demo version problem

[pastu]

Hi !

I 've downloaded the demo version, but after install it, it says that had expired. Could it be possible to have a demo version with a few days trial period? I am really interested on testing it.

Thanks in advance.

[Darthmagus]

This week Cajomi is in hospital for a smaller operation. I hope he will answer to you next week. :)

[pastu]

Thanks fot the info Darthmagus,

I wish he is well !

regards

[Criss]

Same here! Get Better!

[cajomi]

Hello Pastu,

on monday, evening, there will be the new demo for version 1.06 online. You can install it over the old demo and get one month.
So far, re-adjusting your clock date and restarting the pc should enable you to use the demo for some days.

Johannes

[pastu]

thanks a lot Johannes !

[cajomi]

The new demo version is online! Take a look at "News"

[SgtSteve]

I would rather not create a new thread for this, so I will use this one instead. I downloaded the new demo version last night and I was able to use it fine, however, I just tried to run the program today and the spalsh screen shows up that I have 30 days left(yesterday said 31, accordingly), and a dialogue pops up saying "this testversion is older than 30 days and has been disabled!".

Now, in my defense, I dont even think this version has been out for 30 days, has it?

I really enjoy playing with this software and I would like to take another month to demo it with the new version, especially since I can barely afford to stay in school, and will not be able to buy the full version on my budget. :(

Edit: to fix a typo

[cajomi]

Did you install the demo just over the old one?
You have to deinstall the old demo, delete the GeoControl directory and then install the new demo.

[cajomi]

Okay, a question:
Was only the splash shown and then the shut down, or was the window with all the controls build and then came the popup?

[SgtSteve]

If I had the date set correctly it would load the splash, the window with the controls, everything like it was about to be able to be used, and then the "error" would pop up. If I had the date set for any other day (I tried rolling back to earlier dates and restarting) it would JUST be the "error", and nothing else would show up.

[cajomi]

is it possible, that when you installed GeoControl the date of the system clocl was not correct?
Was the start terrain generated, before close?

[SgtSteve]

The system clock was correct. The start terrain generates when the clock is correct, but like I said, nothing does when i set it to another date. Update! The program is working again this morning, luckily! I'll post back if it starts to not work again. This is quite odd!

[cajomi]

very mystery, and glad, that it now works!

[SgtSteve]

Well, it did work. Now it does the same thing as before, with the splash telling me I have 24 days left.

[cajomi]

the problem is the unexact windows clock. If the pc is running longer (more than one day ) without restart, the time caculation runs out of order. GeoControl proofes, how long the pc is running and add this to the date, stored at start up. If this is the same result as the actual clock (with some tolerance) GeoControl will run, but if the difference is to great, GeoControl assumes, that the clock was manipulated.

[oluf]

Hi There,

I have downloaded GeoControl for the first time (first time for any version). Installation seems to work, although after trying to start it up I get a modal dialog that states that this test version is older than 30 days. After hitting the OK button it closes down.

Is there anything I should do to get it running? I haven't had a chance to play with this yet, would love to give it a spin. I won't play around with my clock settings because I don't want to interfere with other s/w that is dependent on it.

Thanks!
Oluf

[cajomi]

Hello Oluf,

if your clock is showing the correct date and time, it will run. The only thing that that may happen, that the pc is runner some longer time. Then simply restart and GeoControl will work.

Johannes

[oluf]

Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have tried and retried your suggestions, but no luck. I restarted my PC, and checked the time (current time from my PC as of the attached screenshot is 17:55 EDT, September 25, 2006).

A screenshot with the problem can be found .....here..... (http://www.ebbesensystems.com/pics/error_msg.jpg)

Thanks for your continued help.

Oluf

[cajomi]

Is it Windows 98 or ME you are using?
Or is it possbile, that you have no admin rights? (for security reasons, some prefer this)

[oluf]

I'm running Windows XP Service Pack 2, and I am part of the Administrators group. I just tried installing it on my office PC and of course it works here :). Unfortunately I have to uninstall it before it is picked up by the scan.

I am trying to think of strange or questionable components on my PC, and the only thing that I can think of is PACE that is used to protect Max/MSP, although I've never had any issues with that before. Otherwise I can't think of anything different or unusual on there.

Oluf

[cajomi]

okay, so, you need another exe. The time problem may be generated with the first install, and unistalling does not uninstall all, of course.
Be patient until tomorrow, and you get a second version, which will run.

Johannes

[cajomi]

Hi Oluf,

I have send you an email, with the download link and the install instructions.
Hope, it will work now.

[KindredSpirit]

I also downloaded the demo today and I get the splash screen saying it has expired. I did restart my computer and I got slightly further on (about 5 secs) and then splash screen reappeared and program closed down.

[cajomi]

and you are sure, your clock was right when you first start GeoControl and that it was the same date as the pc start, without any change at the clock?
I just see, today is end of summertime....
Give it tommorow a chance

[cajomi]

I have upload a new demo version 1.13 (same version number), with some changes in the time proofment.
Download the demo, uninstall the old version, and install this one.

[KindredSpirit]

Thanks for your quick reply. I synchronised my clock using time-a.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov,uninstalled demo, downloaded new demo, installed.........same splash screen. British Summertime ends 29th October

[cajomi]

summtertime here also ends in one month, it was an error of mine.

I had build in some extra proofments. If it now does not work, the only reason could be, that when you installed the demo, the date was not correct, and I do not mean one day. I have also increased the tolerance a bit.

So best is, set the date of the clock to the date, when you installed GeoControl, then restart the pc and GeoControl will work fine. You may understand, this is a way, to use the demo longer then 30 days, but you allways need to restart pc, before you can use it.

I have build in this protection, because it is really usual, to try to use a demo without time restriction by manipulating the date. The only problem with GeoControl is, when this is done before installation, or another reason, why the date of the clock was so wrong, then there are no possbilities to do something against it.

Sorry for this protection, but it is so usual today, to use tricks......
I have read in the forum of Worldmachine, how to use the free version for terrains greate then 512, yes, and I have read posts, where users were angry, that a newer version of WM has changed this behavior.

[KindredSpirit]

Argh..............stupid computer:mad: !! Uninstalled, downloaded, restarted, installed, synchronised clocks, changed dates, uninstalled, downloaded, restarted, installed, synchronised clocks, changed dates, uninstalled, downloaded, restarted, installed, synchronised clocks, changed dates, uninstalled, downloaded, restarted, installed, synchronised clocks, changed dates, ad finitum..................................:cry:

Has anyone who has had demo problems, gone on to buy the program and was it worth it? It certainly looks like an excellent piece of software. Is it similar in use to Terragen? I am tempted just to go ahead and buy the full program, but just want to make really sure:?

[cajomi]

okay, after another test, thanks to Kindred Spirit, it looks like there is a problem with some systems.
As the problems appear all on windows xp, it must have something to do with the hardware.
Please, all who have reproted from this time demo problem, please tell, what hardware you are using.
I will write a test executable to narrow down the problem.

I am really sorry for this problem and I hope you forgive me, that there might have been the impression, that you have manipulated the clock.

[cajomi]

here is the download link for the test installation:
www.cajomi.de/Download/GeoControl_TestDemo1.13_Setup.exe (http://www.cajomi.de/Download/GeoControl_TestDemo1.13_Setup.exe)

Uninstall the demo, if there is one installed, and then install this demo and run it.
An error message will appear, and you are asked to send an email to the support.
Please say yes and an email with all time data is send to me. Then, I hope, I will see, what is going wrong.
Thank you for your patience.

[KindredSpirit]

email sent with Time and Hardware details

[cajomi]

I have changed the time protection.
The problems were caused by the "bootstat.dat". Normally this file is written at every startup new, but it does not happen always. The changed protection does no longer need the file.

downloadlink: www.cajomi.de/Download/GeoControl_Demo1.13a_Setup.exe (http://www.cajomi.de/Download/GeoControl_Demo1.13a_Setup.exe)

Johannes Rosenberg


Please do not try to change the clock, to see, what happens. The demo is now very sensible to that, and after a change, the demo will no more run, even if the time is corrected later.

[KindredSpirit]

Fantastic, it now works. All I'll got to do is work my way through it. It seems to do everything I want it to do. No doubt I will buy it

[cajomi]

:) :) :)

cajomi