473,766 Members | 2,172 Online
Bytes | Software Development & Data Engineering Community
+ Post

Home Posts Topics Members FAQ

Implementing a 'Trial Period'

1 New Member
I am coming to the point where I am thinking about putting my software on download sites in an attempt to sell it via the familiar 30 day free trial period method.

I guess this involves storing the installation date on the target machine either in the registry or in a small file somewhere.

I wondered if anyone out there has any experiences they would like to share on this subject or any suggestions or comments they think I would find useful.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Ted
May 28 '07 #1
1 2471
LacrosseB0ss
113 New Member
Personally, I would stay away from "a small file somewhere". While it seems like a good idea, the potential is there for it to be found and deleted. If this happens once, you give your user the software for free for eternity.

A registry key works. What we've done in the past is used a dll file. I can't tell you how to do that, I'm just the developer guy but a dll will show the date the software demo was installed and once it hits Day 30, tough monkey quank for the user!

dlls and registry keys are the best options as most users don't know how to find these or play with them.

Hope this helps
- LB

I am coming to the point where I am thinking about putting my software on download sites in an attempt to sell it via the familiar 30 day free trial period method.

I guess this involves storing the installation date on the target machine either in the registry or in a small file somewhere.

I wondered if anyone out there has any experiences they would like to share on this subject or any suggestions or comments they think I would find useful.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Ted
May 28 '07 #2

Sign in to post your reply or Sign up for a free account.

Similar topics

1
362
by: Ant | last post by:
I installed the software and activated the 60 day free trail period for Visual Studio .NET yesterday. After completing the registration process for the product, yesterday, I received a popup message that said that I have 18 days remaining on the 60 day free trial period. Time flys but is there any way I can get the full 60 days?
1
1698
by: Stef Roes | last post by:
Hey, I'm a student from Belgium, and on my stage we have to work with SQL Reporting Services. One of the requirements is Visual Studio .net. So we ordered the trail version a week ago and installed it on our computers (2). Then we found out that Reporting Services didn't work on our OS. So we installed it on a Windows 2003 server. One day later the guys from the IT called our server back because they gave us the wrong laptop, the one we...
19
10297
by: Ken | last post by:
Hi, I need to modify an existing application that's written in C, C++ and Visual C++ so the application can be released as a time limited trial version, also the modifications must prevent the application from being reinstalled on the same computer after the trial period has timed out. Does anyone know of any C/C++ code that I could use directly or modified to do this?
15
3352
by: Rodrigo Ferreira | last post by:
How can i create a trial version for my component? I develop a User control and now i want to create a trial version! Greeting! Rodrigo Ferreira
3
1411
by: Showjumper | last post by:
How does one go about making a custom server control have a trial period after which it expires? I have aserver control that i want sell but would like to have a trial periods for it. Along the same lines, how can i create a licensing scheme, i.e site license so that the control can be used on just one and developer license so it can be used on many sites? I see many commercial controls doing this; i just dont know how to go about it....
5
3046
by: TheNortonZ | last post by:
Are there any preferred methods on : 1. asking a user to register your app 2. giving them the ability to register online and creating a serial number 2. stop the apps usage after a set period of time if they don't register. There used to be an application TrueLockXP that you could add to your application but that application is not longer supported. Does anyone know any other app that can do this or have any guidelines for how to...
1
3404
by: rdemyan via AccessMonster.com | last post by:
I'm trying to implement a licensing scheme. There are three types of licenses: Trial - good for 30 to 60 days Interim - good for 1 year Fully Paid - no expiration Everything is working fine and I've even implemented a registration system where the users can upgrade by just receiving a code from me.
3
6225
by: Paul H | last post by:
A client wants me to develop a db that he will sell on to other people. He wants to allow them to run the database for 30 days then lock them out if they chose not to buy the database. The database will be an MDE file. A typical scenario might be: 1. The user trials the database and inputs some data. 2. The trial period ends and the user is locked out. 3. The user pays us and we send him an unlock code so that he can reopen the...
6
3366
by: William Foster | last post by:
Good evening all, I have written a single file program in Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition that I need to build with a Trial Period. I have built in a simple check the date procedure; but anyone can get around that. Does anyone know how I can write back to the program file so that the software self destructs or becomes unusable after a particular date is reached even if the person sets the date back a month or two? I...
0
9404
by: Hystou | last post by:
Most computers default to English, but sometimes we require a different language, especially when relocating. Forgot to request a specific language before your computer shipped? No problem! You can effortlessly switch the default language on Windows 10 without reinstalling. I'll walk you through it. First, let's disable language synchronization. With a Microsoft account, language settings sync across devices. To prevent any complications,...
0
10168
Oralloy
by: Oralloy | last post by:
Hello folks, I am unable to find appropriate documentation on the type promotion of bit-fields when using the generalised comparison operator "<=>". The problem is that using the GNU compilers, it seems that the internal comparison operator "<=>" tries to promote arguments from unsigned to signed. This is as boiled down as I can make it. Here is my compilation command: g++-12 -std=c++20 -Wnarrowing bit_field.cpp Here is the code in...
0
9838
tracyyun
by: tracyyun | last post by:
Dear forum friends, With the development of smart home technology, a variety of wireless communication protocols have appeared on the market, such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc. Each protocol has its own unique characteristics and advantages, but as a user who is planning to build a smart home system, I am a bit confused by the choice of these technologies. I'm particularly interested in Zigbee because I've heard it does some...
0
8835
agi2029
by: agi2029 | last post by:
Let's talk about the concept of autonomous AI software engineers and no-code agents. These AIs are designed to manage the entire lifecycle of a software development project—planning, coding, testing, and deployment—without human intervention. Imagine an AI that can take a project description, break it down, write the code, debug it, and then launch it, all on its own.... Now, this would greatly impact the work of software developers. The idea...
1
7381
isladogs
by: isladogs | last post by:
The next Access Europe User Group meeting will be on Wednesday 1 May 2024 starting at 18:00 UK time (6PM UTC+1) and finishing by 19:30 (7.30PM). In this session, we are pleased to welcome a new presenter, Adolph Dupré who will be discussing some powerful techniques for using class modules. He will explain when you may want to use classes instead of User Defined Types (UDT). For example, to manage the data in unbound forms. Adolph will...
0
5279
by: TSSRALBI | last post by:
Hello I'm a network technician in training and I need your help. I am currently learning how to create and manage the different types of VPNs and I have a question about LAN-to-LAN VPNs. The last exercise I practiced was to create a LAN-to-LAN VPN between two Pfsense firewalls, by using IPSEC protocols. I succeeded, with both firewalls in the same network. But I'm wondering if it's possible to do the same thing, with 2 Pfsense firewalls...
0
5423
by: adsilva | last post by:
A Windows Forms form does not have the event Unload, like VB6. What one acts like?
1
3929
by: 6302768590 | last post by:
Hai team i want code for transfer the data from one system to another through IP address by using C# our system has to for every 5mins then we have to update the data what the data is updated we have to send another system
3
2806
bsmnconsultancy
by: bsmnconsultancy | last post by:
In today's digital era, a well-designed website is crucial for businesses looking to succeed. Whether you're a small business owner or a large corporation in Toronto, having a strong online presence can significantly impact your brand's success. BSMN Consultancy, a leader in Website Development in Toronto offers valuable insights into creating effective websites that not only look great but also perform exceptionally well. In this comprehensive...

By using Bytes.com and it's services, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

To disable or enable advertisements and analytics tracking please visit the manage ads & tracking page.