Software expiry date.

[Appleyard]

I noticed on the thread re the RYA website that chart plotter software is available..expiring on 31 Dec of each year. I have a CD Rom of the workshop manual for my car which expired on September 2005,but I continue to use the CD,by "winding " the date on my PC back a year every time i use the manual and resetting it when I finish. I presume that this can be done with any time-expiring software? Apart from the implications of using out of date software am I doing my PC and damage by this action?

 

[TheBoatman]

James
I did that with the same software, it was generally OK but seemed to knacker my Norton AV prog - it didn't like it one bit especially the renewal date.

Peter.

 

[wragges]

Sorry guys, but most software is just a little more smart than to fall for the old wind-the-clock back trick.

You will find that Microsoft XP wont update, anti-virus software wont update and time/date dependant sofware (including M/S outlook and Internet Explorer) will also fall on thier faces.

However, if all you want on a *non-internet* connected PC is your plotter software then you should be ok...ish!

 

[Appleyard]

So Steve...is what you are saying that as long as I am not online while I do the winding back then I will be OK?

 

[jrt]

Firstly, the Hydrographic Office software will give you a bit of leeway on the date. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

If you are using it just for planning or teaching purposes, say at home or in the class room then I believe that it does not time expire provided that you do not connect it to a GPS machine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The soft ware takes the date from the GPS. Someone must have told them how easy it is to alter the date on a computer. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[SvenglishTommy]

It all depends on how the software was written, but you'll find in most cases it will work by moving the clock back. Computers, of course, have no idea what time, month or year it is, and it is tricky to write code to try and spot that the date has been purposefully altered.

If you can run the software at all when you're not online then it isn't verifying your copy is valid over the internet. Just make sure you turn off 'Automatically synchronise with an Internet time server'.

 

[SvenglishTommy]

[ QUOTE ]
The soft ware takes the date from the GPS.

[/ QUOTE ]
In that case you're buggered. But it is still comparing this GPS date to a date it has stored on your computer, and if it is stored on your computer then you can change it. Finding it is the problem.

 

[Birdseye]

Wouldnt worry about the RYA / UKHO chartplotter. As I understand it, the expiry date is one thing they are dropping in a bid to make the product more attractive. Fex are being sold.

 

[Guest]

There are small utilities out on the web that reset date part of software .... basically viewed as illegal or shall we say on the grey side ...

They alter the program to give another period of use ... without changing PC date etc. - so you have no conflict on other programs etc.

taking the price of the RYA plotter - I would imagine it is a standard date related security key ..... changeable by a generic date / keygen utility.

 

[finnlou]

the RYA software actually runs out at the end of february, and does NOT use the GPS to ascertain the date, it uses your PC clock

 

[Guest]

Didn\'t say it did ...

And I was not the origin of this thread .... please reply to them !!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[finnlou]

Re: Didn\'t say it did ...

and I don't use threaded mode /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif so don't reply to specific people unless I quote you /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Guest]

Excuse me please ...

I don't use threaded mode .... but I read the ID under the title etc. of each post .... plus I click reply on the actual post that I wish to reply to.

Not being rude - just pointing out a common error ... I am not the only one who has posted about it ....

 

[summerwind]

[ QUOTE ]
I continue to use the CD,by "winding " the date on my PC back a year every time i use the manual and resetting it when I finish. I presume that this can be done with any time-expiring software?

[/ QUOTE ]

Being a software developer, you are touching a raw nerve here with me. Of course, guys like me are well aware that users might wind back the clock, so try to avoid using this technique. However, like many other developers, I do send out time-limited demonstrations.

If I was to be doing anything with navigation, I would want the package to integrate with GPS input. As the core of GPS revolves around time (Its in every NMEA packet), the software thief is in great danger of the Revenge of the Nerds!

Although I don't do it myself, but have been sorely tempted, there is a way to detect if the "System date" has been manipulated and wipe out or corrupt great chunks of the Windows system, even to the point of wiping your entire hard drive. By that I don't mean deleting files, I mean wiping it!

Much more vicious mischief can be easily accomplished in the Windows Registry or tinkering with or deleting your hardware drivers - so beware! Putting your machine back to rights will cost you more than paying the poor sod who has sweated over creating the software that you are using.

Having said that, I must admit that I find time-limiting a car manual to be OTT and plain bloody greedy.

 

[finnlou]

Re: Excuse me please ...

[ QUOTE ]
I don't use threaded mode .... but I read the ID under the title etc. of each post .... plus I click reply on the actual post that I wish to reply to.

Not being rude - just pointing out a common error ... I am not the only one who has posted about it ....

[/ QUOTE ]
The proplem is the quick reply box (it assumes you are reply to the last post), which is the way I generally reply, and unless I quote your post my reply is to the thread not to anyone specific. This is the way most forum software is designed to work, unless of course you use threaded mode. replies are to the thread not a specific post when in flatmode. I write forum software so do have some idea what I am talking about.

 

[Guest]

Quick reply ...

I had an idea that was the cause ....

It is annoying though as the thread seems to get out of step then ... references out of place.

I'm not getting at you - just that others reading may in some posts .... these ones are simple and obvious ..... get completely wrong idea.
I don't use quick reply as I don't like the possibility of reply linked to wrong post ...

Point taken - but I still do not agree or like it ...

Again - there was no rudeness or argument intended .

 

[finnlou]

Re: Quick reply ...

[ QUOTE ]
I had an idea that was the cause ....

It is annoying though as the thread seems to get out of step then ... references out of place.

I'm not getting at you - just that others reading may in some posts .... these ones are simple and obvious ..... get completely wrong idea.
I don't use quick reply as I don't like the possibility of reply linked to wrong post ...

Point taken - but I still do not agree or like it ...

Again - there was no rudeness or argument intended .

[/ QUOTE ]
I wasn't trying to get at you or intimate that you were getting at me and certainly didn't think you were being rude, I do agree that ubb deals with it's posts in an odd way unlike most other forum software. In most flat mode forums your reply is purely to the thread not to a specific reply, that is what the quoted reply is for, I will try to refrain from using quickreply in future so as not to upset the wrong people unintentionally /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[finnlou]

to get back on topic, as a software author, what you are suggesting is morally abhorrent /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif well it would be if I had any morals

 

[jrt]

finnlou, I owe you an appology. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

I have just put my version into my computer and was told that it was out of date. It has never seen a GPS machine. So it is getting the date from my computer and comparing it to the date on the disc.

When I reset the machine to 2005 I was told that I had until Feb to get an updated version. Reset to 2004 works ok.

That's the last time I take that gentleman's word as gosple.

I'm not too happy with the software either, as it doesn't scrole to the next chart when you reach the edge of the "paper". /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif But, for the price it's good value for money.

 

[Guest]

value for money ....

Sorry I think not ... for only a small amount more you can have non-expiry software ... ok Maptech Tides do - but then you can still navigate perfectly well on full operational charting ...

Seaclear is free and can use BSB / KAP charts as well as NOAA and other formats.

Seapro lite gives full UK coverage for under 100 quid ....

There are loads out there that make the RYA offering a beer-mat of a CD ....

Sorry to be blunt - but its true. Unfortunately it was a marketing ploy to link it with RYA courses and also advertise it as UKHO as well ........ the two bodies ought to think better of us out here ....

Rant over !!