Correct Keilaron, I was thinking with respect of what I use for decompression.

I have corrected it to zip.

Zip file, you mean ;>
You may be using WinRAR, Lee, but it's still a zip file =/

Also as Alex has not mentioned they download the shareware or demo from the authors site which may have the same build number but has certain coding to make sure it only works with the activation.exe here.

I will add also that some users don't decompress the 'zip' file correctly and scream about not being able to find the activation file.

Dear slgraycols, since I'm frequenting this site I've downloaded a bundle of programs and with a few exceptions they all got registered correctly.

Usually I go the other way, activate first, then install, then check if program is properly registered. If not, run activate again. If still not, read comments (case of Magic Score) or follow Lee's instructions about checking registration info in the registry.
That however might be for a bit more advanced users.

But the point is, both ways work just fine. The comments are usually from people that just forget about activating, whether before or after installing. I sometimes recommend the download to friends and since I'm in a Spanish speaking country tell them explicitly in the chat in which order to proceed. But do you think they do? No, they always come back and scream: this is only a demo ....
Go figure that.

My name is 'Lee' without quotes; not Mr Lee.

The contact form is on the front page at the bottom of the page, however, I have pasted it below for you.

http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/about/contact/

Hope you can find an answer.

Apart form some issues users have, you might want to indicate what operating system you run as I believe (not being a vista of any flavour user) activation is run different than XP and older.

I do believe you need to run activate.exe as an admin by right clicking it and following prompts.

Don't quote me on that as I have written I am not a vista user.

Mr Lee, thank you for your quick reply. I am assuming that as the title Moderator is given under your name that you are closely involved with this GAOTD project. I do not understand and am frustrated with the instructions given above. I also run Windows XP SP2.
I have looked through many readme files of previous GAOTD offerings, as I still have them on my computer. Every one that I read (when there was an 'install/setup' file and a separate 'activation' file) invariably instructed the reader to "Unzip the package you`ve downloaded and run the activation program Activate.exe which is included in the package, then run Setup.exe to install the software." While here in the forums (and in user comments on flashspring offering the other day), instructions are given that I should run setup first then activation.
I DON’T UNDERSTAND why the conflicting instructions exist and I don't understand why GAOTD doesn't see this as an issue to be improved. Also, if the readme files are incorrect or proper activation/registration is dependent upon different systems, then why aren't readme files either corrected, or the instructions expanded upon to include the proper information.
I don't want to guess every time I try to install a product from here. I don't have an hour or more a day to read all the comments (to determine if there are problems), download and install the product, AND test it to make sure it's registered properly. Sometimes I have to do testing and playing around on different days.
The fact that I even had to research this issue on this site and correspond about it is use of my time that I have to consider probably better spent elsewhere. But as I consider this an interesting and, so far, useful service, I took the time to write this post. I am unlikely to waste too much more of my time with problems such as this. I am chagrinned that there are dozens of programs on my system from your service and several of them may be demos (that would have been an incredible waste of my time.)
I also want to add that even though many have commented about this ongoing problem (to be met with nasty cries from other users of RTFM), many probably haven’t commented and, I’m sure, may have just written this site off. That is equivalent in Brick and Mortar customer service to voting with your feet. I do plan to write to the flashspring and the Multistage recovery program developers within the next couple of days to let them know of this issue and see if it may be of any concern to them.

Is there any way these setup and activation procedures (or at least instructions) can be better handled at GAOTDs end? One shouldn’t have to search the forums for proper installation instructions.

Mr Lee, if you are closely involved with GAOTDs offerings and even you have to ‘scream and cry’ about this, then GAOTD needs to put more work into the delivery of these products through their website. Even if you are mostly just an end user, you still shouldn’t have to scream and cry and count elephants (rotfl)to get a fully functioning product since that is what is said to be offered. Otherwise, if only some of the downloaders are getting fully functional products then what is the point?
Mr. Lee, if you are not closely involved in these GAOTD offerings and have no input over this issue, can you please instruct me to whom I may direct this posting? Thanks again for your time.

It's what works best for you.

I install application first, I then open it after installation has completed, I then close the application.

I then run activate.exe to register application then close activate.exe

I then open application to make sure it's registered, if not I check registry to look for reg details.

I then copy reg details and enter them manually.

If this still doesn't work, I scream and cry for a bit and then I count to 10, 1 Elephant, 2 Elephant etc... etc... and try again.

Only one application I never got to register properly, when others did, illusion something or what ever.

Apart from that everything is o.k.

I run Windows XP SP2 Pro.

Mr Lee, could you please confirm the correct order of installing these products? Is it activate first and then setup (as indicated in the readme files) or is it the opposite order as indicated by user maizeydaze above. I have had problems now two days in a row. (flashspring and multi recovery) and I know that I am following the instructions per the readme files. I have 2-3 gigs of GAOTD programs on my computer. Many I have used but some I have not tried yet as I haven't had cause to use them already. I would hate to have to think I had a usable tool on my computer and then go to use it and it only functions as a demo. I was very disappointed with being unable to use the last two programs, esp multistage recovery as many seemed to like it. Unfortunately I only activated/setup those two products within the time period and didn't actually try them until the next day. Thanks

Version 3 works with 2007.

The author offered a link to that in the comments on front page.

I am having trouble ... Have today's GAofD FlashSrping Pro 2.2 installed. However it is NOT showing up in the Add-Ins in my PPT 2007. There is no toolbar showing for it. I have made sure that add-ins & macros are allowed on the computer, as well as VBA support. Ugh! I need this to work right - It is a program I have need of RIGHT NOW for a project due today.

Any help for me or suggestions.
I am running a VISAT Bus. OS & Office 2007

You know, I've never had a problem at all with install and activation. I activate first, then install the program, but I never launch it immediately. For some reason, the times I did that showed the program wasn't registered. If I go to it after the install, though, and don't launch it when the box says to Launch Program Now?, it always shows that it's registered.

Cindy

The instructions used to be in the reverse order, I believe. Sadly, since some programs remain in the tray and many users don't notice this (and therefore the programs still indicate 'not registered' since they haven't been restarted), GotD decided to tell users to run Activate first. Sadly (again), some programs remove existing registration data when they're installed(?), it seems.

It appears that the readme file instructions are incorrect. Here is what it says (copied and pasted from my readme file):
"Unzip the package you`ve downloaded and run the activation program
Activate.exe which is included in the package, then run Setup.exe to
install the software."

I just reversed the order. Ran Setup.exe, did not open FlashSpring, then ran Activate.exe. Now it is registered!

I followed the instructions in the readme file (as always). Got the activation successful popup but it shows as unregistered in the about screen on the Flash Spring toolbar within PowerPoint. I'm running PowerPoint 2002 SP3 on Windows XP. I download and install many programs from GOTD and this is the first time that I've experienced any problem with registration.

Is anyone else having this problem? Anyone know how to get around this? In the meantime I'm going to uninstall and try again. I'll let you know if this works.