Stop unnecessary validation requirements

[gcwest]

It was common, in the mid-80s, for software developers to use license mgmt that locked legitimate users from using their software.  It turned out to be a "worst practice".   I've since used hundreds of packages and BackyardEOS is the only one that asks me to re-validate my credentials when I run the program.  I just drove hundreds of miles to a dark site and could not use the product because I could not remember, out of literally hundreds of programs and websites, what my username for BackyardEOS is.  

Hey, I paid for the software and I should be able to use it.  I feel like I should have taken the time to find a cracked serial number, then I could have used the program.

[Jim]

16 minutes ago, gcwest said:

It was common, in the mid-80s, for software developers to use license mgmt that locked legitimate users from using their software.  It turned out to be a "worst practice".   I've since used hundreds of packages and BackyardEOS is the only one that asks me to re-validate my credentials when I run the program.  I just drove hundreds of miles to a dark site and could not use the product because I could not remember, out of literally hundreds of programs and websites, what my username for BackyardEOS is.  

Hey, I paid for the software and I should be able to use it.  I feel like I should have taken the time to find a cracked serial number, then I could have used the program.

 

I don't think you should have to re-validate the software each time you use it, unless it is a trial version.

 

This may indicate there is some other issue, which pop up from time to time as MS make changes to operating systems and security settings. Hopefully Guylain can talk you through the issue and provide a cure.

[s3igell]

@gcwest:

Only users still running the "Trial License" version are required to repeatedly re-validate.  Paid Users are only required to successfully complete the License Key registration once (unless a massive hardware change is indicated by the OS)

Do check to ensure that your installation of BYE reports that it is not still a "Trial License" even if you believe that you have recorded your License Key correctly.  (Never post the Key to the forum).

If you are still required to repeatedly register, then it is likely that some Security Privilege problem or Anti-Virus intervention is possibly at issue. For the former, reinstalling to a different directory is indicated.  For the latter, working through the Anti-Virus software's App Whitelisting process is often required (most frequently reported by Avast users).

 

[astroman133]

As a precaution, I also keep the license info separately from the program on my computer in a secure file to avoid a wasted trip. I use a program called PasswordSafe to keep internet web site usernames and passwords. For O'Telescope I also keep the license key in the entry's Notes section.

PasswordSafe also allows me to have a different, randomly-generated password for every web site. This lessens the chances of  a malicious actor gaining access to my account on multiple web sites.

[admin]

It's not unnecessary validation!

Account information (username/password/software key) are your private data.  There are some software packages out there to keep track of such data, as pointed above. 

Good luck with cracked software, I hope you have a good antivirus software and that you aren't concerned about having your credit card compromised by these low-life jerks (yes jerks, and I'm being modest).

 

[gfunkernator]

I want to add that revalidation for paid users also occurs when running the program from a new/different external IP address.  I'm okay with this btw.

[astroman133]

I have occasionally had to re-validate my Premium license by entering my username, so I know that it still can happen. The last time was with BYE 3.2.X on a desktop computer. The IP address is dynamically assigned, via DHCP, at boot time, and it can change so I don't think that a different IP address was the cause. I assumed that something had changed but I was not sure what. This used to happen with BYE if you changed time zones, but I don't do that anymore, so that was not the cause. Because I live in Arizona, I don't even adjust the system time for Daylight Saving Time.

I agree that driving to a new location, where you are asked to re-validate your license and you don't have the information to do that, is inconvenient. I sympathize with gcwest being frustrated and upset. Fortunately it is easily remedied, now that you know what can happen. Keep the info elsewhere on your computer.

With my desktop PC, I have the browser remember my O'Telescope login information, but with my traveling laptop, I do not. This is a security precaution. With Firefox, even if I do not have an active internet connection, I can find and read the remembered username and password.

However, as I said previously, I have Password Safe installed and I keep the license key AND my login username and password in its vault.

I don't travel to do imaging since I built an observatory, but when I did travel it was often to rural dark sky sites. I carried lots of spare equipment and had everything that I needed to recover from anomalous glitches and failures. That spare equipment included a recently created spare hard drive, a spare USB hub, and several spare cables (including extension cords, USB cables, serial cables, Cat 6, USB Serial adapters, etc), also if I was going to run off of batteries, spare batteries and a spare charger. I also had spare cameras. About the only items that I did not have spares for were the mount and the telescope. More than once that equipment cache saved me from a wasted week while on the road, but it was a bit bulky to transport.

In case you are going to a site that does not have an Internet connection, but you do have cell phone connectivity, I would suggest practicing while at home how to use your cell phone as a WiFi hotspot. That can give you the temporary connectivity that may save your from a wasted trip.