ID number confusion

[Guest Harold A. Climer]

I have a piece of software that is locked to one

computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

company calls a system ID number

The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

SID according to the company)

or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

 

What is this ID number?

 

1. HDD volume number?

2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

3. Or what else could it be?

Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

 

I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

number for the current SID. What a rip off.

 

I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

paranoid.

Harold A Climer

Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy

U.T, Chattanooga

Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building

615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403

Harold-Cimer@utc.edu

[Guest Twayne]

Re: ID number confusion

 

> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

> computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

> company calls a system ID number

> The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

> SID according to the company)

> or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>

> What is this ID number?

>

> 1. HDD volume number?

> 2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

> 3. Or what else could it be?

> Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

> The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

> drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

>

> I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

> number for the current SID. What a rip off.

>

> I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

> paranoid.

> Harold A Climer

> Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy

> U.T, Chattanooga

> Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building

> 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403

> Harold-Cimer@utc.edu

 

Details are a little vague for a detailed answer, but yes, that is

paranoid, possibly sensibly so however. If the program is necessary to

have and there aren't any alternatives to it, I'd pay the $40 plus use

this as a lesson in computer management: Namely, that software key

codes, usernames, serial codes, etc., need to be recorded and kept in a

safe place. ALL software applications I mean, not just this one. Same

goes for your other account names and passwords, anything you'll need in

the event of a total drive crash or loss of any of the programs or

reinstalls.

BelArc Advisor is a good program for listing most of those; google

for it. Personally I use SIW but that's probably overkill for this use.

 

Also, for any posts on any newsgroup anywhere on the internet, you

should not post personal information such as real names, addresses, and

especially e-mail addresses that are not somehow munged, and only post

an e-mail address when it's absolutely necessary. Same goes for the

e-mail address you have listed in your News Reader setup area:

Technically there is no need for an e-mail address on newsgroups and

your NEWS client will never care. Your MAIL client will, of course. A

handy non-existant address is Invalid@invalid.inv.

The problem is spam. Robots will scrape your e-mail address and add

you to spam lists all over the world, and every post you make is copied

and saved in tens of repositories around the world.

The other problem is identity theft. It just makes a thief's job that

much easier when you supply all that information.

Remember, anything you post is recorded for all the world to see. Try

a search on Google for any of the identiying terms you posed in your

address; you'll find this and other posts you've used it on. Not

emails, just posts. Posts are public. If this is the first time you've

done that, it may take a few days to show up. Change your methods and

soon the info will become buried in the archives of posts and not be so

easily noticed by nefarious types.

Also, this is not literally MIcrosoft here. That's just the name of

the group. It's still public. But even private newsgroups get

categorized and saved.

 

HTH

 

Twayne

[Guest Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Re: ID number confusion

 

Harold A. Climer <Harold-Climer@utc.edu> wrote:

> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

> computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

> company calls a system ID number

> The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

> SID according to the company)

> or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>

> What is this ID number?

>

> 1. HDD volume number?

> 2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

> 3. Or what else could it be?

 

SID = security identifier. See

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_Identifier

> Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

 

Nope, although you might be able to find some other way to fool their

software in the registry (I don't know how, but that doesn't mean it can't

be done).

>

> The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

> drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

 

When you did that, *everything* got a different SID.

>

> I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

> number for the current SID. What a rip off.

 

I'd call them up and complain, honestly. You should be able to reinstall

your operating system and use your software even if you have to somehow

"reactivate" it.

>

> I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

> paranoid.

 

It's also unrealistic of them, if they truly are using your user SID.

> Harold A Climer

> Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy

> U.T, Chattanooga

> Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building

> 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403

> Harold-Cimer@utc.edu

[Guest Gregg]

Re: ID number confusion

 

Harold, a lot of applications these days register themselves by using the

serial number of the software and matching that number to a number that is

unique to your computer hardware. If you make any hardware changes to your

computer it can change the number and the application won't work. The

software company should work with you on this one and be able to un-register

the old code and set up a new one. That way they can guarantee the software

is only running on one system. You would need to do the same thing if you

were upgrading to a new computer and getting rid of the old one.

 

 

"Harold A. Climer" <Harold-Climer@utc.edu> wrote in message

news:a1tkc4tmqocpb8fq2umm6locglpqkf2sm7@4ax.com...

> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

> computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

> company calls a system ID number

> The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

> SID according to the company)

> or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>

> What is this ID number?

>

> 1. HDD volume number?

> 2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

> 3. Or what else could it be?

> Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

> The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

> drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

>

> I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

> number for the current SID. What a rip off.

>

> I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

> paranoid.

> Harold A Climer

> Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy

> U.T, Chattanooga

> Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building

> 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403

> Harold-Cimer@utc.edu

[Guest Harold A. Climer]

Re: ID number confusion

 

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:29:31 -0400, "Twayne"

<nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:

>> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

>> computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

>> company calls a system ID number

>> The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

>> SID according to the company)

>> or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>>

>> What is this ID number?

>>

>> 1. HDD volume number?

>> 2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

>> 3. Or what else could it be?

>> Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

>> The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

>> drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

>>

>> I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

>> number for the current SID. What a rip off.

>>

>> I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

>> paranoid.

>> Harold A Climer

>> Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy

>> U.T, Chattanooga

>> Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building

>> 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403

>> Harold-Cimer@utc.edu

>

>Details are a little vague for a detailed answer, but yes, that is

>paranoid, possibly sensibly so however. If the program is necessary to

>have and there aren't any alternatives to it, I'd pay the $40 plus use

>this as a lesson in computer management: Namely, that software key

>codes, usernames, serial codes, etc., need to be recorded and kept in a

>safe place. ALL software applications I mean, not just this one. Same

>goes for your other account names and passwords, anything you'll need in

>the event of a total drive crash or loss of any of the programs or

>reinstalls.

> BelArc Advisor is a good program for listing most of those; google

>for it. Personally I use SIW but that's probably overkill for this use.

>

>Also, for any posts on any newsgroup anywhere on the internet, you

>should not post personal information such as real names, addresses, and

>especially e-mail addresses that are not somehow munged, and only post

>an e-mail address when it's absolutely necessary. Same goes for the

>e-mail address you have listed in your News Reader setup area:

>Technically there is no need for an e-mail address on newsgroups and

>your NEWS client will never care. Your MAIL client will, of course. A

>handy non-existant address is Invalid@invalid.inv.

> The problem is spam. Robots will scrape your e-mail address and add

>you to spam lists all over the world, and every post you make is copied

>and saved in tens of repositories around the world.

> The other problem is identity theft. It just makes a thief's job that

>much easier when you supply all that information.

> Remember, anything you post is recorded for all the world to see. Try

>a search on Google for any of the identiying terms you posed in your

>address; you'll find this and other posts you've used it on. Not

>emails, just posts. Posts are public. If this is the first time you've

>done that, it may take a few days to show up. Change your methods and

>soon the info will become buried in the archives of posts and not be so

>easily noticed by nefarious types.

> Also, this is not literally MIcrosoft here. That's just the name of

>the group. It's still public. But even private newsgroups get

>categorized and saved.

>

>HTH

>

>Twayne

>

 

 

I think you are missing the point I am making.

I have all the serial numbers etc for all my software and

hardware. I make a hard copy of this information for everything I

purchase, as well as stroring this information in a Word or text file

on another computer and CD.

I learned about doing this the hard way many years ago.

I have all this information for this software. The only thing I did,

was to re-format my drive and re-install the OS software

[Guest Bob I]

Re: ID number confusion

 

 

 

Harold A. Climer wrote:

> On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:29:31 -0400, "Twayne"

> <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:

>

>

>>> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

>>>computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

>>>company calls a system ID number

>>>The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

>>>SID according to the company)

>>>or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>>>

>>>What is this ID number?

>>>

>>>1. HDD volume number?

>>>2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

>>>3. Or what else could it be?

>>>Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

>>>The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

>>>drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

>>>

>>>I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

>>>number for the current SID. What a rip off.

>>>

>>>I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

>>>paranoid.

>>>Harold A Climer

>>>Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy

>>>U.T, Chattanooga

>>>Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building

>>>615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403

>>>Harold-Cimer@utc.edu

>>

>>Details are a little vague for a detailed answer, but yes, that is

>>paranoid, possibly sensibly so however. If the program is necessary to

>>have and there aren't any alternatives to it, I'd pay the $40 plus use

>>this as a lesson in computer management: Namely, that software key

>>codes, usernames, serial codes, etc., need to be recorded and kept in a

>>safe place. ALL software applications I mean, not just this one. Same

>>goes for your other account names and passwords, anything you'll need in

>>the event of a total drive crash or loss of any of the programs or

>>reinstalls.

>> BelArc Advisor is a good program for listing most of those; google

>>for it. Personally I use SIW but that's probably overkill for this use.

>>

>>Also, for any posts on any newsgroup anywhere on the internet, you

>>should not post personal information such as real names, addresses, and

>>especially e-mail addresses that are not somehow munged, and only post

>>an e-mail address when it's absolutely necessary. Same goes for the

>>e-mail address you have listed in your News Reader setup area:

>>Technically there is no need for an e-mail address on newsgroups and

>>your NEWS client will never care. Your MAIL client will, of course. A

>>handy non-existant address is Invalid@invalid.inv.

>> The problem is spam. Robots will scrape your e-mail address and add

>>you to spam lists all over the world, and every post you make is copied

>>and saved in tens of repositories around the world.

>> The other problem is identity theft. It just makes a thief's job that

>>much easier when you supply all that information.

>> Remember, anything you post is recorded for all the world to see. Try

>>a search on Google for any of the identiying terms you posed in your

>>address; you'll find this and other posts you've used it on. Not

>>emails, just posts. Posts are public. If this is the first time you've

>>done that, it may take a few days to show up. Change your methods and

>>soon the info will become buried in the archives of posts and not be so

>>easily noticed by nefarious types.

>> Also, this is not literally MIcrosoft here. That's just the name of

>>the group. It's still public. But even private newsgroups get

>>categorized and saved.

>>

>>HTH

>>

>>Twayne

>>

>

>

>

> I think you are missing the point I am making.

> I have all the serial numbers etc for all my software and

> hardware. I make a hard copy of this information for everything I

> purchase, as well as stroring this information in a Word or text file

> on another computer and CD.

> I learned about doing this the hard way many years ago.

> I have all this information for this software. The only thing I did,

> was to re-format my drive and re-install the OS software

 

Perhaps ask the company how THEY generate the SID that they use. We have

no way of knowing. But I'll bet they don't tell you either.

[Guest Big_Al]

Re: ID number confusion

 

Bob I wrote:

>

>

> Harold A. Climer wrote:

>

>> On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:29:31 -0400, "Twayne"

>> <nobody@devnull.spamcop.net> wrote:

>>

>>

>>>> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

>>>> computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

>>>> company calls a system ID number

>>>> The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

>>>> SID according to the company)

>>>> or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>>>>

>>>> What is this ID number?

>>>>

>>>> 1. HDD volume number?

>>>> 2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

>>>> 3. Or what else could it be?

>>>> Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

>>>> The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

>>>> drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

>>>>

>>>> I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

>>>> number for the current SID. What a rip off.

>>>>

>>>> I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

>>>> paranoid.

>>>> Harold A Climer

>>>> Dept. Of Physics Geology, and Astronomy

>>>> U.T, Chattanooga

>>>> Rm. 406A Engineering, Math & Computer Science Building

>>>> 615 McCallie Ave. Chattanooga TN 37403

>>>> Harold-Cimer@utc.edu

>>>

>>> Details are a little vague for a detailed answer, but yes, that is

>>> paranoid, possibly sensibly so however. If the program is necessary

>>> to have and there aren't any alternatives to it, I'd pay the $40 plus

>>> use this as a lesson in computer management: Namely, that software

>>> key codes, usernames, serial codes, etc., need to be recorded and

>>> kept in a safe place. ALL software applications I mean, not just

>>> this one. Same goes for your other account names and passwords,

>>> anything you'll need in the event of a total drive crash or loss of

>>> any of the programs or reinstalls.

>>> BelArc Advisor is a good program for listing most of those; google

>>> for it. Personally I use SIW but that's probably overkill for this use.

>>>

>>> Also, for any posts on any newsgroup anywhere on the internet, you

>>> should not post personal information such as real names, addresses,

>>> and especially e-mail addresses that are not somehow munged, and only

>>> post an e-mail address when it's absolutely necessary. Same goes for

>>> the e-mail address you have listed in your News Reader setup area:

>>> Technically there is no need for an e-mail address on newsgroups and

>>> your NEWS client will never care. Your MAIL client will, of course.

>>> A handy non-existant address is Invalid@invalid.inv.

>>> The problem is spam. Robots will scrape your e-mail address and add

>>> you to spam lists all over the world, and every post you make is

>>> copied and saved in tens of repositories around the world.

>>> The other problem is identity theft. It just makes a thief's job

>>> that much easier when you supply all that information.

>>> Remember, anything you post is recorded for all the world to see.

>>> Try a search on Google for any of the identiying terms you posed in

>>> your address; you'll find this and other posts you've used it on.

>>> Not emails, just posts. Posts are public. If this is the first time

>>> you've done that, it may take a few days to show up. Change your

>>> methods and soon the info will become buried in the archives of posts

>>> and not be so easily noticed by nefarious types.

>>> Also, this is not literally MIcrosoft here. That's just the name of

>>> the group. It's still public. But even private newsgroups get

>>> categorized and saved.

>>>

>>> HTH

>>>

>>> Twayne

>>

>>

>>

>> I think you are missing the point I am making. I have all the

>> serial numbers etc for all my software and

>> hardware. I make a hard copy of this information for everything I

>> purchase, as well as stroring this information in a Word or text file

>> on another computer and CD.

>> I learned about doing this the hard way many years ago.

>> I have all this information for this software. The only thing I did,

>> was to re-format my drive and re-install the OS software

>

> Perhaps ask the company how THEY generate the SID that they use. We have

> no way of knowing. But I'll bet they don't tell you either.

>

 

I agree with Bob. I just retired but the company I wrote an

application for had a licensing program that extracted info from the

system to produce a system ID. I won't say its the same as your issue

but if our clients would reformat the HD or move the directory or rename

the PC, any of a long laundry list of things, it would blow up the

license. Pirates and all, you know. However if they are a valid

client we would freely re-license the product. I would think you

should try calling the company. There has to be some allowance for a HD

failure and reload or whatever you did. And I would find out from them

too what and how you broke it so you know not to do it again.

[Guest Bruce Chambers]

Re: ID number confusion

 

Harold A. Climer wrote:

> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

> computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

> company calls a system ID number

> The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

> SID according to the company)

> or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>

> What is this ID number?

>

> 1. HDD volume number?

> 2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

> 3. Or what else could it be?

 

 

It's an arbitrary (to everyone but the software developers) number

generated/assigned by the software installation routine during the

installation process. Ask the software vendor, if you're interested in

the precise mechanism.

 

> Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

 

 

You'd need to direct this question to that software vendor or

application's technical support folks. We've know way of telling,

primarily because you've very carefully kept the identity of this

software a secret.

 

> The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

> drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

>

 

 

And then you presumably reinstalled the application in question? Did

you expect this inanimate piece of software to somehow understand that

it was just being reinstalled onto the original machine, and not that

the fresh install doesn't necessarily mean it's being installed on a new

(or even second) computer? If so, precisely how?

 

> I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

> number for the current SID. What a rip off.

>

 

 

Have you expressed your displeasure to the software vendor, and then

taken your business elsewhere, preferably to a competitor?

 

> I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

> paranoid.

 

 

It is quite a stringent (but also quite common) method, although

there's usually no charge for a new registration, unless there was a

specific contract/support time span mentioned in the original purchase.

 

 

 

--

 

Bruce Chambers

 

Help us help you:

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killed a great many philosophers.

~ Denis Diderot

[Guest Harold A. Climer]

Re: ID number confusion

 

On Fri, 12 Sep 2008 11:20:36 -0600, Bruce Chambers

<bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote:

>Harold A. Climer wrote:

>> I have a piece of software that is locked to one

>> computer by a serial number, an activation code and what the software

>> company calls a system ID number

>> The format of this ID number is as follows: 09369D 30A3E8 ( my current

>> SID according to the company)

>> or 402919 226F85 (The SID the company says the software is locked to)

>>

>> What is this ID number?

>>

>> 1. HDD volume number?

>> 2. HDD serial number(Factory number)?

>> 3. Or what else could it be?

>

>

> It's an arbitrary (to everyone but the software developers) number

>generated/assigned by the software installation routine during the

>installation process. Ask the software vendor, if you're interested in

>the precise mechanism.

>

>

>> Is it possible to change the newest ID number back to the old one?

>

>

> You'd need to direct this question to that software vendor or

>application's technical support folks. We've know way of telling,

>primarily because you've very carefully kept the identity of this

>software a secret.

>

>

>> The only thing that has happened is that I had to re-format my hard

>> drive and re-install the OS. (Media Center XP 2005) and XP SP3

>>

>

>

> And then you presumably reinstalled the application in question? Did

>you expect this inanimate piece of software to somehow understand that

>it was just being reinstalled onto the original machine, and not that

>the fresh install doesn't necessarily mean it's being installed on a new

>(or even second) computer? If so, precisely how?

>

>

>> I really quick solution would be to pay $40..00 again for a new serial

>> number for the current SID. What a rip off.

>>

>

>

> Have you expressed your displeasure to the software vendor, and then

>taken your business elsewhere, preferably to a competitor?

>

>

>> I know companies are worried about software piracy, but this is

>> paranoid.

>

>

> It is quite a stringent (but also quite common) method, although

>there's usually no charge for a new registration, unless there was a

>specific contract/support time span mentioned in the original purchase.

 

 

I will gladly tell you. It is ALMUSICconverter and the web page is

ALLMUSICconverter.com

I have written to their support people but they say it should work,

but it doesn't.

This is the third time I have had problems with the installation

process of their software.

I bought it last fall. The first time I tried downloading the

software I got a corrupted file. Must have been something wrong on

their end because I tried a day or two later and finally got a good

download.

In March I started getting error messages from the program.

( No I do not remember what they were) I tried to re-install it and

had the scenario I mentioned in the preceding posts.

Finally a week ago or so I deciced to re-format my hard drive and

re-install the OS. (other programs were getting flaky and slow)

Then had the same problem re-iatalling ALMUSICconverter, again!

What is funny is that ALMUSICconverter was working fine before

the re-format.

I feel like pulling my hair out, but I do not have that

much to spare.

 

Thanks for all the advice.

 

BTW I saw no phone number or address on the ALMUSICconverter.com Web

page.

Harold A. Climer

Dept Of Physics Geology & Astronomy

U.T. Chattanooga

Room 406A Engineering,Math & Computer Sicence Building

615 McCallie Ave.

Chattanooga TN 37403

Harold-Climer@utc.edu