Question for you clever people

[tnx]

Well what i fancy doing is,errrrrr i dont know how to explain it properly...Here goes..

I have some apps that need a code to activate them...You know the type during the installation it will ask for a code to be put in the boxes...These apps, i have have the codes to go with them so i'm definatly NOT asking for owt like that..But...

Well one of them has the code allready there in the boxes and it installs all by it self....Paint Shop Pro 9 to be exact....I have a proper cd install disc.

This puzzles me and i got to thinking...If one app can have the code allready there why cant other APPs do the same....

I'm still not asking for codes...

Is there a way to take the APPs exe,disasemble it,put the code where it should be,re-asemble it so when the exe is installed there is no need to type a code in.

Does this make sense...It does to me,but i'm writing it...i hope it does...

I know it would probely be a long winded way of doing it and typing the code in would be easier but thats not the point....

I suppose if i learn how to do this i will \ might be part way to learning how to crack stuff myself.....I mean these "KeyGens" etc.....How do they do it ???

Well if your still with me any help would be great....

[Rocol]

Well, firstly mate, I doubt that including the activation code to a program, on the actual CD / DVD would be very benificial to the Publishers, nor the creator, for obvious reason ;)

I understand what you are asking, and agree it would be a good thing for the ' End User ' but it would be totally illegal to do it without the Authors permission, as it would be breaching any copyright that may be have been put in place by both the Author and the Publishers, insomuch as you would actually be changing the program Operational Code.

To do something like that you would need to have a very good knowledge of the basic programming principles and also in both Binary and Hexadecimal Coding, not to mention the more popular methods used, such as C++, etc. The best way to get to grips with programming principles is to start at the ' Grass Roots ' and practice making a simple program, and operating it, using good old ' Basic Programming Language ' as was used in the early DOS days ;)

Basically a program is constructed of 3 parts, all of which are interactive with each other and certain criteria must be met to satisfy the requirements of each part, before it will pass on to the next.

The main basic parts of a program consist of ...

Argumentable
Conditional
Executable

Although not necessarilly in that order, the first two are the main factors that must be satifisfied before the executable will come into effect ... ie, the game / application runs.

Conditional sets out the criteria that must exist before anything further can be done .. this is where you will find the requirements for some form of activation to take place.

Argumentable does as it says, it gives commands of what should and what should not take place / exist, and gives arguement as to how it should be interpereted, when a particular action is carried out and what to do if criteria X-Y-Z are not met.

Executable will only come into play when both the Argumental and Conditional sections are happy with each other and they are happy that its needs have been met.

As said, this is only an absolute basic explanation, as different coding methods may use different terminology, but it might just show you that it is no easy task that you are thinking of.

Hope that has helped you a bit ;)

[tnx]

Well....Gosh...Wush....right over my head....But i've heard of C++ i will have to track it down....
Would an hexidecimal app help me out here you recon.....
As for the leagl side of things....Of course i understand all that.....I never do owt bad me.... ......

It might just be typing time......

[Rocol]

Lol, yes mate, a Hexadecimal Calculator / Converter would help you, but you would still need to be conversant with the Hexadecimal values for Upper Case / Lower Case letters and a knowledge of the Hexadecimal values of numbers from 0 - 255 as a minimum.

[tnx]

ohhhhh.....well you never know i might track down "WinHex" ... I think thats what its called...

mean while all the Alchemy Mindworks software is getting installed,after my fresh OS install....

All those codes to be typed in....Do you see where i'm coming from now Rocol..
Imagine being able to just click "install" and there are the codes just waiting for you...Cool i recon...

Just summet new to learn ...Maybe...

[tnx]

Rocol.....I am wetting myself....Honest.....

I got WinHex ( easy to find ) and i ran one of the GIF plugins from the alchem set i have....

What did it say.....jeeeeesss...

It reads and i'm not kidding....get this...

"If you're reading this, you're a sneaky little ba**ard.
;
;Transitions #3 Plugin install script"

Funny or what....It does really say it.....

[Rocol]

Roflmao, I think they were expecting a visit .. you often get that though

[tnx]

Well so far i have managed to alter the exe in 2 ways....the 1st so it wouldnt install at all the the second so it missed off some text...

I have no idea what i am doing but if i can alter it enough so it wont run or miss writing off then i recon i might stumble accross how to change a word so it will change from "Registration name" to ( lets say ) Donald duck or summet stupid like that.Well i recon then i might find out the command for where the code goes...

Its fun though.....

Plus there might be another APP capable of making the job easier..i dont know...

I am very sneaky....

[Rocol]

Lol, that's the way to do it mate, practice and more practice .. as I have said, if you have a working knowledge, of Hexadecimal, it does make things a lot easier .. as you ahve some idea what you are looking for ;)

Another ruse that is used, is called the ' Checksum ' you will need to find that and compensate for any values you may change, so that they all add up to what they should ;)

[tnx]

How do you know all this lot.....

Mr Safety MAn.......no PC expert....

Any how......beddy time.....grrrrrrrrrr