This wasn't my experience when installing Vegas + DVD. Although I did register both products online, I don't think I was forced into doing so. When prompted, I entered the serial number supplied in the packaging.

I am under the (perhaps incorrect) impression that only the entry of the serial numbers is required to unlock the software.


Andy

I have two computers not on the internet, and registration is a simple matter of putting in a floppy disc to save a code, putting this in my internet computer and opening it - this automatically connects to the registration site, who auto-send me a registration code by email.

This is saved to the floppy, taken back to the first computer and double clicked to complete the registration. Done. It even works on Sundays.

Maybe this service is temporarily down ....

To reply to DigVid and PeterWright: Both of you are correct, but the system is flawed, IMHO. DVD Architect (unlike Vegas 4.0) requires an activation code . . . you get that by (1) internet, (2) phone or email, or (3) floppy transfer. Problem is, if you don't have access to (1) on the computer with DVD Architect loaded, (2) phone support only works during business hours (I am doing other business then). Unfortunately, (3) the floppy transfer trick is not explained on the phone message system, which incorrectly tells you to get on the web and register and says nothing about the floppy transfer trick.

I am on now . . . if Pinnacle was a wee-bit cheaper I might have bailed out.

Sales tip: If you're gonna require an activation code, make sure you have decent phone support hours.

ALL SoFo products require the secondary registration - including Vegas. On machines without internet access, the floppy option is very simple to use and is explained on the registration screen.

Jetdv: Wrong - Vegas 4.0 does not require an activation code. Issue: phone support hours, phone message incorrect; nothing to do with floppy registration!

David is absolutely correct. I too suffer EVERY time I try to register on a none Internet corrected computer. The floppy method does not always work. At best it works sometimes. The fact that SoFo has no support to register during the weekend via phone is also annoying as is the absurity of requiring seperate registration for the product, then the MPEG encoder, then the surround sound and then the AC3 ALL seperate ... if you are not connected online. True, this nonsense is transparent IF you are online. If you are not, it can be a royal pain in the you know what.

I've run into this problem with DVD-A and with versions three and four of Vegas. Each time I needed to call Customer Support. Multiple unlock codes one time before I finally got one that worked for an early version of Vegas three. This is one problem SoFo ignores and claims only effects "a few people". That may be true, but the question is WHY should it effect anyone? The registration scheme for non connected computers has always been broken and it still hasn't been fixed.

I reported this as "broken" nearly two years ago.

Dave, You're wrong. Vegas 4 DOES require the secondary registration. If you did not have to, I assume you are still running version 4.0 from the CD. Upgrade to 4.0c and you will have to do the internet registration. Buy the download version and you have to do the internet registration. I have done the internet registration on multiple installations of Vegas 4 (multiple licenses as well). ALL download version.

The SoFo 'registration system' on or off the internet is such that I now only upgrade their various products during their business hours.

It is not the best system in the world ... if SoFo should go out of business, software that I've paid for would suddenly become useless should I have to change a hard drive or move it to a faster machine.

Personally I also am worried about the transistion to Sony. My experiences with their tech support have not been positive, although quite amusing.

So, right now I feel that my days using Vegas, DVD/A, Acid Pro and Sound Forge may well be limited, which is certainly a disturbing way to look at software I use to earn a living.

My conversations with paid SoFo tech finds them, in my opinion, more optimistic about their future than I am.

This might be a very good time for SoFo to change their registration system to something more realistic ... Adobe's model for Premier, Photoshop, et al is a good one in that I get to use the software I've paid for no matter what happens to their business in the future.

Richard

I just tried to register my brand new copy of DVDA, version 1c. Neither the application nor the online registration process will accept my serial number. The application says the serial number is invalid. The online registration process indicates either the serial number or user id is invalid. Deleted the value info in the registry per the Q & A and it had no effect.

I had no problem registering Vegas 4. Looks like I have no choice but to wait until tomorrow and call sofo. I guess I'm not the only one with registration problems with DVDA.

I installed and registered Vegas 4.0 and DVD Architect at about 2:30am Pacific Time (about 4:30am at Sonic Foundry HQ). My editing machine was not on the internet at the time. I used a dial up connection on my laptop to get the almost instant emails from Sonic Foundry, dumped the attached .reg file to a floppy, popped it into my edit machine, and was registered.

No problems here. But if you really want to go use Pinnacle or Premiere, go ahead. We could all care less. Just don't blame Sonic Foundry.

Just because YOU didn't have a problem with the stupid registration scheme doesen't mean other far more computer literate people haven't. I've been a user of SoFo products for YEARS and have had REPEATED registration problems. First with Video Factory, then Vegas and lastly with DVD-A.

Three times spanning many months I tried the floppy/email method, each time after hours or on a weekend. Not once did I get an "immediate" response, the fact was I NEVER GOT ANY KIND OF RESPONSE at all. Not even on the following Monday or Tueday. If I didn''t call I still would be waiting for a response.

You claim you got an instant response? Odd, since SoFo doesn't have an automated email system. At least so I was told... twice when I called complaining about the poor customer service.

Why some bonehead (yes you thrillcat) posts stupid, insulting comments like you did without understand the facts suggesting people that have already paid good money should run out and buy a different product only demonstrates what I said is true: YOU'RE A THOUGHTLESS BONEHEAD You made it into my ignore this user file. It should say ignore forum idiots.

By the way, who's fault do you think it is when the registrtation scheme is broken?

Would you be surprised to learn that SoFo ADMITS it is broken and that it has been broken for well over a year? Well duh that also is what I've been told. The fact is it works for maybe 95% of the customers. Apparently the remaining 5% aren't a big enough concern for SoFo to get someone to fix it.

This is strange.

Last Sunday - 8 days ago - I had a problem with DVDA, which necessitated an uninstal and reinstal of DVDA.

The reinstalled program required registering. The computer involved was not on the internet.

I followed the registration procedure as far as "register on another computer" and followed the directions to save an html file onto a floppy.

As directed, I took the floppy to my internet computer and double clicked the html file. This took me directly to SoFo's site, and after a couple of clicks was told that an email containing the registration code had been sent to me.

I opened Outlook Express and there it was - I saved the attached file to the same floppy, took it back to my other PC and about 6 minutes after I started, DVDA was again registered.

As I said, this was on a Sunday morning ... If others are still having problems, I'd like to know where the differences lie.

In case it's relevant:

Non internet computer - XP Pro (SP1) Dual AMD 2000 / 1 gb ram / DVDA 1.0c

Internet PC - XP Pro (SP1) PIII 450 256 MbRam / IE version 6

I'm sorry for my little outburst before. But it really annoys me with the trouble I had with registration when somebody (not you Peter) pretty much says oh it must be you, and if you don't like it go buy something else, don't blame SoFo.

I remember one time vividly when attempting to install Vegas 3 on my upstairs PC which doesn't have Internet access. I tired the floppy/email. Didn't work. I called customer support as I said. They gave me a number over the phone. THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER.
Up and down the stairs several times. Second number; didn't work. Neither did the third. Up and down the stairs over and over. Finally I got a number that took.

Same bullsh.. for DVD-A. I finished a project on my downstairs PC. Transfered to upstairs for the burning to a DVD. This time because I used surround sound I HAD TO REGISTER THAT. I should say I TIRED TO register. Again the same sad story. Again on a weekend. Again absolute zero support from SoFo. On Monday called. Was hung up on because the person wanted to go to lunch. Didn't say she was going to lunch, just left and left me hanging. Sure I was mad, wouldn't you be? Then later that day, got that registration, thought I was done, but no. Again same stupid half ass registration bullsh.. because I used the A3C encoder. Again another call and another stupid registration number.

Because of no Internet access I had to:

register the application
register the MPEG plug-in
register the cookie cutter
register the AC3 encoder
register the surround sound

All seperately. All delayed because nobody home or at least nobody responding from SoFo on a weekend. THIS IS VERY POOR PERFORMANCE and anyone with two or more active brain cells knows it!

Anybody thinks this is an example of good customer service or a working registration scheme raise there hand, otherwise say hell no. Remember this didn't just happen once to me SEVERAL TIMES!

Online reginstration seems to work OK. If you try to register with the other methods you too may find yourself in regintration hell and SoFo apparently still hasn't fixed it.

I hope Sony is smart enough to see it gets fixed.

I wouldn't usually reply to crap like this (you, Billy Boy), but I feel the need to explain.

Do I think the SoFo registration process is the best idea out there? No.
Does it further prevent pirating and sharing software? Yes.
Do I think it's a pain in the ass to register 3 or 4 components of the same software pkg? Yes.
Would I buy Premiere before waiting until a Monday morning? Not on your life, my life, or my grandmother's life.

I was more trying to get the point across to not blame SoFo's registration process when he purchased Premiere and hated it.

And to think, I was considering asking your advice on drive racks/drawers earlier this afternoon. I guess I don't want advice from such a pompous piece of crap.

A note to sonic foundry......

Why in god's name use a activation code??????????
It ONLY hurts honest users! certainly not the people that use it illegally
Since a honest user would never look on: http://www.astalavista.box.sk with search terms "sonic foundry dvd" which results in a simple "Authorisation code" generator.

So whatever code/serial system you guys (or even big fishes like Microsoft) think of,
Its of no use...... If you realy want to protect it, use a dongle.
And then again, even that can be cracked these days.....

Regards,

A HONEST user.

Exactly. Activation schemes are in a word STUPID. Take Microsoft's misadventure with XP. The very day it was released a crude but effective hack was already on a German web site.

I had the opportunity some time back to confront a Microsoft's official spokeperson about their activation scheme in one of the public Microsoft newsgroups.

In a nutshell this middle management mouthpiece finally admitted that Microsoft knew their activation schme for Windows XP presented no real obstacle to technically knowledgeable hackers, the very ones making and distributing pirated copies. Then he admitted the half ass activation scheme was aimed all along squarely at millions of Joe six pack types forcing them to buy a second copy of Windows.

It seems the money grubers at Microsoft were annoyed that millions of Joe six packs were installing Windows from the same disc on their home PC and also on their laptop used to shuffle things back and forth from the office to home and back again. True, a violaton of the license agreement, but for sure somthing that hasn't helped Microsoft already shabby public relations image of an arrogant 500 pound gorilla that does whatever the hell it wants and screw the customer.

Registration, activation or whatever you call it should be a ONE TIME thing that is wholly and totally transparent to the end user. Period.

Having a customer who's already paid for the right to use the application by purchasing a license repeatedly mess with some stupid, excessively long number which can be confused because the "genius" that came up with the schme seems to deliberately mix in zeros and the letter "O" and also a liberal mix of "I" and "L" which can be confused with the number "1" only to get another set of numbers/letters is to say the least annoying. To have to repeat the process multiple times is simple insanity and SoFo is guility of that supidity and there is no excuse for it regardless of SoFo's horrible financial condition which was the original excuse.

Now that Sony has or is about to finalize the purchase I hope all registered users get a key that allows them to use the applications we have paid for and supported SoFo by buying multiple upgrades.

I certainly hope that the mistakes of the past aren't componded by changing registration schemes in such a way that only the latest version of SoFo products can be unlocked foring people to buy version 5 of Vegas for example or be left high and dry. That would leave a very bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

I think the time has come in the states anyways for Congress to take a look a regulating software companies. It is far too easy for the end user to get left high and dry with little or no recourse when these half ass activation schemes are used.

<following NOT SoFo specific>

Imagine a couple three years down the road. You need/want to upgrade your PC or something simpler like your hard drive died. It is far too easy for some software company to simply ignore or to have been bought out by some other company or to have gone out of business or some other reason to longer be able or willing to give the end user another activation code. That would mean you would no longer be able to use expensive software you paid for. That isn't playing fair and its high time the software companies were held responsible. As it is now they get away with bloddy murder dumping buggy software on the public expecting them to beta test it and report bugs.

There should be lemon laws for bad software just like there are for bad cars and other things.

My registration problem was caused by my pilot error. I misread the letter V as a U in the serial number. Once I entered the correct number it worked fine.

Sorry about the delayed post, usually stick to the VV forum.
Anyway BillBoy's last post is spot on. I went to demo VV to some FCP users some time ago on my laptop. See, I said, you can even drop MP3 audio onto the timeline. Ha, great demo, I hadn't registered that component and no internet connection. Very impressive demo.

The really sad thing is I doubt this registration system is even of SoFo's making, they are most likely paying someone else a fee every time its used, bet that helps their bottom line.

As to BillyBoy's comments about uStuff, Bill Gates himself once remarked about the 10s of millions of illegal copies of Win98 running in China: "If they're going to pirate anyones software I'd rather its ours"

The simple fact is NOTHING will stop piracy, I've had illegit copies of Avid DV , Premiere, ULead, Pinnacle, After Effects and Maya. No registration, no dongles required.
The industry as a whole just has to get over it and move on, I do not believe its ever hurt any companies bottom line. Its just a pathetic excuse overpaid management likes to drag out to explain why no one's buying the buggy code.

I have paid SoFo for every byte of their code that I use, it works and works well, I make money out of using it and they'll never make it better if we don't pay for it.

Due to my own promotion of their produucts they have had at least one extra sale, maybe more, I certainly fly their flag at every opportunity. I'd push it a lot harder BUT for this registration process.

Personally I'd be much happier if it was a dongle, at least that way I'd have in my possesion the means to keep the product that I have paid good money for working.

Please!, don't mention "dongles"! I hate dongles! They are more trouble than they're worth, often with many compatibility issues - not good!

Hi Farss...

When you have a chance and if you're in the mood tell us some of the reactions of the FCP users and how they reacted to Vegas.