Implementing a 'Trial Period'

[TedCarron]

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

[LacrosseB0ss]

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