Ability to purchase without online activation

[InquiringMind]

Having trialed this program, I was looking forward to purchasing a Family Licence but while doing a check on the terms and conditions, I found that online activation would be required.

For me this is a deal-breaker.

Any form of online activation means that the software will become unusable at some point in future, e.g. if (a) developer ceases support (b) developer closes down or (c) developer wants to force an extra-cost upgrade. These issues are covered in greater depth in Shamus Young's Authorization Servers post at https://www.shamusyoung.com/twentysidedtale/?p=1680 . I would also like to offer the tragic case of VideoRedo, whose author passed away, leaving paid users unable to re-activate their software - https://forum.videohelp.com/threads/407142-VideoReDo-owner-passed-away-product-ceased-seeking-alternatives .

Now I do notice on the store page mention of a Corporate version which doesn't require activation and would therefore not be affected by any HDS failure, so is this available to us mere mortals? If so, at what cost? And would this mean the Portable version not requiring activation (meaning it could be used, as any decent utility should be able to, on an offline system)?

[hdsentinel]

Thanks for your message.

No, I can confirm that online activation is NOT strictly required: it is possible to register/activate Hard Disk Sentinel without online connection.
This way it is possible to install/use even on systems which are always offline / has no connection at all.

For this, you can use the e-mail activation method: if you select Help -> Enter registration key option, then (after entering your name and license code) it is possible to create an un-activated file (HDSentinel.HDS). If you send that, I can activate and send back.

After the initial activation, you can also any time backup all settings, statistics, license, etc. by the Configuration -> Update -> Backup configuration function: this saves all settings, statistics, registration and activation details to a single file.
Then after installation of the software later, this file can be load back by Configuration -> Update -> Restore configuration and then the software will be registered, activated immediately (no online activation required). This may be also good if you prefer to keep existing statistics/logs for some drives you want to use after re-install).

So generally you do not need online connection and by the above method you can register/activate and continue using the installed version (and all future versions too because of the license) without problems.


I completely understand your concerns, so I can confirm that

> (a) developer ceases support
> (b) developer closes down
> (c) developer wants to force an extra-cost upgrade.

while these issues may affect other software, none of the above is applicable here. Hard Disk Sentinel is available since 2005 and with exactly the same conditions as now: lifetime license with lifetime free updated + support too. No plans to change this and especially no plan to "force an extra-cost upgrade".
Maybe the upgrade is an exception: if you'd want to _extend_ your license, eg. plan to use on more computers than your original license allows (as Hard Disk Sentinel Pro has single PC license and the Family license you mentioned - which can be used on up to 5 computers at any given time.


> Now I do notice on the store page mention of a Corporate version which doesn't require activation and
> would therefore not be affected by any HDS failure, so is this available to us mere mortals?

Yes of course, this is available for anybody. The Corporate version is available from 10 computers and yes, this included the license information and can be installed with pre-configured too, making deployment easier (usually for company PCs, this is the why the name). The total cost of this smallest package of Hard Disk Sentinel Pro (to be used on up to 10 computers) would be USD $199.50 (or EUR 180) now (+vat if applicable).
Just send an e-mail to info (at) hdsentinel (dot) com if this may be interesting.


> And would this mean the Portable version not requiring activation (meaning it could be used,
> as any decent utility should be able to, on an offline system)?

The Corporate version (as it designed to be INSTALLED, not Portable) is different thing, so it is not applicable when we discuss about Portable version.

But with any license code(s) you may have the Portable version can be also used to diagnose offline systems: you'd only need to register/activate the Portable version only once (by the online activation method or by the e-mail activation method mentioned on the top of the message) - then you can use on ANY computer (running Windows) to diagnose the system, even the system is offline. The only requirement is that the Portable version should be running on one computer at any given time (eg. on a system where the pendrive is connected, which contains Hard Disk Sentinel Pro Portable).

If you'd have a Hard Disk Sentinel Pro Family license, then you can use on up to 5 computers / pendrives (in any combination), for example
- install on 4 computers and use the Portable on 1 pendrive
- install on 3 computers and use the Portable on 2 pendrives
- install on 2 computers and use the Portable on 3 pendrives
and so.

The pages
https://www.hdsentinel.com/hard_disk_sentinel_professional.php
and
https://www.hdsentinel.com/kb/category/9/licensing/how-to-use-hard-disk-sentinel-pro-portable.html
can also give more details.

[InquiringMind]

Thanks for your response.

No, I can confirm that online activation is NOT strictly required: it is possible to register/activate Hard Disk Sentinel without online connection.
This way it is possible to install/use even on systems which are always offline / has no connection at all.

For this, you can use the e-mail activation method...

I did notice this - but while the option is appreciated, it doesn't actually help. It still means I cannot install HDSentinel on a new system without your intervention. Of greater concern, I cannot re-activate on an existing system should your DRM require it (the registration code has to be locked to hardware configuration, meaning that a system change - such as a hard disk swap - would require re-activation, correct?).

> (a) developer ceases support
> (b) developer closes down
> (c) developer wants to force an extra-cost upgrade.

while these issues may affect other software, none of the above is applicable here. Hard Disk Sentinel is available since 2005 and with exactly the same conditions as now: lifetime license with lifetime free updated + support too...

While being around for 20 years is certainly an achievement, what has happened in the past is no guarantee of what may happen in future. There are, sadly, plenty of cases of companies with illustrious histories (see the Shamus Young blog link above) that have since closed down - in many cases due to events out of the control of their management/founders.

Now Shamus Young was looking at games - I would argue that having certainty over the continued functioning of a (potentially) key utility is far more important, so any activation system has to be an absolute no-go.

Yes of course, this is available for anybody. The Corporate version is available from 10 computers and yes, this included the license information and can be installed with pre-configured too, making deployment easier (usually for company PCs, this is the why the name). The total cost of this smallest package of Hard Disk Sentinel Pro (to be used on up to 10 computers) would be USD $199.50 (or EUR 180) now (+vat if applicable).

Thanks for the information - I could possibly have stretched to 2 Family licenses (5 each making 10) but the price you quote is pretty much out of the question for individual users.

But with any license code(s) you may have the Portable version can be also used to diagnose offline systems: you'd only need to register/activate the Portable version only once (by the online activation method or by the e-mail activation method mentioned on the top of the message) - then you can use on ANY computer (running Windows) to diagnose the system, even the system is offline.

So, let me get this straight - in a worst case situation (PC able to boot to Windows, say, but not able to do much else) the Portable version would be unusable since it would require either online activation or an email from yourself first? And if someone wanted to use it to check multiple PCs (which is kind of the main point of a portable version, yes?) then this process would have to be done for each one separately?

I have to say I'm amazed others have not raised the practical problems of this before - but if an activation-free version cannot be offered at a more reasonable price then I will be uninstalling HDS and looking elsewhere. I have dozens of utilities (security, utility, cosmetic) all of which work on a simple license key - and these have kept working even when the authors have (sadly) long gone. I don't intend to risk money on anything I can't be sure of being able to reinstall and use years (or even decades) from now.

[hdsentinel]

> I did notice this - but while the option is appreciated, it doesn't actually help. It still means I cannot
> install HDSentinel on a new system without your intervention.

Sorry, probably I was not 100% clear.
You can ANY TIME re-install HDSentinel on a new system without my intervention.
You only need to register/activate the software only once (by online or by e-mail) and then you can backup the configuration.
Then you can ANY TIME re-install the software (even on a new, different system) and restore the configuration, including the license. As I wrote, then no need to activate again.


> the registration code has to be locked to hardware configuration,
> meaning that a system change - such as a hard disk swap - would require re-activation, correct?

NO. The license is NOT locked to the hardware configuration this way, so you can restore even on a completely different, new system (with completely different motherboard/disk drives etc).


> While being around for 20 years is certainly an achievement, what has happened in the past is no guarantee of what may happen in future.

Yes I know. An exact example is our (previous) financial partner Mycommerce: even if they worked flawlessly for 19 years, suddenly they stopped paying developers (like me and 1000s others) the amount they collected for software licenses. So yes, even if they worked - since months they only steal money. But that's an other story


> Thanks for the information - I could possibly have stretched to 2 Family licenses (5 each making 10)
> but the price you quote is pretty much out of the question for individual users.

Yes, I'm afraid as it requires custom installation package builds, the Corporate version is more expensive (this is why generally used by companies).
Yes, 2x Family licenses are far better option (for less than half).


> So, let me get this straight - in a worst case situation (PC able to boot to Windows, say, but not able to do much else)
> the Portable version would be unusable since it would require either online activation or an email from yourself first?

NO! Sorry, maybe I was not clear again (?)
You only need to register/activate the Portable version ONCE, eg. on a working PC.
Then you can ANY TIME connect to ANY computer (running Windows) and no need to register/activate at all: as I tried to write, it works even on an offline PC. The Portable version does NOT require any later registration/activation - and also (as the license stored on the pendrive) you can backup it completely just to be safe (eg. if the pendrive may be lost/damaged) and re-use without problems, again WITHOUT the need of any kind of activation later.


> And if someone wanted to use it to check multiple PCs (which is kind of the main point of a portable version, yes?)
> then this process would have to be done for each one separately?

Absolutely NO! Sorry if something may suggested that, it is NOT TRUE. Just register/activate only once, on very first startup.


> I have to say I'm amazed others have not raised the practical problems of this before - but if
> an activation-free version cannot be offered at a more reasonable price then
> I will be uninstalling HDS and looking elsewhere.

Sorry, I thought the price is very fair, considering that it grants lifetime use and free updates to all future versions too and (exactly as you can see) generally it is "activation-free" in all aspects, after the very first activation.

To summarize, you can generally backup the details (from both the installed and Portable versions) and can re-use later,
- any time
- and on any PC
without the need of activation again.

[InquiringMind]

You can ANY TIME re-install HDSentinel on a new system without my intervention.
You only need to register/activate the software only once (by online or by e-mail) and then you can backup the configuration.
Then you can ANY TIME re-install the software (even on a new, different system) and restore the configuration, including the license. As I wrote, then no need to activate again.

If your system works this way (and this makes it different from every other online activation system I've come across where the program re-checks its configuration every time to make sure it hasn't been moved to another PC) then it would effectively be DRM-free after the activation.

While this certainly does assuage my concerns it does beg the question - why require activation in the first place? Using a serial number would be just as effective and less work for both yourself and customers.

NO. The license is NOT locked to the hardware configuration this way, so you can restore even on a completely different, new system (with completely different motherboard/disk drives etc).

Then could you please explain the statement on https://www.hdsentinel.com/help/en/28_c_reg.html which states:

"Note: if the user must re-install the operating system, Hard Disk Sentinel can be re-installed and re-activated as many times as the user wants if the first installed hard disk is the same in all cases. If this (first) hard disk needs to be replaced, the number of legally allowed re-activations are decreased by one."

This looks like a good description of a hardware configuration lock.

...An exact example is our (previous) financial partner Mycommerce: even if they worked flawlessly for 19 years, suddenly they stopped paying developers (like me and 1000s others) the amount they collected for software licenses. So yes, even if they worked - since months they only steal money. But that's an other story

My commiserations - sounds like what happened with Desura, https://gamersnexus.net/gg/1961-desura-fails-pay-indie-game-developers

Yes, I'm afraid as it requires custom installation package builds, the Corporate version is more expensive (this is why generally used by companies).
Yes, 2x Family licenses are far better option (for less than half).

That sounds more reasonable - could this be an option for all users then? (purchase 2 Family Licenses, then contact you to request a Corporate version).

You only need to register/activate the Portable version ONCE, eg. on a working PC.
Then you can ANY TIME connect to ANY computer (running Windows) and no need to register/activate at all: as I tried to write, it works even on an offline PC.

This would seem more sensible for a utility that may need to be run on an offline PC (and presumably the Corporate version would remove the need for initial activation), but as noted above it does make activation rather pointless.

To summarize, you can generally backup the details (from both the installed and Portable versions) and can re-use later,
- any time
- and on any PC
without the need of activation again.

This would be great, but given the mention above of Hard Disk Sentinel checking the first installed hard disk, I would just like to confirm if that is still the case.

[hdsentinel]

> If your system works this way (and this makes it different from every other online activation system
> I've come across where the program re-checks its configuration every time to make sure it hasn't
> been moved to another PC) then it would effectively be DRM-free after the activation.

Generally the software (of course) verifies the presence of the activated license - but as you can see, yes, generally it is not strictly bound to the hardware. This was required for numerous reasons: for example for the Portable version and also for users who regularly clone/swap drives.
Plus Windows (and BIOS) updates these days very frequently can cause that the drive order changes.


> While this certainly does assuage my concerns it does beg the question - why require activation in the first place?
> Using a serial number would be just as effective and less work for both yourself and customers.

Absolutely not. Generally the activation system is designed to prevent mis-use of a license, eg. trying to activate a single PC license on 100's of systems. If there would be no online activation AT ALL - then this would be possible.

As you can see, generally the system designed to be as friendly as possible. The goal is not the block/limit legal users in any ways.



> This looks like a good description of a hardware configuration lock.

Oh, I'm so happy that at least somebody reads the Help
Yes, what you read is correct - for version 1.xx of Hard Disk Sentinel. That part is (mea culpa...) no longer applicable.
Originally, almost 20 years ago (remember: Windows XP and IDE drive era) things worked THAT way. Then there were lots of changes and generally things are more sophisticated in all aspects, exactly because since that there are more versions/licenses available (Hard Disk Sentinel standard, Pro, Pro Family for multiple PCs, Portable versions) and also to allow users to re-install, even after 5-10-15 (or more) years, after several PC upgrades.

Sorry if I do not really prefer to disclose ALL details of the licensing/activation system - I think we covered it enough




> That sounds more reasonable - could this be an option for all users then? (purchase 2 Family Licenses,
> then contact you to request a Corporate version).

No problems to upgrade any time: if you have 2 Family licenses, you can upgrade to Corporate version by the price difference any time if required.
This will (if you prefer Corporate version for 10 systems) be more expensive so not really sure if "worth" it but you can select this option of course.
The Corporate version (I'm afraid) is always more expensive because of the build of the custom installation package with the license embedded and also because it can be installed automatically and pre-configured (in addition to having the license).

I'm afraid it is not possible to exchange 2 Family licenses for the Corporate version 1:1 as these designed completely differently and designed for completely different purposes. Maybe (if you ever consider the Portable) the 2 Family licenses is immediately a better option as the Corporate version
can work as installed only (not as Portable).


> This would be great, but given the mention above of Hard Disk Sentinel checking the first installed hard disk,
> I would just like to confirm if that is still the case.

No, I can confirm this is not the case. The Portable version (when started) just verifies that it has a license already registered/activated on any previous disk drive, even long time before starting it on the actual PC to be diagnosed.

[InquiringMind]

Just like to offer an update on this - I purchased a Family Licence and received the 15-digit serial number straight away. I then installed HDSentinel on the laptop being used for this post, entered the serial and then chose the activate by email option. I received a response (with the HDSentinel.hdk keyfile) one hour twenty minutes later, and used the keyfile to activate the laptop copy of HD Sentinel.

[section removed at moderator request]

So as long as purchasers keep a copy of their 15-digit registration number and HDSentinel.hdk keyfile, it does look like they can keep HDS going whatever happens to the company (though hopefully, they'll keep going for the foreseeable future). Thanks to support for their patience in responding above, and hope that the (now obsolete) manual entry discussed is marked as deprecated to avoid further confusion.