Ableton Forum

First let me say that ableton support has been really cool about the additional authorizations.

Ableton's authorization is highly unique. I mean that in a bad way. The worst way. Besides IK multimedia, it is the only software that requires challenge/response, limits authorizations, relies on both hardware/software (specific to OS install), and cannot be "deauthorized" by the user.I recently installed win7 and had some mishaps. Had to request authorizations. Installed a new video card and then my system was unbootable. reinstalled windows7 (used the 2nd of the two authorizations). However, with the 2nd authorization it give me live lite EMU edition!!

For comparison, here is the scheme for some other software-
Reaper -Simple serial
Altiverb - Deuthorizable
Toontrack - Specific to hardware no matter how many times you install the os
Native instruments - somehow they must make it specific to hardware or they don't care how many times you authorize on the same hardware.
Pianoteq - same as toontrack, maintains the same hardware ID regardless of when you installed the OS or reinstalled the OS

The fact that you have to "explain" why you need additional authorizations, even though you are reinstalling on the same PC/machine, perfectly within the license agreement, is just WRONG.

sorry for the rant but I really hope ableton changes this scheme someday.

point taken about NI. I never knew that. I'll make sure to save my disks!. Still, if I lose my disks, it's my fault. A PC problem that necessitates a reinstall can sometimes be my fault, and sometimes not. hard drives fail, etc.

it's not dealing with ableton thats the issue, they are really cool about. It's just knowing that I have to explain multiple installs on the same exact hardware. the authorization CAN be improved to be tied strictly to the hardware, rather than the specific OS install, like toontrack and pianoteq.

luckily windows 7 has a nice disk imaging utility and i've now made an image which will hopefully avoid having to request additional authorizations.