PSP X reactivation problem - HELP.....

[rah]

Can anyone please advise on how I can reactivate my PSPX program?

The problem is outlined below - in posts I had originally made in the PaintShopProX newssgroup - and have been advised are better made in this forum.

Regards,
rah.

Hi Fred Hiltz and Tim Morrison,

I refer to my post last week (copied below) and was hopeful that you wise
gentlemen might be able to provide a simple solution to the problem of
reactivating my legitimately purchased and fully licensed PSPX program on my
freshly installed new hard drive - necessitated by the crash of the
original.

You both generously provided some insightful tips to the previous posters
experiencing similar problems - although I've noted their problems appear
not to be resolved as yet either.

To elucidate a little further on my difficulties in overcoming Corel's
obstructive behavior in denying me the further use of my PSPX software, I've
attached two images: the nag screen which does not provide any functional
place to proceed with activation - despite its invitation to do so; and, a
copy of the pertinent Registry entries which I amended as per Fred's
suggestion to Mavis Mims - but which have had no affect.

Please note I've also provided the details of my PC's Operating System (see
below) as requested by Tim in his response to Jill's (prior poster) query on
a pertinent matter.

Fred and Tim, are you able to provide a remedy for the failure of my PSPX
program to sensibly reinstall on my computer?

Fingers crossed.

Regards,
Rod.

oooOOOooo

----- Original Message -----
From: "rah"
Newsgroups: corel.PaintShopProX
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2011 4:53 PM
Subject: PSP X reactivation problem


> Hi,
>
> I have a similar problem to both Jill and Mavis Mims (the immediately
> preceding posters) in being unable to reactivate my PSP X program.
>
> My PC is running Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 3
> which I believe is the 32 bit version.
>
> My PC's hard drive bit the dust and a new one was installed in its place.
> I've reinstalled my PSP X program, but am getting the
> "Your trial of Paint Shop Pro X is almost over!" nag screen. I have a
> licence key but cannot insert it anywhere. What must I do to complete a
> fully activated reinstall?
>
> Cheers,
> rah.
>
> P.S. I did try Mavis' suggestion to remove the nag screen by editing the
> Container.htm file but this only created the following warning prompt
> screen
> "This copy of PaintShopPro has been damaged or illegally modified. Please
> reinstall[ from your original source". I reinserted the original
> Container.htm file, and am back to that incorrigibly resolute nag
> screen......

[Kathy_9]

I had a similar issue when I switched computers and had to end up calling Corel Tech Support. They were able to solve the problem by sending me an image of the installation CD via FTP. This solved my activation problem.

I also had the error message you are seeing about the program being damaged or modified and it turns out that the Protexis Licensing Service that Corel uses was stopped. Once I restarted the service, the program worked. Not sure if either of these solutions will help you but I thought I put them out there.

[teknisyan]

Hello rah,

If you are getting the error "Paint Shop Pro has been damaged or illegally modified" you can follow the steps from our KB to fix the issue: http://bit.ly/gB8UEd.

[909user]

I also can't activate PSP X but I get the message , "Sorry, the serial number you are using has already been submited the maximum number of times for Activation. "
I have had to reinstall a few times over the years since I originally purchase PSP X, it's a legit downloaded copy from Corel, I also have all the activation #''s, is there anyway around this ?

[Kathy_9]

@909user - you will need to contact Corel Customer Support as there is nothing we can do on this end. You're not the first to exceed the maximum number of allowed activations due to computer crashes, etc. They will be able to assist you.

[rah]

Thanks to everyone for the assistance. I live in Australia and have tried calling the pertinent Corel Support several times to receive a message alerting me to the facty they are currently closed as they are training staff......? I've been calling in the morning, Melbourne time - I'll try later today/evening as I'm guessing from Support's OGM accent, the local Support telephone number is patched through to the US.

[ender]

You can also submit a ticket through website, but it takes a few days (2-3 in my experience) before it's resolved.

[rah]

I'm continuing my efforts to find the means to reactivate my PSPX program after having reinstalled it on a replacement hard drive in my PC. This should be a simple task, but Corel is not making it easy.

It appears the product is somehow nobbled by Corel's engineers (presumably to prevent piracy) but this nobbling also affects legitimately purchased copies of the program. Compounding the problem is Corel's formally stated policy of no longer supporting the product - coupled with a suggestion that upgrading to PSPX3 is the way to go.....

I am (or was) very happy with my PSPX and do not wish to (be obliged to) buy a further Corel product performing virtually the same functions as the one I've already bought. One might be forgiven for thinking Corel is purposely producing crippleware, which it sells as a stand alone product - so it can oblige their gullible customer into continually buying "upgrades"

Following is my latest effort to find the means to deal with Corel's crippling of my PSPX.

Hi Corel Support,

I spoke yesterday with a member of the support team but no name was supplied, nor was one provided in the email communications (see below) - so, please forgive me not being able to quote a name as requested.

To recap on my problem:
My PC's hard drive recently crashed and a new one was installed in its place.

I reinstalled my PSP X program (from my backup), and up popped the "Your TRIAL of Paint Shop Pro X is almost over!" nag screen. I have a licence key - - but cannot insert it anywhere as the "Already purchased" section of the screen (please see attached image) is inoperative.

Despite having now (again) reinstalled the PSPX program (Retail version) from a fresh download from my Corel Account Order facility, after having first removed the prior installed faulting PSPX (Trial version) program; and otherwise having also expunged all PSPX installation and pertinent Corel associated files from my PC - the Trial version nag screen sprang back to life, advising I only (now) had 15 days left....

I had been advised by Corel Support yesterday that taking the above steps would cure the problem, and allow my full Retail version (freshly downloaded) to be properly installed - without needing to contend with the malfunctioning Corel (Trial version) nag screen. Alas, no such luck.

I believe the problem is caused by either or both of the following:-
1. The Trial version of the PSPX program has covertly embedded the date of my initial reinstall somewhere on my PC - as clearly my purging of the obviously pertinent files from my PC prior to the latest reinstall of the Retail version has not "fooled" the zealous (and malfunctioning) anti-piratical devices incorporated by Corel into the program's code.

2. Apparently, unless Corel's Protexis Licensing Service - found in the file PSIService.exe - is running, the PSPX program will not install. I cannot locate this file on my PC. I did mention this in my conversation with Corel Support yesterday and the woman said she would send me the necessary material via email. This email may well solve the problem, but has not yet arrived.

I'd be grateful if you could:-
A. Advise what must be done to fully cleanse my PC of the initial reinstall date, to permit a truly fresh and fully activated reinstall.

B. Advise why the pertinent Protexis Licensing Service file is not also installing on my PC and how this issue can be remedied.

I have noted your comments that you no longer have PSPX on your computers and therefore are unable to routinely advise on problems requiring simulation. However, my problem is one requiring technical know-how and not one requiring simulation. I know the problem I am experiencing is vexing other folk in the Corel forums community. Given we have all paid our money to Corel for fully working PSPX programs, that are not subject to somehow being rendered inoperative upon an ordinary reinstallation - and does not require further money to be paid to Corel for unwanted upgrades - it would be productive if you could provide the appropriate "fix" for the problem, and I will post it on the relevant forums in the interests of the greater community.

Thank you for your consideration and anticipated assistance.

Regards,
Rod.

P.S.
My PC is running Windows XP, Home Edition, Version 2002, Service Pack 3
- 32 bit version.


----- Original Message -----
From: "phsupport" <phsupport@corel.com>
To: <rodhackett@bigpond.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 6:18 PM
Subject: PaintShop Photo 10


Hi,

Thank you for contacting Corel Customer Support.

PaintShop Photo 10 is already an obsolete and unsupported product. So should you encounter technical support in the future, we can no longer provide since we no longer have the said version installed on our system to do a simulation.

I would highly suggest that you download instead the trial version of the software which is PaintShop Photo Pro X3.


If you have additional questions with your product, please feel free to call us back and we will be more than willing to assist you.


Regards,

Product Support Specialist
Corel Customer Service Department


P.S. - If you will be replying to this email, please include my name in the SUBJECT line.

[Tim Morrison]

Try replying to their message and suggest that they simply need to reset or increase the number of activations allowed for your serial number. It might be worth pointing out that you only need customer service not technical support so they don't need a copy of PSP X installed, and that their stated policy of only supporting the current version plus one version back only applies to technical support and not to customer service.

I'm trying to get some sort of official clarification of this whole area, but haven't received a reply as yet. It is something that will need to be addressed as time goes on and more and more products that require activation run up against the same problem.

(There is nothing you can do to fix this on your computer... the activation count is not located anywhere there).

[909user]

When I talked to customer support, there answer was PSPX is no longer supported and to buy X3

[Tim Morrison]

When I talked to customer support, there answer was PSPX is no longer supported and to buy X3

Nag them.
Insist that you are not after "Technical Support" which has a stated policy (of dubious legality) of only supporting the current and immediate past versions. You want "Customer Service" which has no such stated policy.
In the past they have fixed this problem for persistent and annoying users.
Contact your local consumer rights authority. (Or perhaps http://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-bc.nsf/eng/Home)

[Joelle]

Help is at hand
Jen, in the Corel Your Way discussion group is offering her assistance.
Here is what Jen said:
" Hi Tim and Joelle,

I can try to help this guy from here but I will need his email address.

Do you think one of you could PM him on the user forum and get that information? You don't have to post the information here...email it to me: jennifer.topping@corel.com

I will raise a flag here and see if we can't get support to reset the number of activations on his product for him.

Jen"


Hope this fixes your problem!

Joëlle

[Tim Morrison]

If both "rah" and "909user" could PM either Jöelle or myself, we'll pass your email addresses to Jen. Hopefully she will be able to fix the problem.
Meanwhile we'll keep working on getting a long term solution in place.

[rah]

Thanks Tim, Joelle & Jen for all your efforts to assist. I have sent info as requested.

Regards,
Rod.

[Joelle]

Hehe, I am sure you will get there in the end.
Then we can write a book ...!

Joëlle