Is it OK to set the clock back a few years?

  • Thread starter Thread starter curious
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curious

Would setting the clock back a few years cause any kind of problem with
Windows? I want to do it long enough to install a program that says my
license key is expired. (This program is poorly designed because their
web site says I can still use the program even after the key expires, I
just can't download the latest updates, but it won't even let me install
it after the key expires!)
 
curious said:
Would setting the clock back a few years cause any kind of problem
with
Windows? I want to do it long enough to install a program that says
my
license key is expired. (This program is poorly designed because
their web site says I can still use the program even after the key
expires, I just can't download the latest updates, but it won't even
let me install it after the key expires!)
Click to expand...

Yes. You'll have all sorts of problems. Contact the program mftr.'s tech
support for help instead of hosing your entire Windows installation for
this.

Malke
 
curious said:
Would setting the clock back a few years cause any kind of problem with
Windows?
Yes.

I want to do it long enough to install a program that says my
license key is expired. (This program is poorly designed because their
web site says I can still use the program even after the key expires, I
just can't download the latest updates, but it won't even let me install
it after the key expires!)
Click to expand...

Contact tech support from the supplier of the program for resolution.

Steve N.
 
Better yet, set the clock to some time in the future when you
can get a brain transplant.

Your idea is bonkers and will invite a multitude of problems,

Doug W.
 
Steve said:
Contact tech support from the supplier of the program for resolution.

Steve N.
Click to expand...

He only wants to mess with the clock long enough to install the program.
Winxp does an automatic time update periodically (unless you have it
turned off).
Dave Cohen
 
I have had dealings with scum companies like that. Mentor Graphics is like
that. You pay $15,000 for their software and they tell you that you have to
contact them every year for a new key. The past 2 years they screwed up my
keys causing me to be down for a few days until their key people came back
from vacation.

Great! These companies can't get keys to me when they are in business so
what do we do when they start to hit hard times?
 
Jordan said:
I have had dealings with scum companies like that. Mentor Graphics is like
that. You pay $15,000 for their software and they tell you that you have to
contact them every year for a new key. The past 2 years they screwed up my
keys causing me to be down for a few days until their key people came back
from vacation.

Great! These companies can't get keys to me when they are in business so
what do we do when they start to hit hard times?
Click to expand...

For $15,000, the sophistication built into such software
goes beyond simply re-setting the clock to use an old key.
But try it. If this fails, then it means that there is an
internal control mechanism, such as a single toggle in the
executable that is updated or a modification to an *.ini
file or even to the Windows Registry.

If such a company goes out of business, then it might be
responsible enough to have a way to perpetuate the software.
Read the purchase agreement or contract for any protection
or recourse that exists. And renewing annually is just one
way of making sure that the company knows that you, yourself,
is still in business.
 
For $15,000, the sophistication built into such software
goes beyond simply re-setting the clock to use an old key.
But try it. If this fails, then it means that there is an
internal control mechanism, such as a single toggle in the
executable that is updated or a modification to an *.ini
file or even to the Windows Registry.
Click to expand...

I would assume that the Mentor graphics programs use a FlexLM
implementaion, which, it's all in the license file, and not stored
elsewhere.
 
Dave said:
He only wants to mess with the clock long enough to install the program.
Winxp does an automatic time update periodically (unless you have it
turned off).
Dave Cohen
Click to expand...

There is a lot more involved than periodic time syncronization. Changing
the time by a matter of years would likely effect many OS components and
functions. It is simply not worth the risk. If the OP wants to use the
software then s/he should follow the correct path and not try to get a
free ride. If the software is that valuable then pay for it. If not then
ditch it and find something else. Screwing with a global variable such
as date and time for such a trivial purpose is foolhardy.

Steve N.
 
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