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Resetting trial period?

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chainprayer

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Feb 10, 2008
638
2
a while back I installed an app that only works for a short trial period. After installing I never launched the app. Now I'm interested in trying it out but it's already expired.

Is there. Way to reset the trial period? Maybe a hidden folder I can reset that stores app install dates? I really want to try this app before I buy it!
 
chainprayer said:
a while back I installed an app that only works for a short trial period. After installing I never launched the app. Now I'm interested in trying it out but it's already expired.

Is there. Way to reset the trial period? Maybe a hidden folder I can reset that stores app install dates? I really want to try this app before I buy it!
Click to expand...

We at MacRumors don't condone this kind of behavior. Consider your post reported. Piracy is illegal. By the software don't try to steal it. Why should we believe your story. You could be trying to steal a program.

Don
 
Not at all! I can see how that post could be a problem. Have a great weekend Don! :)
 
fireshot91 said:
Uhm, if the free trial is legal, I don't think that this is illegal. Try re-downloading it?
Click to expand...

Hacking a trial to extend it is illegal.
I would also recommend trying to re-download it. If your email address won't work to re-download it, set up a gmail account and use that address (that's not illegal).

Don
 
Dmac77 said:
We at MacRumors don't condone this kind of behavior. Consider your post reported. Piracy is illegal. By the software don't try to steal it.
Click to expand...

Dmac77 said:
Hacking a trial to extend it is illegal.
I would also recommend trying to re-download it. If your email address won't work to re-download it, set up a gmail account and use that address (that's not illegal).
Click to expand...


Oh give me a ****ing break, Flanders. :rolleyes:

Do you honestly believe that the creators of the software aren't going to try to help an eager potential customer try out their software if he said he never got a chance? You're mad.


Software creators offer trial periods to anybody who wants to try it out so that you try it and get hooked. If you're actively looking for a trial software to begin with, they already know you're at least a potential customer. After all, you went looking for IT, not the other way around. You must be slightly interested. Of course, to get you to buy the software, they WANT you to use it. In fact, they want you to use it as much as humanly possible....24/7. if you download it and you only muck around for 15 minutes, it's bad for them, as the bait didn't work.

If they were smart, they would make it so that the trial only begins after the 1st time they start using it. Alas, they didn't.

If it's actually a problem, just email them and ask for another product code, and then try to reinstall the software using that code. I'm sure they'll want you to try out the software.
 
I downloaded the trial for PS several years ago, and used the program (I was on Windows at the time) for the full 30 days - but still wasn't sure. I contacted their customer service and asked them, and they sent me another 30-day serial number with no questions asked.

Ask them. They'll be more than happy to help I'm sure. :)
 
Abstract said:
Oh give me a ****ing break, Flanders. :rolleyes:

Do you honestly believe that the creators of the software aren't going to try to help an eager potential customer try out their software if he said he never got a chance? You're mad.


Software creators offer trial periods to anybody who wants to try it out so that you try it and get hooked. If you're actively looking for a trial software to begin with, they already know you're at least a potential customer. After all, you went looking for IT, not the other way around. You must be slightly interested. Of course, to get you to buy the software, they WANT you to use it. In fact, they want you to use it as much as humanly possible....24/7. if you download it and you only muck around for 15 minutes, it's bad for them, as the bait didn't work.

If they were smart, they would make it so that the trial only begins after the 1st time they start using it. Alas, they didn't.

If it's actually a problem, just email them and ask for another product code, and then try to reinstall the software using that code. I'm sure they'll want you to try out the software.
Click to expand...

It's illegal to hack a program to make it run past its expiration date and that's the simple truth. I said he should contact them for another serial, or get another serial by using a different email address. So don't go around calling me Flanders.

Don
 
Melrose said:
I downloaded the trial for PS several years ago, and used the program (I was on Windows at the time) for the full 30 days - but still wasn't sure. I contacted their customer service and asked them, and they sent me another 30-day serial number with no questions asked.

Ask them. They'll be more than happy to help I'm sure. :)
Click to expand...
I've had the same experience. If you're interested enough to contact the developer, they're usually more then happy to give you another trial key to get your money in the end.
 
Eidorian said:
I've had the same experience. If you're interested enough to contact the developer, they're usually more then happy to give you another trial key to get your money in the end.
Click to expand...

It's easy enough to find cracks on the internets these days... I think the fact someone bothers to legitimately ask for an extension shows honesty - Adobe doesn't want you to go out and pick up a copy free of charge or they'd be out their $$$
 
Dmac77 said:
We at MacRumors don't condone this kind of behavior. Consider your post reported. Piracy is illegal. By the software don't try to steal it. Why should we believe your story. You could be trying to steal a program.

Don
Click to expand...

Don, your post is absolutely ridiculous and DID come across as Harsh. Lay off, if you don't agree, then just keep quiet and don't speak for the rest of us.
 
Just a clue. AppZapper/AppCleaner remove ALL the files installed by a program. Most of the programs use a file to store the trial information. 1+1=2.
 
If you go into your registry and remove the plist,you are not hacking a program,you're deleting it,then of you happen to dl it again,you're still not hacking anything,you're just dl'ing it.
 
I've done that one time myself, I installed an App which was time limited, ran it once and quickly had a glance over it then for one reason or another I ended up managing to not use it until after the trial period was over. I just ran the trial on a different computer for convenience, but I know what the OP is saying.

Saying that, the OP had a genuine query. I know people usually assume 'reset trial = piracy' but it's not always the case. People shouldn't jump to conclusions over what is clearly a genuine query.
 
Re: Resetting trial period

Hi! If you delete all files created by the software and reinstall, the trial period will be resetted. Maybe this will help you.
 
I'm currently having this same issue with Delibar. I downloaded it before, ran it once or twice, forgot about it, and now the trial has expired. I'm wanting to try it out again because I'm really getting into the practice of tagging things for easy retrieval and because I'm tired of drilling down into folders for my files and bookmarks and stuff.

The guys at Shinyfrog told me they can't reset the trial remotely, and I tried it with another Yahoo! acct, too. I'm having no luck getting the trial reset, and $18 is a little much to throw at an app that is more for convenience than necessity.

Anyway, just wanted to share my current experience with trying to contact developers and extend a trial; it doesn't always work out.
 
Old thread, I know, but I just had a similar experience. Downloaded the Flash CS5 demo from Adobe, installed it and started it up almost immediately. Fate conspired, however, to keep me from using it very much at all over the course of the next several weeks and now the demo's expired. I could honestly use another week or so with it - I have a bit of a window here and would be able to put some serious time into checking it out from top to bottom.

So, I used the Live Chat feature at Adobe.com to talk to a customer rep who told me it was impossible to extend the demo period. There are no resources available to do this. No possibility of a temp demo serial key. Nothing.

Frustrating because I'm out of a full-time gig right now and can't just pull the trigger on a purchase unless I KNOW it's something which suits my needs right now. So I guess the upshot in my case is that Adobe's out a potential purchase...for the time being, at least.
 
videoflyer said:
Old thread, I know, but I just had a similar experience. Downloaded the Flash CS5 demo from Adobe, installed it and started it up almost immediately. Fate conspired, however, to keep me from using it very much at all over the course of the next several weeks and now the demo's expired. I could honestly use another week or so with it - I have a bit of a window here and would be able to put some serious time into checking it out from top to bottom.

So, I used the Live Chat feature at Adobe.com to talk to a customer rep who told me it was impossible to extend the demo period. There are no resources available to do this. No possibility of a temp demo serial key. Nothing.

Frustrating because I'm out of a full-time gig right now and can't just pull the trigger on a purchase unless I KNOW it's something which suits my needs right now. So I guess the upshot in my case is that Adobe's out a potential purchase...for the time being, at least.
Click to expand...

Two options, both have their advantages and disadvantages...

1) Use a different computer that hasn't had the trial installed on it already.
Ad: Simple and quick.
Dis: You might not have access to another computer.

2) Reinstall your OS and install the trial again.
Ad: Use your own computer, don't need to find another one.
Dis: You have to reinstall your OS.... depends how badly you want this trial.
 
Wow Don... don't you think it's a little hypocritical to jump down someones throat for asking a question vaguely related to piracy while you have a big "Support Wikileaks" banner on the bottom of your post?!

Whats the difference between posting on the internet ill-gotten information that can cause economic harm to it's owner all in the name of free speech, and well... posting on the internet ill-gotten information that can cause economic harm to it's owner all in the name of free speech?

You don't have to re-install the OS, you just have to delete the tiny hidden file that is telling the program the date you first installed it. For me, that meant scouring my hard drive and deleting everything that was even related to Adobe. (Adobe can't tell me that I'm not allowed to delete their software) Once that tiny file is gone, re-install and the program. It will think that it is the first time and offer you another 30 day trial period.
 
Complain to the software company

chainprayer said:
a while back I installed an app that only works for a short trial period. After installing I never launched the app. Now I'm interested in trying it out but it's already expired.
Click to expand...

Hey, anonymous software company, your trial period expired when it shouldn't have; I downloaded it again but there's a hidden something on my PC that's locking it out. Fix it or I don't buy! :mad: Don't bother with it yourself... complain to the company that put the expiration in there. If they want the sale, they'll fix it.
 
Dmac77 said:
It's illegal to hack a program to make it run past its expiration date and that's the simple truth. I said he should contact them for another serial, or get another serial by using a different email address. So don't go around calling me Flanders.

Don
Click to expand...

How about providing the section of your penal code which states "hack(ing) a program to make it run past its expiration date" is illegal?

I don't believe it.
 
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