Must Continually Enter Serial Number - Splunge

I was having the same problem with Leopard. Since performing a clean install of Snow Leopard, my serial number doesn't work at all ("too old") and have emailed Skytag for support. I've got 28 more days until FB times out. Fingers crossed. I hope they get the renaming droplets glitch figured out too.

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Sunday, September 27 2009 @ 12:07 PM PDT

Must Continually Enter Serial Number - CrispyCritter--2008

I use File Buddy in Leopard, so I don't know what problems are causing you to continually have to enter a serial number every time the application launches. However, if your serial number was generated using techniques employed in the past, there is a good chance that, at some point in the near future, you may get a message that your current serial number has "expired."

Within the context of File Buddy's complex registration procedure, that message may be semantically accurate, but it not logically correct, for your serial number cannot "expire." It just won't work when entered fresh into the registration window beyond the time frame allowed for the serial number to be valid.

I do not speak from the authority of one who designed this registration system, so, if Larry eavesdrops on this conversation, I hope that he corrects any misinformation I may inadvertently give. However, from what I have been able to deduce by pulling together the fragmentary knowledge gleaned from Skytag's web site literature, its registration emails, other Internet resources, and my own personal experience of using and re-installing File Buddy, this is what I have concluded:

1) The File Buddy serial number system is based on generating a number that inextricably blends both the name you gave when you purchased the software as well as the date on which you paid for the software.

2) According to Little Snitch, File Buddy does not "phone home" during the registration process, but it does perform some kind of a check to see that all three elements—your NAME, the SERIAL NUMBER fashioned in conjunction with your NAME, and the DATE—are within the accepted parameters.

3) If you enter the text of your NAME incorrectly, or if you enter the text of your SERIAL NUMBER incorrectly, or if you enter your NAME and SERIAL NUMBER correctly, but the DATE when you enter this otherwise correct data is too long beyond the date of your original purchase, then you will encounter an error message informing you that your serial number has "expired."

4) Best I can determine, the period of time during which you are allowed to validly enter your serial number is 2 to 4 weeks after your purchase date. Any attempts after that will likely trigger the serial number "expired" message.

THE SOLUTION:
So, what is the solution to this problem? It's simple, really. Before you enter launch File Buddy to enter your registration NAME and SERIAL NUMBER, go to the Date and Time pane of your System Preferences and reset your date back to the time when you originally purchased File Buddy. By fooling your computer into thinking that it is operating during the time frame when entering your File Buddy was valid, you should have no problem in permanently re-registering File Buddy on your computer, without having to pester Larry for another one.

Remember to set your clock back to the current date and time, else your Mac might experience considerable difficulty in functioning or in booting up the next time. (A minor inconvenience of having to implement this procedure is that all your iCal reminders since that older date will be flashed to you.)

Hope this helps somebody and doesn't undermine SkyTag's registration system in any way. If it does, then let administrators delete this note. And, if it's not accurate, let Larry amend it.

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Monday, October 19 2009 @ 10:10 AM PDT

Must Continually Enter Serial Number - MacHound

Could there possibly be a more onerous registration process? Possibly, but only if FileBuddy were a Microsoft product.

If $40 for limited usefulness software weren't bad enough, SkyTag seems determined to scare away any remaining customers with this registration nonsense.

After reviewing the software, I think I'll pass. Lower the price by half and fix the registration problems and I'll take another look at FileBuddy. Until then, good luck!

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Thursday, October 29 2009 @ 12:10 PM PDT