Lpc2000

When I purchase software, I expecte to be able to use it.  Period.  Being 
held hostage by having it tied to a HD or BIOS signature is the bullshit.  I 
fully respect the license in not disseminating copies, not allowing multiple 
users to use a single license package, etc.  

	Depending on the hardware failure, it can take as little as 30 minutes to be 
up and running.  I frequently clone the HDs, and I keep backups of projects 
on CD and network.  However, the cloned HDs will not run these two packages 
without a regenerated license key.  I don't know how the signature is done, I 
don't care, I haven't reversed engineered it.

	Over the years, I've been bitten by dongle failures and hardware failures 
that left me unable to run purchased packages (one time I've had the actual 
key module fail, one time I've had the reader that help multiple key modules 
failure, and I've had laptops that the parallel port has gotten blown up on, 
making the external key system unusable).  I call this a breach of right to 
run a package I legimately paid for.

	Whenever possible, I will maintain a means to use my legitimate software, be 
it because of hardware failure or the company going out of business (although 
the one time this has happened, they kindly provided me with a package that 
no longer required a key).

	You're welcome to call it what you want, reasons or rationale.  Be as self 
righteous as you like, last time I checked we're still entitled to fair-use 
backups.  Just because you can copy a piece of media doesn't mean it's a 
backup, if you can't run it afterwards.  And if you make imaged backups of 
your system, you'd might check that you're not in violation of any of your 
agreements.

	Lastly, as far as "but if you are publically volunteering this, your advice 
can't be too valued."  Where the hell do you get off on this?  I'm not 
encouraging people to anything they don't want to, and I'm not embarrassed 
about what I do.  I'm not depriving anyone of income, or diseeminating 
"intellectual property" (another BS term).  I'm protecting my investment and 
my business.

	--jc

[snip]

>
>  Have you fully read a "run of the mill" license agreement before you open
>  the package
>  (ie. it is binding and indicates you accept it)
>  If you don't then simply do either :
>  - Return it for full refund (you have that option !)
>  - Don't buy it (which you indicate you sometimes wisely opt for)
>
>  Acceptng a license and then cracking it "to work around HDD bla bla" is a
>  bunch of bullshit.
>
>  Reverse engineering your SW constitutes a breach of your license.
>  I respect your own reasons for it (although they seem more like a
> rationale to me)
>  but if you are publicly volunteering this, your advice can't be too
> valued.
>
>  -- Kris