registry

[Paul]

I tried to evaluate a shareware program a couple of months ago, but then had
PC problems. Now that these are resolved, I want to return to the
evaluation. But the 30 day evaluation period has expired! It does not help
to uninstall the program and reinstall it. What can I do? How can I clean
out the registry entries that are left after uninstalling the program to
allow me to start afresh?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

If the 30 day evaluation period has finished you will have to purchase that
program to be able to continue using it.

 

[Paul]

Well, that's rather silly, then! I'm certainly not going to spend money on a
program that I haven't evaluated. I haven't been able to use the 30 day
period because of my other PC problems. I could, of course, do a clean
install of Windows, but that would involve a lot of work reinstalling other
programs.

My question was one about the Windows operating system and how a specific
type of data is stored in the registry. Can anyone answer that question,
please?

 

[Will Denny]

Hi

The period of evaluation - in this case 30 days - may not be stored in the
Registry, but in a file instead. Unless you know exactly which Registry
entries were create/amended when this program was installed it will be
difficult to delete all mention of the program from the Registry.

 

[R. McCarty]

Time-Limited software has lots of different methods for the counter
& expiration. Usually, the data is encrypted and may not be visible
in the Software panels of Local Machine or Current User. Keyword
searches for product name or company probably won't work either.

About the only way I know to re-use software like that is an image.
Image - Install trial or demo - at 30-days re-image, re-install. But
that is cumbersome and you'll loose 30 days of interim system changes.

To answer you directly, there isn't a universal scheme for time outs
for software in the Registry. System restore might work, but a 30
day backout is doubtful.

 

[Ganesh]

My question was one about the Windows operating system and how a specific
type of data is stored in the registry. Can anyone answer that question,
please?

The developers do not publicise this information as users can simply keep on
removing registry keys/files to reset the evaluation timer. Which is why the
evaluation kicks in when you install/run the program the first time.

 

[Plato]

I tried to evaluate a shareware program a couple of months ago, but then had
PC problems. Now that these are resolved, I want to return to the
evaluation. But the 30 day evaluation period has expired! It does not help

That's the point. Now its time to buy the program you want to continue
using.