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Suggestion for DRM
- Thread starter evdjj3j
- Start date
It doesn't normally enter demo mode when updating HeroLab.
If you are referring to updating WIndows 10, then this appears to be primarily affecting users who choose to be on the "fast track" of Windows 10 updates. It is a problem with Windows 10 changing some internal data which causes the HL license to become invalid. (A search of the forums will find the responses to other users who have requested this in the past.)
If you are referring to updating WIndows 10, then this appears to be primarily affecting users who choose to be on the "fast track" of Windows 10 updates. It is a problem with Windows 10 changing some internal data which causes the HL license to become invalid. (A search of the forums will find the responses to other users who have requested this in the past.)
I have to reactivate my license every time Hero Lab updates. Even if yours doesn't go into demo mode my request is still genuine, the installer should check to see if it was already activated. The last two or three times I have updated I've been stuck in demo mode all weekend since they don't do activation on the weekend. I've wasted a lot of money on this software that I wish I could have back for it not to work 50% of the time I need it to. The horrible DRM is why I steered someone inquiring about character software to PCGen last week on Facebook. I understand the need for DRM, but it could be a lot better, starting with checking if the software is activated during an update. It's 10:30 Monday morning and they still have not responded to my request, do they not start working until noon?
Have you raised a question at support@wolflair.com about this? They may be able to help you resolve your PCs problem.
Hi @evdjj3j, we're actually already working on a change to the licensing system that will help users like you on the Windows insider program.
Now to answer some questions.
Now to answer some questions.
I looked at our support system, and it looks like the 3 of the 4 license reassignment requests you submitted in the past five months were all submitted on Saturday or Sunday. As we're a small company with only one full-time support staff member, I'd recommend opening up Hero Lab before the weekend. That way if there's a reassignment, we can get you back up and running before your game. Of course, that's not ideal and by no means a long-term solution. But it will help things until the update I mentioned above gets released.The last two or three times I have updated I've been stuck in demo mode all weekend since they don't do activation on the weekend. I've wasted a lot of money on this software that I wish I could have back for it not to work 50% of the time I need it to.
I'm sorry to hear that. There are tens of thousands of gamers actively using Hero Lab at their regular gaming sessions every week, and the number of people running into issues like the ones you've encountered are very low. However, given the fact that this has shown up over the past few months on game days, I can understand how this is a big issue for you and your games.The horrible DRM is why I steered someone inquiring about character software to PCGen last week on Facebook. I understand the need for DRM, but it could be a lot better, starting with checking if the software is activated during an update.
Well, I've been working since 8:30 am Pacific. Our one tech support staff member has been replying to users emails, and I'm sure he'll get yours soon.It's 10:30 Monday morning and they still have not responded to my request, do they not start working until noon?
I am no longer part of the Windows Insider program, that is not what triggered demo mode. Demo mode was triggered because it has been less that 120 days since the last time I upgraded, my last request was Oct 13th. I'm interested in what changes are being made to the DRM. I'm hoping that it checks during the upgrade for a valid license and doesn't ask to phone home if a valid license is found?
That's not how the licensing system works. We actually have a description of our licensing system on our website: http://www.wolflair.com/index.php?context=hero_lab&page=licensing#licensing_basics.Demo mode was triggered because it has been less that 120 days since the last time I upgraded, my last request was Oct 13th.
Here's some key excerpts (though I encourage you to read what else is on the webpage):
Hero Lab website said:When you purchase Hero Lab, you are issued a unique license number. This license number can be used to unlock the product on a SINGLE device of your choice - this can be a computer running Windows or OS X, or an iPad. Completing the licensing wizard within Hero Lab binds the product to the device on which the license is installed.
Hero Lab website said:Hero Lab uses a few key pieces of information to establish the "identity" of your device. This information is configured when the operating system is installed on your device. No identifying information about you or your device ever leaves your device. The identifying information of your device is distilled down into a short string of characters that "uniquely" reflects your device. This short string is transmitted to our server. It is impossible to reverse the operation and determine any identifying information about your system from the short string, so your privacy is secure.
In general, there are only three conditions under which the identity of your device should change:
- Installing a new operating system will change your device's identity. This is the same as switching to a new device or re-installing the same operating system after re-formatting your hard drive.
- Upgrading your current operating system will often change the identity. (This does NOT include automatic updates and service packs.)
- Editing system information that should never be modified after operating system installation can sometimes trigger an identity change. This can occur if you use various hacked versions of games.
As you'll note above, the system already does this and it works the vast majority of the time. Unfortunately, Microsoft changed some things with Windows 10, which has been causing some people to go into demo mode after new builds. This is not affecting everyone (I have Windows 10 and it works fine for me), but it sounds like you may be one of the unlucky few.I'm interested in what changes are being made to the DRM. I'm hoping that it checks during the upgrade for a valid license and doesn't ask to phone home if a valid license is found?
As to what exactly is being changed in the update that I mentioned, one of the developers would need to chime in (I will point them to this thread).
The upgrade/update you are referring to is from Hero Lab itself I presume or actual windows? Just to clarify that part first.
If so that normally shouldn't invalidate the license in place (generally a reactivate will just work without an early reassignment request). If that isn't working. My best bet would be that either your license is being used by more than one machine (which is possible if an update asks you to reactivate licenses. whether it is knowingly or by accident). The other option can have several causes.
If you are certain that your license isn't being used by more machines. It is best to contact support and try to figure out why the software update is invalidating your license.
As for the windows part issues as Liz has stated Windows 10 (assuming you currently are on w10. seeing you haven't actually stated what OS you are on. Which is actually rather useful information to have) is causing certain issues for certain people at the moment.
If so that normally shouldn't invalidate the license in place (generally a reactivate will just work without an early reassignment request). If that isn't working. My best bet would be that either your license is being used by more than one machine (which is possible if an update asks you to reactivate licenses. whether it is knowingly or by accident). The other option can have several causes.
If you are certain that your license isn't being used by more machines. It is best to contact support and try to figure out why the software update is invalidating your license.
As for the windows part issues as Liz has stated Windows 10 (assuming you currently are on w10. seeing you haven't actually stated what OS you are on. Which is actually rather useful information to have) is causing certain issues for certain people at the moment.
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I am no longer part of the Windows Insider program, that is not what triggered demo mode. Demo mode was triggered because it has been less that 120 days since the last time I upgraded, my last request was Oct 13th. I'm interested in what changes are being made to the DRM. I'm hoping that it checks during the upgrade for a valid license and doesn't ask to phone home if a valid license is found?
You'll still need to reactivate your license after upgrading Hero Lab - your license keyfile is tied to a specific version of HL, so a license for an older versions won't work with a newer version. What we're changing is the way Hero Lab identifies your machine - we'll be making it more reliable, so it's less likely to think that your computer has "changed".
The current methods we use to detect a computer change used to work well, but as Liz mentioned, Microsoft messed with things in Windows 10 and now they mis-detect a new computer after certain things (for example, upgrading to a new build of windows, which MS now releases every few months). The changes will mean that this no longer occurs.
If you need to contact us for early reassignment every time you update Hero Lab, that means something is wrong - in the vast majority of these cases, it turns out that someone has been using the same Hero Lab license number on two computers. Our tech support staff tries to catch these when they occur, but we don't always spot them, but if it's a problem you're having regularly, please flag it to our support staff (support@wolflair.com) and they'll try to get things figured out.
Hope this helps!
I tried to use Hero Lab again and once again I'm stuck in demo mode. I tried using it on Thursday like was suggested by support personnel as a fix so I could get my license out of demo mode on a weekday, but that does not seem to work either. It's almost 5 PM on Friday and the license has not been unlocked.
Well before installing any update from the fast track I can recommend you to ask for a license reassignment before doing so. Secondly it is your choice to run a TEST build of Windows on your computer. So issues are more then understandable.
That said I am running the fast track since the beginning and never ran into any of your issues. It is always reset within 24 hours from my request (exception if it is the weekend outside their hours). Besides that Windows/hero lab never randomly lost it's license for me. So there is a bigger chance it has to do with your set up/things you do. Then with either Windows or Hero Lab
That said I am running the fast track since the beginning and never ran into any of your issues. It is always reset within 24 hours from my request (exception if it is the weekend outside their hours). Besides that Windows/hero lab never randomly lost it's license for me. So there is a bigger chance it has to do with your set up/things you do. Then with either Windows or Hero Lab
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@evdjj3j, it looks like our support staff responded to your license reassignment request with a fix late Friday.
While I understand you're frustrated, our forum rules still apply. Please ensure that your posts remain respectful and civil. The post above is neither.Excellent suggestion you've added much to the discussion. Ignore the problem rather than fix it. By your line of thinking the better resolution would be to remove the DRM.
I don't see how my post was uncivil or disrespectful. Farling suggested that Hero Lab drop support for me, I find that rather disrespectful seeing how much money I have spent on the software. Liz, you can see my license, you know how much I've spent and it is not a small amount. I am also locked in demo mode again.
Well what was disrespectful about it was the sarcasm towards his suggestion to Lonewolf basically to not officially support the "fast track" insider builds. This in all honesty is a valid thing for a company to do.
The reason being for that is that the "fast track" is nothing more then test/beta builds from Microsoft. These test builds can introduce bugs that cause for example license server communication issues that aren't the fault of Lonewolf (Take the fast track builds from before the last major release for example). Which they handled nicely in all honesty by offering a beta client to the insiders that helped bypass that issue.
That said they aren't necessarily required to do so. After all they never announced they would officially support insider builds. So no Farlings suggestion was anything but disrespectful. He just mentioned that Lonewolf maybe should officially announce to (not) support it. With that I kinda would lean more to what he is saying to not support the fast track besides license resets (I am a fast track user myself and would fully understand their decision if they did so).
You also posted you aren't a member of the insider program anymore. Meaning his suggestion wouldn't affect you to begin with. Cause you wouldn't be on the fast track.
The reason being for that is that the "fast track" is nothing more then test/beta builds from Microsoft. These test builds can introduce bugs that cause for example license server communication issues that aren't the fault of Lonewolf (Take the fast track builds from before the last major release for example). Which they handled nicely in all honesty by offering a beta client to the insiders that helped bypass that issue.
That said they aren't necessarily required to do so. After all they never announced they would officially support insider builds. So no Farlings suggestion was anything but disrespectful. He just mentioned that Lonewolf maybe should officially announce to (not) support it. With that I kinda would lean more to what he is saying to not support the fast track besides license resets (I am a fast track user myself and would fully understand their decision if they did so).
You also posted you aren't a member of the insider program anymore. Meaning his suggestion wouldn't affect you to begin with. Cause you wouldn't be on the fast track.
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I just reinstalled Windows. I had turned off the Fast Track updates but I still was getting them. I am now on a non fast track build so we will see how things go once my license is unlocked again. While I'll give you my post may have been a little disrespectful, it was in no way uncivil.