many philosophers.
~ Denis Diderot

 

[Harold A. Climer]

It's an arbitrary (to everyone but the software developers) number
generated/assigned by the software installation routine during the
installation process. Ask the software vendor, if you're interested in
the precise mechanism.




You'd need to direct this question to that software vendor or
application's technical support folks. We've know way of telling,
primarily because you've very carefully kept the identity of this
software a secret.




And then you presumably reinstalled the application in question? Did
you expect this inanimate piece of software to somehow understand that
it was just being reinstalled onto the original machine, and not that
the fresh install doesn't necessarily mean it's being installed on a new
(or even second) computer? If so, precisely how?




Have you expressed your displeasure to the software vendor, and then
taken your business elsewhere, preferably to a competitor?




It is quite a stringent (but also quite common) method, although
there's usually no charge for a new registration, unless there was a
specific contract/support time span mentioned in the original purchase.

I will gladly tell you. It is ALMUSICconverter and the web page is
ALLMUSICconverter.com
I have written to their support people but they say it should work,
but it doesn't.
This is the third time I have had problems with the installation
process of their software.
I bought it last fall. The first time I tried downloading the
software I got a corrupted file. Must have been something wrong on
their end because I tried a day or two later and finally got a good
download.
In March I started getting error messages from the program.
( No I do not remember what they were) I tried to re-install it and
had the scenario I mentioned in the preceding posts.
Finally a week ago or so I deciced to re-format my hard drive and
re-install the OS. (other programs were getting flaky and slow)
Then had the same problem re-iatalling ALMUSICconverter, again!
What is funny is that ALMUSICconverter was working fine before
the re-format.
I feel like pulling my hair out, but I do not have that
much to spare.

Thanks for all the advice.

BTW I saw no phone number or address on the ALMUSICconverter.com Web
page.
Harold A. Climer
Dept Of Physics Geology & Astronomy
U.T. Chattanooga
Room 406A Engineering,Math & Computer Sicence Building
615 McCallie Ave.
Chattanooga TN 37403
(e-mail address removed)