there are various 15-day or 30-day trial ware, and I have been intrigued about where they save the information so that even after uninstallation and reinstallation, they still know when it was initially installed and tell you it is expired. I originally thought that information is written to the registry, and the uninstallation process does not clean that particular entry. But after running CClean, I am not so sure anymore, because CClean fixes registries by wiping out orphan entries, but that software still knows, so I ended up paying for it. But I am still wondering how it does that. Does anyone know?
Mmmm. I was wondering about this too. I experienced it too. You download a trial software and after 30 days, the trial should be over, you uninstall the app, run CCleaner, hoping to get rid of the registry entries associated to the app, you reinstall the app but still, it knows that its trial version has ended.
I guess, when you install an app with a trial version, it creates a folder or command file somewhere in the computer and that stays there even when the app gets uninstalled so when you reinstall it, that folder or command file tells the app that the trial version is over.
If its some hard to find object in the computer's C: drive or the registry, its something that CCleaner can't find or ignored.
There are certain protection methods which trial software uses to create keys in the registry. These keys are read for time and date expiration by the software if it is installed or re-installed.
It is perfectly acceptable for software makers to give you a try at their software, it is also acceptable for them to protect their income.
Programs exist for deleting these keys but bear in mind they would not be open for discussion on this forum.
hazelnut - sorry, I was merely curious and didn't realize what this subject was leading to until you said it. Please delete this post.