How do I get Classic PhoneTools to work again

[michael.kenward]

Once again, Classic PhoneTools has decided that I am a pirate. It refuses to start because it says that the software is licensed on another machine. It isn't. (You'd have to be mad to install this stuff once, let alone twice.)

This happened a year ago and I received a new licence.

I have messages from the ever helpful Mike Strauss, is he still around? They are dated 26-10-2005, 23-06-2005, 07-04-2005. All deal with this issue.

Since then, I have had to reinstall a couple of times, usually on advice received here from support.

So, how do I get it to work this time? Why does the software keep thinking that I have used it elsewhere when I haven't?

I have had "activation" problems before now with ScanSoft and Adobe. Funnily enough, the one that does not cause problems is Micros**t,

If BVRP isn't prepared to get me back in action again, please please please can they tell me who they consider to be a rival so that I can go buy their software. Anything will be better than this awful behaviour.

[Support_MS]

Please contact our technical support queue at 720-330-1458 between the hours of 9:00 am and 9:00 pm Mountain Time, Monday through Friday or by e-mail at forums@bvrpusa.com.
The e-mail address you have here does not come up with a purchase of Classic Phonetools. We will need to create a new Serial number for you.

[michael.kenward]

With luck, support will answer. The cost of a call to a US support number from England could make it cheaper to buy a new license.

The email address I used with Mike Strauss was michael.kenward@dsl.pipex.com

I used the address mgfv43@dsl.pipex.com on 24-10-2004 when I made the mistake of buying this software.

Can you explain why your anti-piracy system is so bad?

[Support_MS]

I don't know what is causing this issue.

I have created a new one, you should be receiving the confirmation shortly on the mgfv43@dsl.pipex.com address.

[michael.kenward]

Thanks.

In another message, I read that Classic PhoneTools monitors a PC for changes. This was news to me.

I have no objection to anti-piracy technologies. But I do like to know what is going on. I also like it to work properly.

Microsoft uses similar techniques to check on XP. Funnily enough, it has never objected to the small changes that I constantly make to my PCs. (These usually involve changing disks and, recently, messing around with video cards.) It does, complain when I replace a motherboard, but a quick phone call, or even an automated on-line session, soon fixes it.

It would seem that Classic PhoneTools is much more sensitive.

Classic PhoneTools also differs from other software in that once it has locked you out, there is no way of recovering the situation without having to reinstall the software. Not good.

Two other software packages that use "activation" are Acrobat and PaperPort. They are both honest and up front about this. Until recently, I was not aware that Classic PhoneTools also did this.

Acrobat and PaperPort both make it possible for users to remove the software and move it to another machine. They do this by requiring the uninstall process to inform the activation server at their end.

My advice to BVRP is:
make it clear that Classic PhoneTools uses hardware monitoring;
make it clear that Classic PhoneTools uses on-line activation;
allow users to uninstall and deregister the software;
make it possible to enter a licence number into an "expired" installation.

Do this and support will have to spend less time dealing with disgruntled customers.

[Kenward]

It just happened again. Nothing changed at all on my PC. But ClassicPhonetools refused to start, Got an error about a missing licence.

Installed and it worked again.

Apart from suggesting that it really is time that you found a way to repair/reregister without having to reinstall completely, and warning off anyone thinking of buying ClassicPhonetools because of the appallingly sloppy an intrusive licence system, I wondered if this software is one of those clobbered by the latest Windows update. It is the only thing I can think of that has changed on my PC since I last ran ClassicPhonetools, something I do as rarely as possible given its poor quality control.

[Support_MS]

I can't say for sure, I did not have any issues with it on either machine I have here.