Comments on: Reset Trial Software and Extend Evaluation period to run forever

By: Amit Arora

Amit Arora — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 12:07:45 +0000

Hi,

Can you please tell, where the software keeps their installation date in windows registry

By: Aakash Sharma

Aakash Sharma — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 02:05:27 +0000

In reply to Rohit Langde. Thanks for the reply sir. If I get any way to crack this stuff, I would definitely let you know.

By: Rohit Langde

Rohit Langde — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:21:43 +0000

In reply to Aakash Sharma.

Hi Akash, I appreciate your level of understanding and the experiments you did.
Honestly, I even don’t the exact mechanism involved behind this. Always thought that, Registry Key is what all a software injects to track installation date.
But, one thing I know is that the mechanism varies from software to software. 2 Years ago or so, I completely flushed off Quick Heal Traces and was able to reinstall it again with countdown reset. However, this didn’t stand true for another application called Horoscope Explorer.

Just like the ways of Activation and the way their algorithms are defined to create Keys, this Trial thing also varies. Some maybe just inserting a registry key while some wise developers maybe using complex technique like the one you mentioned.

Hope you somehow figure out the working used by most of the software developers soon. And I would appreciate if you share it with us 🙂

By: Aakash Sharma

Aakash Sharma — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:05:01 +0000

I wanted to learn how to track each and every location where a new software install would make changes. Also, I wanted to know the registry files it would create.
For this I downloaded 2 open source software: ‘Sys Monitor’ and ‘CRegistry Comparison’.
Also, for the testing purpose only, I downloaded and installed a new copy of ‘Image Cut'(A photo splitting tool), which was a 17 days trial.
After waiting for two days when the software reported 15 out of 17 days remaining, I tracked the the activities going on in my PC (running Windows 7 ultimate – 32Bit) on the new install and uninstall of Image Cut for the registry files and files copied to disk.
Then, I deleted all the files and registry keys where ‘Image Cut’ had made changes. Also, I cleared all unnecessary files and registry keys with ‘ccleaner’.
On installing the package again (when I had already clered all those files I could track which pertained to the ‘Image Cut’ software.), Image-Cut still showed “15 out of 17 days left” which then further turned down to 14 the next day, i.e., the timer was still goin on at some place. Though I had deleted files from regedit.exe, app data, temp files and prefetch, still I couldn’t edit a few files such as “c:\windows\system32\SYSTEM” tracked by ‘Sys Monitor’. (I tried to open this by running notepad in adimnistrator mode and browsing for ‘SYSTEM’ file with no extension. It delivered an error message saying file was already running. Obviously it would run as it is a system file). So I have a doubt on this file too as all others could be erased but not this one: neither edited nor deleted (though I wouldn’t delete a system file under normal conditions). I had restarted my computer whenever I felt suitable to do so between the steps I followed.
I have no use of ‘Image Cut’ for myself and I have set it as target for informational purpose only because I want to know how the things work out in my own Computer.
Please can any technology expert help me in erasing all the traces of the software so that on a new installation, the timer is reset. If further information is required, you can ask me for logs at “akuthexsky@gmail.com”. If you get a clue kindly elaborate all the steps involved. Thanks in advance.

Since I want to learn the true mechanism, plaese avoid guiding me to use: “Total Uninstaller”, Run-as-date, Sandboxie, Virtual Machine etc.

By: Shridhar

Shridhar — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 03:31:06 +0000

It’s not working with Quick Heal. Any suggestions?

By: Shekharmine

Shekharmine — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:04:19 +0000

How it works??
what is the code for change the code in registry??
HKLM/Software/Microsoft/windows/current Version/Install Date

-By
http://www.facebook.com/shekhrmine

By: kochi

kochi — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 17:10:39 +0000

Will this program work for Autocad 2012 trial? its a 30 day trial with fully functionality. I am seeing above that it’s not working for someone.

these heavy duty programs like adobe, autodesk, corel and etc have teams of ppl thinking about these issues and I think they probably have security measures in place..

anyone had luck with autocad and this time stopper program?

By: Rohit Langde

Rohit Langde — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:48:42 +0000

In reply to Khan. The software works for the Software which are Time based trial only. If the software has limitation or not fully functional in its trial version then, Time stopper won't be of any use.

By: Khan

Khan — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 09:12:13 +0000

Dear Rohit,

If I am using a trail version of a time based software (which automatically saves files every hour) will it work because Time Stopper did not? Thanks

By: Jun

Jun — Sat, 13 Oct 2012 13:55:33 +0000

In reply to Bob.

HI, Bob..I don’t really understand your way..so is VMWare Player like pararell? Im using mac and want some use trial programme forever..please reply me @ joonnet0572@hotmail.com
Thanks
Jun