Ableton Forum

Hi Abletons.

I don't know if you will read this, but I recently got my computer back from the repair shop, and had to reinstall all my software. Now I need a new unlock key from you guys, because apparantly I ran out!

I've emailed you twice so far, and I'll probably email you again today. In my emails is my current CD key and information. I hope you get this and send me a key.

Unlock it online - you don't need a key for that, you know! Only your Live-serialcode to download the latest upgrade/release, and you wont get that one out of the Abletons for shure - then everybody could get free copies of Live; so do this online - you can't run out of unlock-codes, and if you got a prob on this, just reinst. Live and unlock the new copy as described - i guaratee it works just fine (it does for me, if i have to reinstall, and i did that yesterday - just to try to cause failure on my rig (had some major probs noone of the Abletons understands, so i try to reproduce it)

So, since it works just fine when i'm unlocking now and then, it shouldn't be different in your case, should it..?

Good luck!

Regs,
Jo

Actually, the first thing I did was download the 4.1.1 from the website rather than install it from my CD. Unfortunately, it still said I had to retrieve a new key from Albeton.

Oh well, they emailed me promptly. Thanks Ableton d00dz.

Yeah, you are allowed a certain amount of authorizations. After you reach that number, you have to contact them and explain why you've exceeded your authorizations. Then, they give you a pass. Leastwise, that's how I understand it.

Ok, didn't know that - and i have downloaded and installed from web a lot of times, including beta-testing Live for a while. But then i guess it's a good load of them, the max.numbers, or i would have the same prob myself.. i guess..

Regs,
Jo

rictheobscene wrote:Yeah, you are allowed a certain amount of authorizations. After you reach that number, you have to contact them and explain why you've exceeded your authorizations. Then, they give you a pass. Leastwise, that's how I understand it.

Always wondered about this? I think I reinstalled Live 4 about 5 times on my powerbook while I tested all that optimization nonsense out. I emailed them explaining what I was doing, no reply, but never had any problems. Realize I erased the hard drive twice as well? Lucky I guess? or the computer ID was the same so.....

Well that could be the case, that your machine ID was the same.

I had to reinstall because Apple replaced my Logic board, and I wanted to run on a completely clean system when it returned. I guess maybe my machine ID changed because of the new logic board. Hrm...

I don't know what the Abletons use to compile your machine ID, but I would bet that Mainboard serial number and Mac address are part of it.

I know with WinXP, Microsoft takes a complete hardware footprint of the PC and compiles an ID that is constantly monitored. It has a soft ceiling, meaning that one or two minor upgrades to your hardware won't force you to re-authorize. However, major upgrades will sting you to reauthorize.

As a beta-tester, I have burned through my authorization limit several times over. However, a call to Microsoft gets it reset. They know I am a beta tester, and they ask me the usual compliance questions, but they are very quick to reset my code and hook me up.

I suppose this could annoy some people, but it is just the name of the game we have to play.