NI's registration not working again...

[Eric G]

It's about midnight on Friday here in the Central US. I leave Sunday on a one-week business trip, so I'm outfitting my laptop with all my NI stuff, including a few Kompakt-based virtual instruments from a couple developers. With some luck, I'll get some music done in my spare time.

And, as luck would have it, NI's registration server isn't responding. Tomorrow is a full day, with no time to keep checking to see if NI is on its feet again. Most of the software/soundware I have now installed will time-out halfway through my trip.

Somebody tell me, again, how this registration song & dance DOESN'T penalize, inconvenience, and passively harass honest users? I'm not a full-time pro, so I don't stand to lose any money, but regardless, it's wrong that I won't be able to use what I paid for.

I'm sure I'm the ONLY ONE, so pardon my little vent here. I also posted this on...uh....some other forum, but the vent didn't yet feel complete.

--Eric

[dvincent]

Eric,

I whole-heartedly agree! The sad truth to the challenge/response code is that it is one of THE easiest security measure to krack. Keygens to defeat this are freely distibuted and easily obtained through file sharing networks. It allows non-registered users full access to the program and it is more reliable than the registration process that paying customers need to use - especially now that the NI site has been up and down lately. This system DOES penalize honest users and DOES NOT prevent illegal usage of the software!

I have run into registration problems when I upgraded my computer. Some of my RAM "disappeared" for a few days - the product couldn't see it so the registration was invalid. In order to continue the project I was working on I had to re-register as a new system. The problem came a couple days later whe the RAM mysteriously appeared again. Now my original registration was invalid and the software was unusable on my system. NI responded to the problem in about 48 hours and I was able to use the product on my system again.

This brings up a question that has been posed in another thread, but no one has really responded to it. If I bought the product but the security feature isn't working is it illegal to use a "krack" in order to continue using the product until the issue is remedied? We often can't wait 2 days to have a company resolve these issues - the client NEEDS the project completed in 2 days and we need to get it done. :eek:

These registration problems are voiced on all forums that I have visited. It is a relatively common occurance. So to re-iterate what I'm saying here:

The current challenge & response/online registration system doesn't work - please stop using it to protect your software. It is inconvenient to your paying customers and doesn't prevent illegal usage one bit. Please devise a new system which a) is more convenient to your valued paying customer and/or b) actually protects against or is otherwise inconvenient to hackers.

I understand that those who krack are only one step behind the development of these protection methods, but when it is fully kracked there is no more use pretending the security measure is useful.

Derek

[A_Sapp]

NI's registration is crap. You're not alone.

[Veron]

They really shouldn`t have used Flash for
the registration website too. And they should
get a registration dedicated server thats stable,
and also get people that really know how to run it.

This registration system wouldn`t be frustrating
if NI`s registration website was stable....
They really should employ some people that
takes care of the registration website 24hours a day.
Even holidays.
Or they should stop this challenge/respond registration thing.
Because its so unstable and has lots of troubles.
And also so slow for them to fix it.

[midphase]

To me the seamless online authorization is the Spectrasonics one, it seems to work quite well all the time and it's very pain free and do not penalize me for wanting to install it on more than one machine.

I particularly don't understand the logic of NI in not allowing me to ever again re-authorize a machine which had previously been de-authorized.

Unfortunately, for paranoid developers the best protection to implement is USB dongles. Everyone hates dongles because if they get damaged or lost (or stolen) there is no recourse.

There is no clear answer to the issue of how to stop piracy. Perhaps the best weapon yet is the Group Sale!

[Edward]

I know that NI has been expanding their offices and were having some downtime with the authorization system. You can actually call their offices at 323-467-5260 and get authorization over the phone M-F. Just select technical support - registration support...They actually pick up the phone pretty quick. It may not be a perfect system but it sure beats a dongle! ;)

Cheers!

[Daryl]

I particularly don't understand the logic of NI in not allowing me to ever again re-authorize a machine which had previously been de-authorized.


I had no idea that this was the case. Another reason not to buy methinks......

D

[Veron]

I particularly don't understand the logic of NI in not allowing me to ever again re-authorize a machine which had previously been de-authorized.


I really agree with you too.
I can`t understand this too. We bought the product by
paying hundreds of dollars, and get this kind of limitation...
I can understand about only allowing one or two authorizations
per software. Other softwares are the same too.
But not this. We should be able to re-authorize our
pervious machine`s too. All we have to do is
disable the one we were using...


You can actually call their offices at 323-467-5260 and get authorization over the phone M-F. Just select technical support - registration support...They actually pick up the phone pretty quick. It may not be a perfect system but it sure beats a dongle! ;)
Cheers!
International calls cost much.. Or is it toll free..
And yeah its better then dongles hanging from your USB port,
but that is only if there not much trouble with the
NI registration server or webpage.
Phones might be good but it will be also good to
make a dedicated e-mail address for registration troubles,
and answer those emails fast.