[sjring]

I too have experienced the "trail version has expired" along with the "not able to boot Windows" which caused me no end of grief. I finally safe booted and was able to restore from a last known good state. the question I have is why do so many people have problems with Roxio creator? Is it that their QA dept didn't do a good enough job? did they rush v9? What did their development staff fail to do and take into account? What don't they have a clean "uninstall" that WORKS with us having to futz with the system registry and run Microsofts deinstaller program? Why is CD9 to "sensitive" that anything that affects any part of my Computer seems to have been magnified by CD9? If the product costs double of what they sell it for but they do a proper QA/QC job and provide a decent deinstaller and don't futz so much with the internal working of Windows...maybe it might be a better product.

[grandpabruce]

I too have experienced the "trail version has expired" along with the "not able to boot Windows" which caused me no end of grief. I finally safe booted and was able to restore from a last known good state. the question I have is why do so many people have problems with Roxio creator? Is it that their QA dept didn't do a good enough job? did they rush v9? What did their development staff fail to do and take into account? What don't they have a clean "uninstall" that WORKS with us having to futz with the system registry and run Microsofts deinstaller program? Why is CD9 to "sensitive" that anything that affects any part of my Computer seems to have been magnified by CD9? If the product costs double of what they sell it for but they do a proper QA/QC job and provide a decent deinstaller and don't futz so much with the internal working of Windows...maybe it might be a better product.

Unfortunately, the software won't do computer maintenance on a person's computer and won't upgrade a computer that may be lacking. It sure would be nice if it did.

BTW, the Trial Version Has Expired has some known causes. Norton WinDoctor is one of them.

This post has been edited by grandpabruce: 01 May 2007 - 01:12 PM

[gi7omy]

And just to add to what Bruce said - the .msi file that does the installation is actually a file extension which means 'MicroSoft Installer' and that's why you use the MS Cleanup Util - to get rid of stuff that MSI won't take out, so put the blame where it belongs - a third party installation program

[grandpabruce]

The OP does use the automatic Norton One Button Checkup, and that was the problem.

[gi7omy]

Oh I know that bit Bruce - what I was answering was this bit

"...What don't they have a clean "uninstall" that WORKS with us having to futz with the system registry and run Microsofts deinstaller program?..."

MSI = Microsoft Installer: MSICUU = Microsoft Installer Cleanup Utility

[barryware]

And just to add to what Bruce said - the .msi file that does the installation is actually a file extension which means 'MicroSoft Installer' and that's why you use the MS Cleanup Util - to get rid of stuff that MSI won't take out, so put the blame where it belongs - a third party installation program

Man... I don't want to always sound confrontational but lets get this straight.

The MSI file among other things, contains a set of instructions that tells the installer program what to do AS WELL AS what to do during an uninstall.

During installation, an uninstall string of some sort is created. The program that is being installed creates the uninstall instructions just like it tells the installer what to do. It may be some type of informational file loaded on the users computer that is called by the installer (uninstaller) during removal of the program or it could be some type of "log" that records the steps of the installer and these steps are reversed to uninstall a program.

These uninstall instructions are sometimes in a file somewhere, sometimes they are in a registry sub key, sometimes it is a stand alone program that may either contain the instructions within or knows where to get the uninstall string. There are lots of techniques used.

I am over simplifying but you get the idea.

However, there may be a few exceptions. Sometimes programs overwrite common files during installation. Unless the overwritten file is backed up somewhere to be put back during the uninstall, the uninstaller should not just remove the file. Another application my use that file. If any of you have noticed, a lot of times a folder is left behind but that folder may contain a file added or created after the initial installation. A configuration file for instance.

What if a folder called "Schmo" is created by an installation routine. If the user installs additional software by "Schmo", it will probably use the same folder. So during uninstall of either program, "Schmo" can not be removed. However, if "Schmo" contains files unique to one of the programs, those files can be and should be removed from "Schmo"

It is common for an uninstall routine to leave certain things behind. It is intentional by the software supplier. For instance, your trial period has expired... What would prevent the user from just uninstalling, and reinstalling? There is data left behind in the registry that contains information about the initial install.

I am not complaining about Roxio or any other software developer. I am just saying that there is no reason that the install program can not create or put on the users computer the uninstall instructions to completely remove the installed program including all files, registry keys, shortcuts, and so on if given the proper uninstall instructions (created or loaded during install).

If I choose to remove a program, I want it gone completely. Especially the registry entries and the responsibility of creating uninstall routine(s) rests with the developer of the installed software.

[gi7omy]

I take your point - but let's face up to one basic fact - msi routines very rarely EVER do a clean removal, They always leave bits behind.

Why do you think that MS are giving away a Cleanup Utility for free?

[barryware]

I take your point - but let's face up to one basic fact - msi routines very rarely EVER do a clean removal, They always leave bits behind.

The msi routines follow the instructions given. Software publishers need to give the right instructions to msi. You are correct.. It is rare.

Why do you think that MS are giving away a Cleanup Utility for free?

The cleanup utility you are reffering to does nothing except remove orphaned add/remove program entries. .

I take that back.... Even if the add/remove entry is not orphaned, it will let you choose what you want to remove. This also removes the Windows Installer configuration information that is related to those programs which simply put, is the uninstall string.

It is not a full registry cleaner.

I don't know why it is free.

A full description of what the utility does and does not do is in the link below.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

[John at Roxio]

Message to the OP:
I want to add that other then some of the folks that hang around answering questions, people don't post here unless they have problems. So, all of the folks that you read about are the folks with problems. You dont read about the 99% of people that have never had a problem because they don't come here.

[dondec]

The OP does use the automatic Norton One Button Checkup, and that was the problem.

I also had the "Trial Version Expired" message a day or two after I installed EMC Deluxe Suite. For the record, after reading the posts here and elsewhere on the board, I investigated my Norton SystemWorks. You can check in its Options tab for whats going on.

* WinDoctor was completely shut off
* But One Button Cleanup had just ran that day (the day I got the Trail expired error)
* One Button Cleanup has a log facility and I did see it had cleaned up something with a Roxio name...
* So I tried to back-out that change and a few others

Backing out the change didn't work, so I guess whatever the program does when it detects this condition, I guess it locks itself so it cannot be "un-trialed" again (perhaps a security thing).

Given this, I followed the instructures to remove the product and do a clean install (http://kb.roxio.com/...ator/000086CR). Additionally I turned off the portions of Norton One Button Cleanup that deal with Registry Checking and verifying Programs being in the right place.

My heavens this is a long install... anyway...

At this point everything is working again and I'm burning my first DVD with video captured using the Dazzle DVC90 device (which works great).

If I have any more "trial expired" issues, I'll post them here.

[mojocom]

I don't have Norton.

I paid $70 for MyDVD premier and I can't use it because "The trial version has expired"

It's obviously a known issue, but the self serve tech support has nothing on it (and I tried every combiniation of "trial, expire, and error" I could think of).

This is extrememly frustrating and I'm going to wait one more day for an answer and then charge back the transaction.

[gi7omy]

Actually that is well covered in the threads here - the culprit is Norton Windoctor altering a registry key. McAfee also does the same

[Laura5]

Editorial

With all due respect, I do not believe this issue has been adequately covered, nor do I think I should have to spend several more hours scouring this board for answers to a problem on which I have spent countless hours already.

I've been working on this problem since February, have spent literally days working on it, and I STILL can't make it work.

I have gone through Roxio's uninstall-re-install process four times.

I have disabled my Norton software - even though Roxio doesn't suggest in its marketing literature that I might need to disable popular mainstream programs I have already paid for in order to use its software (and let's face it - Norton sells more copies of its software than Roxio's MyDVD).

Roxio finally suggested I un-install and re-install Windows. But - like most consumers - I purchased my computer with Windows pre-installed. It's the height of arrogance to suggest I should spend a full day un-installing and re-installing Windows, all my software and all my computer drivers - praying that my $1,500 computer will work as it did when I am finished - in order to use MyDVD. This is akin to suggesting I remove and re-install the engine on my car in my own garage, so that I can use my new radio.

I think this problem is a fatal flaw that renders the program unuseable for many consumers. A good company would step up to the problem and either offer an easy fix, or give people's money back without a problem. To do otherwise shows an extraordinary disdain for Roxio customers.

I purchased MyDVD to archive Tivo files. It does a tremendous disservice to Tivo customers who purchase the software on Tivo's recommendation. I also think it's just plain wrong of Tivo - a company I otherwise respect tremendously - to have a single-provider relationship with Roxio for a product as deeply flawed as this one.

I think I have a right to expect EITHER a quick solution, OR my money back for a program that has not worked as advertised. We shall see if I get it.

I also plan to write to Tivo Corporate and initiate a dialogue on ways to address this problem structurally. Tivo users should have the capability to archive their files on DVD without having to fight this kind of battle. The technology is certainly out there. All MyDVD really does is provide a filter (for which there are plenty of competitirs) and a cumbersome interface to access it.

Thank you for listening.

Laura in Boston

Actually that is well covered in the threads here - the culprit is Norton Windoctor altering a registry key. McAfee also does the same

[gi7omy]

The 'fatal flaw' as you call it is in Norton OBC - not in Roxio

Roxio doesn't mess up Norton - Norton messes up Roxio

[alduta]

The 'fatal flaw' as you call it is in Norton OBC - not in Roxio

Roxio doesn't mess up Norton - Norton messes up Roxio

With all due respect to this user (gi7omy) and others who have replied in a similar manner, I do not run any Norton or Mcafee products. So we're left with a major problem with how Roxio has set up their registration entries in the registry that makes their product vulnerable to 2 (or more) major products that handle systems utilities. Can Roxio put out a patch that will fix the vulnerability?

I've run through the clean up procedures recommended in other threads also, in case you're wondering. I was able to use the product for a day, then the next day I received the "trial period has expired" error again. Now gi7omy and others might be quick to reply that Norton (or a similar program) strikes again! In this case then only Roxio (not me) knows enough about what is being modified in the registry behind my back, in order to give us an exe patch or something that can restore it back. Is this too much for the technical support people?

I'm making a soft appeal here because I like Roxio's mydvd product and would like to continue to use it and recommend it to others.

[gi7omy]

What the problem is in your case, I can't say for certain. All I can say is that it's a known issue with Norton OBC and also the McAfee version that they hit a registry entry that should NOT be hit. This is not the fault of Roxio

Put it this way - you bring your car to be washed and they manage to put water in the fuel tank - is it the fault of the car maker (for allowing water to get in) or the fault of the washer for putting it in?

I personally won't use Norton - I use Ashampoo Winoptimizer which does everything that Norton does (and does it better) but does NOT hit registry entries for applications

Roxio does not 'modify' the registry any more than any other app modifies it - it registers - but all apps do that.

Norton is cleaning the registry - but is cleaning stuff that should NOT be cleaned - if a patch is needed, then it is Symantec who need to do the patching. This isn't the first time they messed up with an application (it has happened before)

You say you don't run Norton or McAfee - what utility do you run if any?

[jdrnd]

I had same problem.

I have a homemade computer AMD dual 939 4200 processor, ATI 1950 graphics (AGP), soundblaster audigy 2 card, 2 gB RAM, windows xp pro SP2.

Installed EMC 9 deluxe, just as I finish installing the program, I'm asked if I want to search for upgrade. I say yes (of course I want the latest) (I think it installed service pack 1 (e)). I reboot and EMC9 works. Three hours later, I go to show the program to my daughter and the "Trial version expired" message appeared. I go to the support site and follow the instructions...see below.

I do clean install (after uninstall). Interestingly, during the reinstall it did not ask me if i wanted search for any upgrades.

It works again!! (by the way) the Tools > Options > General > "check for upgrade" box is checked.

Five hours later I find the "Trial version expired" message is back. This time I use Norton "Goback" and I go back five hours... it works again.

Three hours later oops "Trial version expired" occurs again. I use "Goback" still again. It works again... but this time I go into the Tools > Options > General > "check for upgrade" box. I uncheck the box.

The "trial version expired" message has not happened since I unchecked the box. I think the service pack upgrade module is defective.

[gi7omy]

It's not so much a defective update as a non-existent update. The latest version is 9.1 (but most here have 9.0 because, although the 9.1 is available as a download, the patch still hasn't materialised)

[mlure]

Beautifully versed Laura5. Thank you!

Roxio failed to make their software compatible with registry cleaning software already in use.

It IS their failure to address this problem as they HAVE NOT. Instead they came out with EMC10 with a new price tag and no suggestions for help with EMC9's numerous problems. We have been ignored.

Many of us cannot get our money back as it was bought retail and of course we opened the box.
I am disappointed enough in Roxio that I wont be buying anything else Sonic.

[gi7omy]

Actually if you check the utilities that are causing the problem came out AFTER EMC9 was released

I'm not pointing a finger here, but as a service engineer of many years standing and latterly a service manager for an electronics firm here I had one simple rule: 'If I break something, it's MY job to fix it'

Now Norton and McAfee broke EMC9 - EMC9 didn't break them

btw - I gave up on Norton a long time back and use Ashampoo's WinOptimizer instead (and that doesn't break EMC9)