30 day trial Licensing

[Bass528]

I downloaded a 30 day trial software and after my 30 days were over I formated and reimaged c drive. To my surprise when I come to install the software again, it tells me my trial is over. This software seems to be leaving its traces somewhere on the drive even after formating and reimaging, I think thats whats happening.
Can someone tell me how is it doing this?


Ty
B

[Bass528]

I think I figured out my own dilema. I took the same .exe file to another machine, and it once again stated that the software was previously installed on this machine, which it wasnt. So now it leads me to believe that you cant use the same .exe file and must redownload it. The liscencing I believe by flexnet is writting something to the .exe file during installation, leaving the exe file useless for future use. Has anyone here had any experience or knowledge on such issue. I would think now the only way to keep reusing the exe file is to store it somewhere not on the same drive as your installation and copy it to the c drive and then unplug your external, leaving a virgin copy of the exe file on your external all the time. Anyone have any input on this? can my theory be right? Has anyone seen anything like this? .

[Book]

Regarding your first post, it appears that it is theoretically possible for a program to write to locations on the disk not meant for general purpose storage. It is possible that these locations are not altered, during and fdisk/format operation, and not during a re-imaging. I, too, was surprised to hear about this, and I haven't had any experience of it yet. Check this thread: Program License File Surviving Format.
To combat this I would suggest that you do a "Secure erase" of your HDD (assuming it is internal) using the tool from this site: Secure Erase. This will zero out any and all user accessible locations on the hard drive including bad sectors and HPO areas. I does this by invoking a built in command to almost all IDE/SATA drives. This is the most thorough cleaning possible.

Another more likely possibility is that the software gathers identifying pieces of data from the computer it's installed on (like, for example, motherboard serial number), and is transmitting them to a central server that controls licenses for users. I know Skype was suspicious of doing that (if you want the full story of how it was discovered, check this: Skype Reads Your BIOS and Motherboard Serial Number) and they later admitted to this action, but said that is was due to a third-party addon, IIRC.
Anyway, that would require an active internet connection, and would be easily to spot, either by cutting off your connection, blocking the program with a firewall, monitoring with a network analyzer etc.

Regarding your second post, this is also theoretically possible but in my opinion unlikely, but still easily verifiable: Create a checksum from the original executable file, install the application, then check the checksum against the file again. Also keep another copy of the original file, in case it does alter it in some way, in a different location (doesn't necessarily have to be an external drive that you disconnect). I haven't seen myself any protection like that, but I remember of at least two applications that were deleting the executable file right after the installation (this was not for protection reasons though, as both software were free. It was probably for convenience for the casual user, but still annoying).

Does the activation process require an internet connection? Let us know how this works out.