Suddenly I'm a Pirate....

[nrmsmith]

My copy of Phonetools Classic has suddenly decided I am not running a legal copy - which comes as news to me. The history is, I recently bought a new PC and installed my copy of Classic Phonetools (v6.04) on it. The serial number went in OK, and everything was just fine for a copy of months. Now all of a sudden, when I start the program it says: "This serial # is already assigned to another computer. Expiration in 3 days".

Well it ISN'T assigned to another computer anymore. My old PC has been scrapped, and the only copy of the program I am running is on my new PC.

Really, if BVRP are going to implement such a stupid activation system, that doesn't allow the LEGAL USER to reinstall on a new PC, then they may as well give up, because THEY WILL END UP BY LOSING ALL THEIR GENUINE CUSTOMERS.

If my copy stops running in 3 days (as it says it will do); then I can assure you I will (i) sue for a refund of the money I spent on this bug-ridden software and (ii) delete it and go hunting for a better faxing program that stops the pirates but doesn't stop its legal customers from using the program.

yours in disgust
NRM Smith (UK)

[Support_MS]

Did you also send me an E-mail?

[nrmsmith]

Hi, yes I did (sorry, didn't mean to give you twice as much work); just trying to cover all possibilities to get a quick answer. Thanks for the new serial number & registration.

Please try and convince your software writers for Classic Phonetools to make the activation protection more friendly to your customers, as this is the third reinstall/reactivation I've had to do since I bought the program in Feb 2005.

Mike Kenward in another thread has made some really useful suggestions, which I totally concur with:

>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.

I have now found two alternative fax software products which support the USR Professional Message Modem and next time your program fails me, I shall be switching.

Nigel

[michael.kenward]

Just caught up with this. If you are there, can you tell me which software you have found that works with this modem.

Like you, I am p*ss*d off with the way PhoneTools gets amnesia from time to time and would love an alternative that works with the same modem.

[nrmsmith]

I only found SuperVoice Pro which has the ability to control the offline mode of the USRobotics Message Modems (I have the original USR Prof Message Modem).

If you Google you should find it. I emailed them and got an offer for a cheaper upgrade than is available on the website. But as far as I can remember this s/w has a similar activation process to Classic PhoneTools.

FOr the time being, I have found BVRP are fairly understanding to my problems and have provided new registration codes when I need them; but I am hoping they build a slightly more flexible activation system into the next version, otherwise I may well be off. In the end, for all the hassle, I may go back to a non-PC linked voicemail system.

Cheers
Nigel

[michael.kenward]

I agree. BVRP do seem to respond when your software suddenly fails to work.

It is a pity that we have to go through these hoops.

The crazy thing is that their system to detect machine changes is even more severe than the one they use at Microsoft. And that is protecting the operating system.

Don't hold your breathe waiting for a new version of this software. I get the feeling that fax software has come to the end of its life.

It is a pity that the execrable Norton/Symantec got their hands on Winfax. They have effectively filled what was once the best fax software around.

[nrmsmith]

Actually, faxing support is still in the new Vista operating system; and I'm not sure, but I think the BVRP faxing engine is based on Winfax Lite (I may be wrong). But you're right, it isn't such a big deal anymore - a bit like dot matrix printers, still around & in use, but marginalised to a few specialist applications.

Nigel

[michael.kenward]

All we need is for the Windows fax facility to handle our "store off line" modems and we can get away without third party software.

That's what I have done on the PC I use with an internal modem. Life is too short to be wrestling with PhoneTools, even if it came bundled with the modem.

Interestingly, analogue modems are now hard to come by. My USR Pro still seems to be in production, which just shows how much effort they put into that segment these days.