Grand Designs 3D - Per user activation!

[Jamman960]

Our DT teacher decided to go out and buy 5 licences for this software and had me install it in the DT lab only to discover that it requires activation by every user which is also locked to the PC's hardware... their only suggestion is to create 1 generic login per pc.

Has anyone else come accross this software and found a work around?

I wish these teachers would evaluate software before purchasing...

[maniac]

I wish these teachers would evaluate software before purchasing...

Precisely the reason ANY I.C.T purchase has to be counter signed by me in this place, stops problems like this occuring. Unfrotunitely not had the oppertunity to use this piece of software, but if they're siming it at schools, then they need to change their activation process by the sounds of it.

Mike.

[eean]

Just a crazy idea:
Activate it to one user. Allow kids to log on as normal. Then use Run As... run it in your special user's context. I thought there was a run as mode that let you do this.
There are a few Run As programs about that will automate this for you and store the password etc.. or a batch file would do the trick. (Runas command)

or
Run it in Terminal services, if you have it setup already

and/or
Tell that company to stop being so bloody stupid and to drag themselves into the real world.

[Jamman960]

Hmm will have to give that one a go.

The activation key and details are held within the HKEY_Current_User part of the registry, storing this within Local_Machine would resolve this issue entirely. I've spoken to the company and they've said they'll look into per machine activation... I won't hold my breath.

The DT teacher has contacted them and requested a refund but they're saying that as all of the licences have been activated they can't provide a refund as per the terms and conditions will have to have a read on monday...

[eean]

If you register it for one user, then export the relevant registry key will it let you import that key for another user? If it does, it would be fairly easy to script the import of a key then running the program.