Does your Cookie Cutter plug-in work?

wvg wrote on 11/3/2001, 5:15 PM

Humor me. I'll assume you have successfully registered and that the MPEG plug-in is working properly.

1. Drag any MPG video file to the timeline.
2. Click on the Video FX tab, then select cookie cutter.
3. Drag the Circle Center filter over the MPG on the timeline.
4. Drag the feather slider a little to the right.

Everytime I try, the stupid registration screen pops up. Proving the activation scheme is screwed up.

Here's why:

The fact that you can drag a MPEG to the timeline confirms Video Factory is accepting the activation code. However if trying to use the cookie-cutter it brings up the registration window as it always does for me, it "proves" the activation code failed since it wants you to register all over again.

No, it don't make sense. The activation code should either work or fail. For me, it does both depending on what I'm trying to do. If that isn't stupid software, someone tell me what is.

Anyone else see this?

Comments

Former user wrote on 11/3/2001, 9:17 PM

When I first registered, I entered my code. I then logged online and the computer and some other computer gave their stamp of approval.

This gave me the Editing capability and also activated the cookie cutter (which I have yet to find useful). Then when I went to use the MPEG files, I had to logon again and let the computers discuss the matter. After getting their approval, everything was good to go.

I have done this at least 5 times with no problems. I know you are having some, but mine did go online twice each time to fully register everything.

DaveT2

Chienworks wrote on 11/3/2001, 9:41 PM

There are two different registrations at work here. The cookie cutter is
part of VideoFactory, and is one of the rewards you get for registering
the software.

The MPEG plugin is from Ligos, and has it's own separate registration.

If you use the online registration method, both seem to happen at
once. If you're registering manually, then you will have to register them
independantly. It does seem odd that you have the MPEG plugin and
not the cookie cutter though. Since the cookie cutter is an integral part
of VideoFactory, it's registration comes first.

wvg wrote on 11/3/2001, 10:10 PM

Interesting.

Problem is the computer I have VF installed on is NOT connected to the Internet and so I'm forced to use either 'register with another computer' method or phone and get a code which I then paste in or just use the registry patch they email me.

The frustration comes from calling SF, waiting on hold, running upstairs, trying the unlock code, watch it fail, running downstairs, get another one, run up stairs again, try again, fail again, try again. If that isn't a stupid registration scheme and torture for customers, I don't know what is.

The point isn't if or not the cookie cutter is worth having rather to illustrate to Sonic Foundry how utterly stupid their registration scheme is and THAT IT DOES NOT WORK!

Maybe it simply don't work if the software you're trying to register isn't on a PC connected to the Internet. Again extremely shortsighted of Sonic Foundry.

The key thing to remember is the PC in question has ALWAYS been upstairs, it NEVER has been connected to the Internet and in the last two long torture attempts to finally get everything working I was put through hell trying endless activation codes, asked to unistall and reinsall Video Factory several times and just by dumb luck one activation code finally took.

I say again, doing all that is way beyond what should be expected of any customer. I think people are finally starting to understand that.

Now I'm going to have a stiff drink and go to bed. As I said many times Video Factory is a excellent product. Unfortunately Sonic Foundry insists on using a badly designed activation schme.

Chienworks wrote on 11/3/2001, 11:50 PM

Perhaps it would be worth your while to invest in a phone cord long
enough to reach to your computer upstairs. I'll even buy one for you if
you want.

Former user wrote on 11/4/2001, 9:20 AM

I'll chip in on that too.

I couldn't work on my computer without the Internet connection. It makes troubleshooting, or updating and asking questions so much easier. In fact, I use WinMe which requires that you be hooked up for updates. And as I understand, XP requires a connection as well. But if it works for you, that is what is important. But it could also be why you have these registry problems. I understand their thinking, it definitely makes illegal copies hard if not impossible, and that is a big problem with Video Software. I bet Premiere is one of the most hacked and copied programs there is because it seems that everyone on every video board has access to it.

slr wrote on 11/5/2001, 3:19 AM

I've been thinking about your registration problem a bit and have some thoughts that might lead to a resolution (or I may be completely off base with some assumptions - but read on and let's see what happens).

First, you stated your computer ID never changes. Neither does mine (unless, of course, I modify my system). That's fine.

Next, I believe all activation codes are time-encoded, meaning they are only valid for some limited time. Since I always use internet registration, I've never done an experiment to confirm this. Anyway, if this is the case, then your machine ID + current time = registration key.

Finally, when you enter the key in the program, your machine's current time would be queried to ensure the key is being applied in the proper timeframe.

What I am wondering is if your system may provide a wrong timestamp (even if windows says your time and date are set correctly).

Since I don't know what type of system you are using, do you know if the real-time clock (RTC) AND the BIOS are year-2000 compliant? Keep in mind Windows can correct for RTC Y2K problems at the OS level so your date and time reported in windows looks accurate. In practice, programs can access the RTC's current time in several ways: Directly querying the hardware, using a BIOS call, or using an OS call.

I would suspect a security implementation would avoid an OS call (too easy to bypass) and at least use a BIOS call. If your system is maybe 2 or more years old, OR your manufacturer used an older RTC, calls to the BIOS could report incorrect information to VF's registration program.

One way to check this out is to download this program called viewcmos.exe from http://rampages.onramp.net/~gtbecker/pub/viewcmos.exe. This program will display the time reported by the RTC directly, the BIOS, and the OS. Here's an example of first few lines output on my machine:

ViewCMOS: Version 5.15 Copyright 1991-99 RighTime, Miami. All Rights Reserved.
ViewCMOS: RTC: 0001-11-04 23:37:41 (CMOS RTC hardware clock)
ViewCMOS: BIOS: 2001-11-04 23:37:41 (CMOS RTC hardware clock via the BIOS)
ViewCMOS: DOS: 2001-11-04 23:37:41.46 (Operating system clock)
ViewCMOS: Syntax: ViewCMOS [NoBIOS] [NoDOS] ** Press ESCape to exit. **

(Sorry if this doesn't format well in the forum). As you can see, both BIOS and "DOS" agree on both date and time, but the RTC is reporting the year as 0001. What I would look for is a non-Y2K BIOS that reports the date improperly on the BIOS line of this program.

Another thing to check is that your system’s time is set reasonably accurately. Let's say their system gives a 5-minute window to enter the registration ID correctly, but your system is set 15 minutes fast, then no code would work. You might also check your daylight savings setting in windows.

Anyway, sorry for rambling on so much, but maybe it might help (I do admit its a long shot). Out of curiosity, what model is your system (or motherboard if a homebuilt)?

VF and VV are great programs and I recommend them every chance I get. I don't particularly like the registration approach taken here (and elsewhere), but I haven't had any problems with it at all, so it’s not too big of a deal for me. Hope you get this solved and get back to enjoying the program for what it was intended!

Steve

PS - Tried my cookie cutter as you described and it worked fine...

wvg wrote on 11/5/2001, 9:13 AM

Thanks Steve for those suggestions. My main PC is a home brew with a ASUS A7A266 board. Built it this spring. So I doubt any timing issue.

I either phone for the activation code then immediately start watching for the email (on another PC) or I immediately paste in the number given over the phone. I then try to drag a MPEG to the timeline, then if I get that far I try the cookie cutter. Time span is a couple minutes tops.

The odd thing is sooner or later one activation code finally works. That was my experince last year and this summer when version 2 came out. Now when I upgraded to XP a week ago, back to sqaure one again, needing to try a whole bunch of activation codes, got as far as being able to use MPEG, not the cookie cutter.

Now here's the stupid part. Before you register the product splash page with the copyright starts a countdown in yellow text saying how many days you have left to register. Once it accepts the product activation code, that disappears, as it should, which should mean the cookie cutter (your prize for registering) should work. Mine don't.

The fact that I can drag a MPEG to the timeline and save it as a MPEG confirms that I also applied a valid MPEG plug-in activation code.

What Sonic Foundry refuses to admit is their registration scheme is seriously flawed. The above confirms it. If there is no longer a countdown saying you have so many days to register, the application has accepted the product activiation code and YOU ARE REGISTERED.

Yet as stupid as the schme is, it refuses to allow use of the cookie cutter, which requires registering. So every time I try to use the cookie cutter, it pops up the damn stupid registration screen all over again, which suggests the application has not accepted the product activation code.

So I'm in a damned if you do, damned if you don't situration.

I have proved beyond any doubt that Video Factory is too stupid under certain conditions to read its own registry keys which is the only reason I've been repeatedly suffering this hell.

The only way I get out of this endless loop is applying more and more activation codes and finally in time just by blind luck one takes. Right now, I haven't got that far like I have in the past two instances.

Obviously this makes me mad as hell because I have got zero help from Sonic Foundry and I'm sick and tired of constantly trying more and more activation codes hoping to get one that works fully again.