Hello & Greetings

First, I apologize for asking this because I just don't know where else to turn.

I need some kind soul to point me in the right direction to find a solution, actually a person or persons who can help.

The bona fides....

This is regarding a small software suite that WAS commercial, but the company has gone defunct. It controls a machine, and without it there is no way to operate the machine, as it has no console to manually enter parameters.

I am an old fart who has been a tech since the PC Jr days, but could never quite wrap my head around disassembly. I can build them, fix them, and make sure the machine and software work in concert correctly, but past that I am pretty much worthless. Suggestions to learn what you folks know is beyond what my old brain can comprehend.

The program protection is accomplished via license keys, and the original coder must have left the company after providing the generator, as there were supposed to be two versions, one a time limited version, and one permanent version. Our version, which was supposed to be permanent, kept expiring after several months though no hardware had been changed, etc.

The company would issue new licenses with no argument and kept saying they just didn't understand why it kept doing this, as if we were the only ones affected. I have since found out that most all users had the very same issue, as if the company didn't know how to issue permanent keys, or the original coder had made a mistake in writing it.

The chance that a manufacturer of this stature would simply go defunct was about as likely as seeing someone like Intuit disappearing overnight. To paraphrase Keyser Soze, "....and like that - poof - they were gone".

We now have a very large and expensive coffee cup holder.

I have searched through various boards & forums looking for someone who is willing to remedy the situation. I ended up here due to Crack_Z having an entry on his page to submit just this sort of problem to which he would consider helping out. I have attempted that, but have not received an answer, so I plea my case here in this forum.

Can anyone steer me in the right direction?

Thanks very much for taking the time to read through this and for supplying any information you can. Further bona fides and details are available to anyone willing to entertain this project.

Interesting "problem" .. Send email to lordbyte@gmail.com, and
I will help you out, in one way or another ..

yea even i can help if required

send pm if you need me

i guess the admins dont have any problem with this?

hi
don't think its a problem since you guys are using pm but he needs to show some effort,otherwise its just a mere crack request

Hi Esther

If I could find a way to wrap my brain around your field of expertise, I would surely try to do so. To paraphrase Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman:

I'm too old, too tired, too......

Well, you get the idea. I'm an old tech, and one of those guys who just can't comprehend something unless he can put his fingers on it. I admire folks like you who can think in an ethereal way to ferret out these problems, but I have never been able to.

I have received a few PM's from folks trying to help, and I sure do appreciate it. I understand your point of view, but sometimes you just have to see the Doctor instead of trying to stitch yourself up. Hope you understand.

Thanks

Howdy,

I have done the research and what he says is absolutely true.

It seems the company went out of biz in Jan and left a lot of people with an extremely shitty piece of software.

There is a new company that will be serving those customers but the software needs a complete overhaul before its ready.
It has never been updated. It's WIN95 old.

Woodmann

First of all, THANK YOU to all who have offered help! I sure do appreciate it!

Now, here's the latest on this debacle.....

It turns out the company that made the machine (US Based) contracted out to a company (Canada Based) to create the software. It now appears that because there is an arcane, unsupported use for the software, they have decided they will re-write it and offer it for sale again. This time, they say they will do it dongle based so there is no longer any expiration issues. There is no timeframe, nor cost estimates as of yet.

I have spoken with an ex-employee of the manufacturer of the machine who was with them up to the end and he categorically states that the software company KNEW of the issues for 10 years at least, and simply did nothing to solve it. He PERSONALLY spoke with them many times over the years to fix it, again with no results. So, the idea that they are all of a sudden going to remedy this is highly suspect, not to mention in what timeframe this will, if ever, happen.

I surely appreciate all your help!

The situation has been resolved. <----- Update....... I spoke too soon.....

I can not thank everyone here enough for their help and patience with this problem. I know it is not customary for the forum and it's members to even entertain this type of request, but as it was a very unique situation, it required a unique set of individuals to solve it.


Again, my thanks to all, and especially big thanks to a few!

I wrote this this morning before finding that the solution that was found is temporary. At least there is light at the end of the tunnel.... now whether that light is an oncoming train or not, we'll have to see.

Again, many many thanks to all for your patience and help!

Well, thanks to all for their help in solving my dilemma.

It has, in fact, been solved and I would like to thank all of you here in the forum for your efforts and, well, just for being who you are.

Particular thanks to Woodmann and another member, without whom, this would not have been possible.

On a side note, what you folks do is important and very necessary. The future is wrought with scenarios that will take people like you to solve them. I applaud and salute you!

Thanks again!

if so, send me ice-cream, plz

Well now... If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding. How can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?

Other than that.... many good thoughts and some excellent karma on your side.....


Hope that'll do.

don wooma.. iu sow.. what comes ofter iu hlepping instead of bunning ~ : D

eval,

Don Wooma says dont you worry

I know this program he speaks of. It is very specific to a certain group of people. I know because I am part of that group.

The Don

ah the 'crazy mofo's that go loopy at the slightest thing group' ?

/me ducks and uses eval as a human shield