Ableton Forum

This is TOTAL CRAP... I have just upgraded my WinXP to SP2, reformated the drive - clean install ofcourse and ....!!!! My registration key for Live 4 doesn't work anymore!!! WHAT THE FU*K - It is still the same bloody laptop - NOTHING changed (hardwarewise)... As I understand, I have only TWO(!) "shots" for Live instalations!!! I do BETA test software for many different software companys (Propellerheads, Native and Steinberg) and therefore I re-format my computer at least once a month. What the insane way of copy protection... GIVE ME a Cubase style DONGLE ANYTIME... VERY, VERY PISSED-OFF!!! Leslie (( ANY SoLUTIONS ABLETON (other than CRACK Key-Gen)???!! Or Should I have my money back...
Kind Regards,
Leslie Szymanski.

Instead of yelling and cursing. Try mailing the Abletons.
What happend to you is normal. your code is based on your hardware and OS. So any changes to these makes your registration code invalid. Supose it wouldn't do that, then everybody could be using Live for free.

on the user manual there's a warning that reformatting HD can change the challenge code of your machine.
This sucks imho, as it more than possible that PC people reformat their HD sometime.
Anyway I would say the ppl working @ ableton are reasonable and you shouldn't have any prob.

I have a habbit of formatting my hard drive time to time and clean-installing Windows XP. It sucks if each time the key changes and I have only two "shots" available. Simply impossible to believe!

I am about to purchase Live 4, but... hm...

That's really very very strange. It's OK if it was related to hardware only, but if re-installation of OS affects the key-code, it's very very inconvenient.

Is it really so?

Reformating the HD more than twice causes the C/R to kick in again? Surely not! That has to be the most ridiculous CP I've ever heard. Ableton must be masochists. Imagine the amount of emails/phonecalls they're going to get each time a legit user wants to re-install Live. No wonder people end up using cracks.

Spectrum wrote:Reformating the HD more than twice causes the C/R to kick in again? Surely not! That has to be the most ridiculous CP I've ever heard. Ableton must be masochists. Imagine the amount of emails/phonecalls they're going to get each time a legit user wants to re-install Live. No wonder people end up using cracks.

Maybe your not used to getting your e-mails answerd.

Spectrum wrote:No wonder people end up using cracks.

I agree. I it widely known in the software industry that of the people who use cracked version, very, very few of them would have bought the product otherwise. Those who form the vast majority of Live's user base will always buy the product.

Therefore the worst forms of copy protection will only every piss-off the people who have paid for the product.

hoffman2k wrote:

Spectrum wrote:Reformating the HD more than twice causes the C/R to kick in again? Surely not! That has to be the most ridiculous CP I've ever heard. Ableton must be masochists. Imagine the amount of emails/phonecalls they're going to get each time a legit user wants to re-install Live. No wonder people end up using cracks.

Maybe your not used to getting your e-mails answerd.

I'm challenging the logic of this CP. It doesn't make sense to me. However quickly Ableton answer emails it still puts people at an inconvenience IMO. There will be a delay before being able to reinstall Live 4. I don't see why, after buying Live 4, I or anyone should need to request permission to reformat a HD more than twice. Which is in effect what this type of CP is requiring us to do.

folks, don't get your painties all in a bunch. they do have the two unlock rule, but the abe's are very understanding. i've gone through a fair share more than two computers since i first purchased live, and i've managed to get live unlocked on each one with very little hassle. a quick message to them and you should be set. i have yet to find find a less complicated cp scheme past a mere serial number than the abe's. i've never been frustrated by it and it's always worked smoothly for me. if you're on the fence about buying live and the cp is the dealbreaker, don't even worry about it, go get live.

k

Not to throw fuel on the fire, but...

Ah, ferget it. I'll throw a bit of fuel on the fire and point out that TolTek has only posted once, and started with a flame. The style sounds like our previous, frequent, "guest" posters.

TolTek, if you're out there reading this and are actually having issues, please do contact the Abletons directly. They are very responsive and quite interested in helping you solve your problems.

That's one of the greatest benefits of actually purchasing your software, without relying on "CRACK Key-Gen)???!!"'s. Part of the agreement when you purchase your software is the software company, if they have any scruples, will actually help you solve issues like this. Ableton has a wonderful reputation to date and no doubt will get your stuff sorted properly.

Give them an email buzz here: [email protected]

If that doesn't work, then try and get your money back if you're truly not satisfied. Otherwise sell the package to someone who's interested in using the application.

Best of luck,
Logicat

logicat2001 wrote:Not to throw fuel on the fire, but...

Ah, ferget it. I'll throw a bit of fuel on the fire and point out that TolTek has only posted once, and started with a flame. The style sounds like our previous, frequent, "guest" posters.

TolTek, if you're out there reading this and are actually having issues, please do contact the Abletons directly. They are very responsive and quite interested in helping you solve your problems.

That's one of the greatest benefits of actually purchasing your software, without relying on "CRACK Key-Gen)???!!"'s. Part of the agreement when you purchase your software is the software company, if they have any scruples, will actually help you solve issues like this. Ableton has a wonderful reputation to date and no doubt will get your stuff sorted properly.

Give them an email buzz here: [email protected]

If that doesn't work, then try and get your money back if you're truly not satisfied. Otherwise sell the package to someone who's interested in using the application.

Best of luck,
Logicat

What makes you think that people who don't like the current CP arrangement are flaming? Or are crack users? It is acceptable to comment on issues we like and don't like about Live. That's what product development is all about - receiving feedback from customers. That's right, I wrote, 'customers'. I'll praise Live when and where it's due but I do agree with TolTek that the current CP arrangement is inconvenient. As for advising any nay-sayers to sell on Live because we don't like the CP well that would be like me responding to you and requesting you remove yourself from this thread because you don't like the subject matter. Not very helpful and very judgemental in fact.

What makes you think that people who don't like the current CP arrangement are flaming? Or are crack users?

Absolutely nothing. TolTek's the one who brought up using a crack as a "solution" to the problem. The only sign that someone's inciting a virtual riot is when they pop up out of the ether and begin a thread by saying:

"This is TOTAL CRAP", "and ....!!!! My registration key for Live 4 doesn't work anymore!!! WHAT THE FU*K", "I have only TWO(!) shots for Live instalations!!!", "What the insane way of copy protection...", "VERY, VERY PISSED-OFF!!!"

For someone who spends a bunch of time using "BETA test software for many different software companys (Propellerheads, Native and Steinberg)", it's a surprising complaint. I too beta test for several companies and do so with full knowledge of what's involved. Whether it's Pace Interlock, dongle based, or online registrations (like NI), it's something we deal with all the time these days, especially if you beta test professional applications for software developers.

It is acceptable to comment on issues we like and don't like about Live. That's what product development is all about - receiving feedback from customers.

I agree with you 100% and personally make sure to always let the company know, especially as a beta tester and customer, exactly what I do not like about their product. However, my first move is always to email the company support desk directly because that's the only place you might find satisfaction. If I don't get any response then perhaps I'll post up to a public forum, which usually only serves to vent one's frustration (also a valid activity) or fan the flames like a run-of-the-mill forum troll (which I don't find very helpful, IMHO). My post was simply a reminder that as a customer TolTek should go right to the source, hence the inclusion of a direct email link to the support desk at Ableton.

If you also find the registration procedure to be a problem, please let the customer desk at Ableton know. You deserve to tell them and they deserve to know what their customers think of the product.

As for advising any nay-sayers to sell on Live because we don't like the CP well that would be like me responding to you and requesting you remove yourself from this thread because you don't like the subject matter.

Again, TolTek suggested that he/she may be so disappointed that they would request their money back. I agreed and stated that they should do exactly that if they weren't completely satisfied. Therefore, if I ended a rant with "I MIGHT FU*King just DELETE this thead G*DDAMN it," why would you be out of line to remind me that it's well within my rights to do exactly that?

Not very helpful and very judgemental in fact.

I'm sorry if you found my post offensive in some way. I was posting in support of all the actions TolTek suggested, but not in support of the inflammatory tone taken by their very first appearance on this forum.

Best regards,
Logicat

a child dies of AIDS every minute.

a vehicle is stolen every twenty seconds.

globally, a woman is raped every 27 seconds.

In the US, A child dies of gunshot wounds every two hours.



it all kind of makes the prospect of bitching about typing less than 30 words in an email to [email protected] trivial... or even selfish - wouldnt you say?

check yourselves.

AdamJay wrote:a child dies of AIDS every minute.

a vehicle is stolen every twenty seconds.

globally, a woman is raped every 27 seconds.

In the US, A child dies of gunshot wounds every two hours.



it all kind of makes the prospect of bitching about typing less than 30 words in an email to [email protected] trivial... or even selfish - wouldnt you say?

check yourselves.

If you had spent 30 words being helpful instead of sarcastic, repeating the advice of previous posts in this thread and trivialising serious issues then I would've taken you seriously.

@logicat2001
I accept your points but I think sometimes people use the forum to vent their frustration over certain issues. It happens in all forums. It's the issue rather than the person that should be addressed IMO. The forum is a place to discuss Live 4.

i was simply drawing a parallel to what some folks consider "inconvenient".
getting shot isn't convenient either.

if i were being sarcastic i would have used a or even a
however, i was being serious - and there is no emoticon for that on this forum.