spruceup trial version

[whitlam]

downloaded spruceup trial version used it 2 times and it says you can only export twice on thr trial version ,is there any way of getting round this,or does anybody know how i can get the full version

[Arky]

Don't try to get round this by uninstalling and then re-installing SpruceUp, because there is a second protection: whenever it is installed/re-installed, SpruceUp writes to the boot sector of your harddrive. If you uninstall and then try to reinstall more than FIVE times, SpruceUp will refuse to reinstall. The only way I know of, to get round this, is to keep an "image" of your harddrvie (using Symantec's "Ghost", or PowerQuest's "DriveImage" etc.) BEFORE you have installed 5 times. Then, whenever you need to reinstall, just restore the image first. The reason for this is because the boot sector is not normally accessible for the user to write to, but programs which restore images, include the bootsector in their writing procedure, effectively restoring the boot sector so that SpruceUp does not 'remember' how many times it has really been installed before. Please note that the above text is legitimate - Before Spruce were bought-out by Apple, I witnessed one of their OWN moderators, on the official SpruceUp support Forum, admit, in response to a suggestion by a SpruceUp user/forum member, that this was possible for people who had legitimate reasons for restoring their operating systems on a periodic basis, without being penalised by the SpruceUp protection, PROVIDED they had a fully-licensed version of SpruceUp in the first place.

Of course, this does not answer your question about the primary protection of a maximum of two exports for the trial version. For this, you would need a license. I believe certain DV editing cards come with licensed versions of SpruceUp, but I am uncertain if these licenses are available separately, now that Apple own Spruce.


Arky ;o)

[jslombar]

Just a few questions.

1. If SpruceUp tries to write to the boot sector, wouldn't Norton AntiVirus warn you?
2. Has anybody tried uninstalling SpruceUp, run WinDoctor to remove it from the registry, then reinstall SpruceUp?
3. If running Windows ME, 2000, or XP, couldn't you use the system restore utility to restore your system back prior to when you installed SpruceUp?
If the results of question 2 or 3 work, wouldn't it be easier, and faster to do?

Just my 2 cents

[mpucoder]

Although I don't use SpruceUp that bit about writing to the boot sector got me curious too. Are you sure it doesn't just do what 99% of programs do, add an obscure registry entry?
If it does write to the boot sector, there are programs to restore it. Most boot managers (I use Ranish - http://www.ranish.com/part/ ), partition managers (like Partition Magic), Norton's DE, and, if you know how, good old debug.

[Arky]

Well, it is possible - my understanding was that re-installing the OS does not defeat the protection, which is why I have also been labouring under the impression that it was a boot-sector write.

Nevertheless, the DriveImage/Ghost solution does work. If anyone finds it is actually a registry issue, I am more than happy to stand corrected.


Arky ;o)

[jslombar]

2. Has anybody tried uninstalling SpruceUp, run WinDoctor to remove it from the registry, then reinstall SpruceUp?

I tried the WinDoctor approach. Doesn't work.

[cinders]

Sprucup DEFINATELY doesn't write to the boot sector, if you're running Norton AV (like I am) you would get a warning.

Best program to use would be Veritas WinINSTALL to take a snapshot of the registry before and after the install, that way you could trace all changes the installation has made and delete them all before you re-install.

[Arky]

fair enough - I stand corrected then. Norton CleanSweep doesn't solve the issue though, not even with registry sweep, OR with install-monitor (can't remember the exact name of the feature, but it monitors all registry changes during installation, and allows you to restore your system to it's original state, before you installed the program, should you choose to uninstall it). Funny that.


Arky ;o)

[cinders]

No probs - I've got a machine set up here at work, so I'll take some snapshots and install spruce and I'll let you guys know the results.

[cinders]

Right, I've pulled the installation apart (nothing illegal here either!) :-

The only registry entries Spruceup enters is in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT (associations - as expected)

and into the key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Spruce Technologies

I don't think there is anything here that will flag how many times it has been installed! Maybe in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT if they're clever!



It then copies a load of program files over into:

C:\Program Files\Spruce Technologies
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Install Shield

And a few bits and bobs into the system/system32 directory of windows.

There could be a dll copied to the windows system directory that may flag the installation so you can't go past 5 - but I think the answer is further down....



It copies SETUP.INI to both C:\Program Files\Spruce Technologies
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Install Shield directories.

In here in retains the COUNT & COPY information for the installation,
- I'm pretty sure this is where your answer is!

After your install, simply do a windows seach for setup.ini containing the text "AppName=SpruceUP" and it will find it in both these folders - have a play and see what happens.




This is as far as I will go, I don't need to research this any further as I have a fully registered version of Spruceup, I suggest people wanting this software do the same or buy a different authoring package.


Rgds:-Cinders

[Arky]

I should make it clear that I have no personal interest in defeating said protection, myself, either (I have no need of this)- I consider this discussion to be of a purely intellectual nature, over and above my fair and reasonable original warning about multiple installations - this warning applies even to fully paid-up, registered users.

It is always nice to know WHAT code is being written, AND where on one's system, since it really is one's RIGHT to know if code is surruptitiously being deliberately hidden, for whatever purpose.


Arky ;o)

[erwan]

give regmon a try from www.sysinternals.com

this way you are able to trace every single registry access made by your application. (use filter on the exe name)

i think i read somewhere that this app is using timelock or some commercial protection alike.
so looking for spruceup entries in the registry would then not be the right way to find how it is protected.

erwan

[rinkel]

Is this fuss all about using Spruce ?? (which is a VERY nice program)

There is a keymaker and works perfectly

But i would have bought the program if it was still there, but it isn't anymore

[erwan]

well, like it was said before,
the purpose is not to crack down spruceup but it is purely recreactional (or intellectual as arky sayd previously).

it is too bad the software is not sold anymore.
it should be abandonware.

erwan

[Arky]

I SAY #AGAIN#:

I AM #NOT# REFERRING TO THE CRACKING OF THIS PROGRAM - READ MY POSTS AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THE ISSUE I AM DISCUSSING AFFECTS #ALL# USERS OF SPRUCEUP, BE THEY REGISTERED OR OTHERWISE, if they choose to reinstall the program more than five times on their harddrive, for whatever reason.


Arky ;o)

[rinkel]

Sorry :(