Sonic Foundry give me a unlock code that works properly!

wvg wrote on 10/31/2001, 8:48 AM
Certainly somebody at Sonic Foundry has seen my numerous posts on the registration problems I've had. I keep being told every time I call it will be passed to some tech who will provide an answer.

I'M STILL WAITING.

I've been waiting nearly a whole year.

How many unlock codes are you going to send me? So far you sent over a dozen. This is the third round of my suffering through this nonsense. Originally it took me over half a dozen unlock codes for version one to finally get one that worked for everything. Installing version two I went throught the same hell.

Now here I am again, going through the same crap and all I did is upgrade my OS from WIN98 SE to XP Pro and your software is so dumb the previous unlock now won't work again.

Use all the space you need to explain why upgrading a operating system should cause a previously registered product with properly working unlock codes to now fail.

This is NOT a end user problem and you know it.

The question is WHEN is someone at Sonic Foundry that knows what they're doing going to solve this problem?

So far another half a dozen unlock codes and either they don't work at all or they prevent the cookie cutter plug-in from working.

Explain to me why I should go on suffering with this problem.

EXTREMELY UNHAPPY CUSTOMER!



Comments

mike10670 wrote on 11/2/2001, 12:40 AM
Perhaps deja.com would have a hack that would work for you? I purchase SF software because it is superb and I use it daily, and the unlocking process really is no big deal if you learn the right trick.
wvg wrote on 11/2/2001, 8:13 AM
That's the whole point of my rants. I should not need to resort to some "hack", I paid for the software, why the heck don't the stupid unlock function work as it should?

I know already, most people don't have any problem, so why am I? Trick? What trick? I paste in the unlock code Sonic Foundy gives me and the damn thing fails!

THAT'S ABOUT AS STUPID AS YOU CAN GET. The unlock schme is broken and apparently Sonic Foundry don't give a damn because only a few people experience it. So I'll keep reminding them they screwed up.
Former user wrote on 11/2/2001, 10:39 AM
I appreciate the fact that you shouldn't have to use a hack and the Registration should work.

But it would be interesting to find out if a hack fixes your problem ( I don't condone or encourage illegal hacking). If it doesn't then you know that something other than the registration problem is involved.

Since the registration is apparently based on a Serial No. plus a random generated number, I wonder if somehow between the time you generate the random number for the additional registry number, if your computer is actually changing the original random seed number. In other words, do you have some device that is constantly changing the status of equipment on your computer.

Just thinking out loud in hopes of providing some help. Again, I hate it that you are having so many problems and wish you the best.
Ted_H wrote on 11/2/2001, 3:11 PM
As long as the computer ID that you give us is the computer ID that is currently displayed in the application, then the activation code will work. I have generated thousands of activation codes, and the only time the codes do not work is when the computer ID is either incorrect or not the current ID number. I can certainly understand your frustration, but these forums are not the place to go if you're having problems. We visit these forums as often as possible, but phone calls and e-mails are top priority. If you could call 1-800-577-6642, we could get you up and running in less than five minutes. Please be at the computer when you call so you can give us the current computer ID.

Ted
wvg wrote on 11/2/2001, 3:18 PM
If someone has a hack, then I'll be happy to try it since none of the certified unlock codes from Sonic work.

I have nothing on my system that would change the computer ID number which according to Sonic is what the random number is based on.

What I find ludicrous it ALWAYS has been a three stage hurdle to get over.

a. the first time I apply a series of unlock codes given to me none work. Makes no difference what method I use to get the unlock code, the first couple NEVER work.

b. I finally get one that allows use of the MPEG plug-in but not the cookie cutter plug-in.

c. Finally after trying several more unlock codes one at last allows use of the cookie cutter as well.

I suspect in frustration, Sonic finally gives me some "master" unlock code or whoever is generating the unlock codes don't know what he's doing and through dumb luck finally does it right.

Right now I'm stuck on b. This has happen to me on three seperate occasions.

What gets me is some have suggested it must be me. If it is something I'm doing, then explain how simply pasting in the unlock code on the registration screen, or applying the registry patch could possibly mess it up. It is either a vaid code or it isn't. Which brings us back to square one. From my perspective the Sonic Foundry registration scheme is the dumbest piece of crap I've ever seen in over twenty years of using PC software. I doubt anyone suffering like I have would think otherwise.
FrankM wrote on 11/3/2001, 10:14 AM
Dear Tech Support,

Please solve WVG's problem.

I am one of many users who rely on his detailed specific advice on how to make best use of VF. I'd sure hate to see WVG give up on VF and quit posting his comments.

For all practical purposes, he is helping you folks write your program's manual.
mike10670 wrote on 11/3/2001, 11:01 AM
It is my understanding that you may need to re-enter a NEW reg code if something changes on your machine.

Personally, once I enter a working reg code, I immediately delete it and all emails assosiated with it, as that code will never work again.

When you re-install or whatever, use the registration method which states that you do not have an Internet connection, and that you want to register from another machine. You will get a newly generated code that you must email to a bot. Then you will get a reply email with the new code in it.

After you enter that code, and the software is registered, delete it. It will never work again.

SF uses these dynamic keys to register their software. The keys are built from several factors in your PC. It helps them track who is registering their software. It is not bullet proof, but it keeps people who are mildly honest from just installing and using the software without paying for it.

Hope this helps a little. I would like to see this forum get back to what it does best. Lately it has become a soap box. :-)
wvg wrote on 11/3/2001, 4:56 PM
Ted from Sonic said:

"As long as the computer ID that you give us is the computer ID that is currently displayed in the application, then the activation code will work."

Let me correct your statement. It is suppose to work, my long painful experience trying to get it to work proves it fails and fails constantly. Why else would I have a handful of totally useless activation codes that have failed to unlock your software?

The problem as I see it, is Sonic Foundry refuses to publicly admit their activation scheme is flawed and fails and fails repeatedly to work for EVERYONE. Thankfully it works for nearly everyone, but that is no comfort to those that can't get it to work and have spend way too much time trying one useless activation code after another only to give up in frustration.

The so-called Computer ID number, mine is 1RK62PF-24 shows up every single time I try to register or when simply clicking on help, about Video Factory, same number. It never changes, I can't alter it in any way, so to suggest there is human error on my part, frankly I find insulting.

What does happen is this useless scheme can't/don't/ won't properly read the Registry key the activiation scheme itself generates. That's sloppy programming and YOU KNOW IT Ted. The reason is simple and being an experience programmer myself I'll tell you why the activation scheme is faulty.

According to everyone I spoke to at Sonic Foundry there is but ONE activation code for the MPEG plug-in. Presently as in the past failures, after many failed attempts to get a working activation code I at long last got another one that allows the MPEG plug-in to function. However trying to use the cookie cutter which is another plug-in asking me to register it constantly fails time after time bringing up the registration dialog box all over again, AFTER I entered an apparently valid activation code the program otherwise accepts! That suggests either Video Factory is looking for another number to type in somehwre or the one given is ignored by the cookie-cutter function. I know, it makes no sense to me either.

Perhaps that is the failure. Is it necessary to also register the cookie cutter seperately? I have heard no one in this forum say so and when I ask people at Sonic Foundy the typical response is silence. If people in customer service or tech support don't have an answer for such a basic question what does that say for the level of support offered? Does Sonic Foundry know what its own software requires? I am starting to wonder.

What I have is a large collection of useless activation codes that either fail totally or accept that I've registered and now allows me to drag a MEPG to the timeline and save a file as a MPEG yet still refuse to allow me to use the cookie cutten plug-in that according to everyone I talked to at Sonic Foundry says should be activiated by the very same activation code.

Five minutes? The fact is I have called and written countless times. I am not getting any help to resolve this. I keep getting new activation codes. Try this one. It don't work? Well try this one, No? Then try still another one and on and on it goes and so it has gone for nearly a year! THAT is ridiculous!

As far as the computer ID, I can only give the ID number your software reads and displays on screen. If it reads it incorrectly or does something with it that causes failure that failure squarely rests with Sonic Foundry to resolve. To date it remains unresolved and because of it I have a crippled install again, preventing me for the third time in about a year to be able to FULLY use the software I paid for.

I know Sonic Foundy don't like me bringing this up in the forum. It makes Sonic Foundry look bad. It sure does. So when do you think someone will resolve it?