Just thought I'd post a reply from Eltima I received in my email about my dilemma above.

Begin email Eltima wrote
==================================
Thank you for contacting us.

Actually, we are not aware of such issue, i.e. nobody of GAOTD members
reported us of such issue. I don't think software can unregister itself
somehow, at least we have never experienced such issues.

Feel free to ask if you have any further questions.

** Because the majority of requests require research to resolve, it can
sometimes take us up to 48 hours to respond, though we make every effort
to get back to you as quickly as possible and most queries are answered
within 24 hours. **
--
Best regards,
Maria Grunnet, IT Manager

Eltima Software
support@eltima.com

ICQ 440270352
YIM maria.grunnet
MSN maria.grunnet@hotmail.com
AIM mariagrunnet
Skype maria.eltima

Our YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/EltimaSoftware

+1 425 748 5166 / US (PST)
+1 360 312 7638 /US (CET)
+44 131 208 3240 /UK (CET)
+49 322 233 39744/DE (CET)

More contact details:
http://www.eltima.com/company/contacts/

Home: http://www.eltima.com
Blog: http://blog.eltima.com

I wrote in the beginning to them:
> I just wanted you to know that I downloaded and installed your software
> showkit just recently from Giveawayoftheday.com. It registered and
> worked fine for a few days and now it will not accept the registration
> key and goes into demo mode. It basically unregistered itself from my
> computer a few days after activating it.
>
> I did like this software and was using it and was very dissapointed to
> find that it acted this way.
>
> I am going to post in the GOTD forum.
>
> To rectify the situation I would only like for the software to be as it
> was when I downloaded and installed from GOTD. Fully registered.

=========================================
end email
>

And so the story goes. No solution here.

Well my copy registered all right that day but today it is a demo. It only stayed registered for a few days. I have wrote to Eltima but am very disappointed in this one.
Enough that I will not even entertain the thought of purchasing any of their software.
I was right in the middle of some projects and now I have to start all over because I cannot use this.

Rune
It looks as if the updated version has no time restriction anymore and is a full license... but unfortunately it's restricted to the 5 templates that came with it.

arenegade, if I ate all the egg that's landed on my face over the years, my cholesterol level wouldn't be as low as it is. However, can't see where I recv'd any collateral "yoke" damage from this adventure, and my question about whether the date read will fritz the "lifetime license" in 369, 368, 367 days is still valid.

Oh this figures. I tried the registration codes again and now it works. I had tired it several times before. Even reinstalled and still the same thing. I complain and now it works.............

Sorry. Running XP SP2 Downloaded ShowKit(upd).zip and unzipped. Opened readme.txt. Installed program. Started and chose project, template, etc. Clicked Help and entered registration info from the readme.txt file. Got message and registration was only valid on such and such date, buy a license.

What does not work?
Please tell us what you did or did not and how you did it, and what system you are running ( Vista or XP or win3.1 or whatever ).
I'm sure, then someone will be able to give you an answer.
But be aware, not every system harmonises with every software.

Well I just downloaded it at 7:00pm CST and it still does not work.

Well RunesageMagi, seems today the "yoke" is on you :)

Thank you lox. Hope you're well. Show.kit installed okay this time, though considering how little I've used flash, the learning curve, and how many folks find Flash/Adobe annoying in the extreme and an ever-present security risk, I'll just let my friendly web host cobble something together if a need arises. He uses software we tyros can't afford.

I received an email earlier.

Dear Lee,

Thank you for contacting us.

New build of Show.kit was released at GAOTD. Problem with registration
was fixed. Now you receive lifetime license for 5 templates without time
limits. Download the new build from GAOTD website please.

Feel free to ask if you have any further questions.

Notice the bold.

Hi, Rune, please read my answer for borruso, I hope the update will work now:
# borruso

Eltima has more egg on its face than a short order cook with a bad case of delirium tremens on FREE OMELET FRIDAYS.
GAOTD's boyz behind the curtain get splattered with uncooked yoke each time one of these glitches slips through, too.

I'm reading that the system change workaround actually works, but (to use a line from Dustin Hoffman's great movie, Marathon Man... "Iz eet safe?") Actually, I realize there's no harm in doing this (unless some other idiotic programmer demands that your PC speak English) but I haven't seen anyone verify that you can switch back to "normal" time after registering and all will still work.

Inquiring sick minds wanna know:
1- Has anyone rebooted, changed to "normal" time and then encountered problems relaunching the registered version? (i.e., Does the software check dates each time it's launched?)

2- If you forget to lower the US flag and reraise dur Fatherland's before the software counts to 369, will it read the "wrong" date again and self-destruct? Would be interested to hear if any adventurous soul's tried spinning the calendar forward 370 days.

Speaking of inquiries... the other day I sent a polite email to ADMIN (well, cough cough, ahem, polite for me) inquiring about the disappearance of archived comments on past giveaways. No response. Did I miss a memo or is this another yoke splatter?

i ve downloaded a template from website manually, and open it from desktop.
when i tried to make changes to 1st + 2nd page, Warning pop up >> saying
SHow.kit is working in "demo" mode? and cant edit 2 first slides.
keyin registry details, and went throuhg, but back to - cannot make changes, pls register..
anybody having same issue or jus me?

error connection when trying "download more template"
how to solve this?

Nothing like a global software company that writes software for... Germans.

Other nationalities need not apply / purchase / register.

I guess they have the market cornered - but I'm not in the mood to change my system regional settings so the software can install...

I'll wait for the international release.

Their marketing director must be furious - spotlight shining on Eltima Software, the music stops, everyone turns to look... and someone creeps up behind the product on display to the world - and pulls down its pants.

Yep.Temporarily changing the Regional options - in the Control panel - to German seems to do the trick.LOL.
License will expire in 369 days.

The solution hauptstadtde posted actually works:

Changing the time/date format to German(Germany) does in fact allow you to register the software correctly.

Changing your region from USA -> Germany does not.

Yes...same here. I even ran setup.exe to the point just before the install so as to connect to the Giveaway site again. No joy!

Dear visitors of GiveAwayOfTheDay!

The registration problem (error message:“‘19.12.2008′ is not a valid date”) has been solved.

Please try to repeat the registration procedure.

Regards,
Giveaway of the Day project team.

Was posted in comments. But I still get error while trying to register :(

Also Eltima's IT Manager doesn't sound like she knows of this 'fix' mentioned in the comments - she said she is still working on it.

I talked with Eltima Software's IT Manager. She tested it out and agreed that there is an error registering the software. She said Eltima is going to perform an internal investigation and post an update when they find some soft of solution on GOTD website.

Ditto here. FAULTY Read Date. "Americans" don't typically use the dd-mm-yy numeric format anyway. Perhaps the code doesn't just read the date string, it auto-juxtaposes it. DUMB This software ranks near the top of bizarre installs. Where does GAOTD find these guys?? The developer's familiarity with the concept of standardization seems nonexistent. What sort of programmer thinks it's cute to create an intro page that offers no way to exit except by forcing users to create a bloody project? I've no problem with the 24-hour registration window, but I usually do not have TIME nor am I often in the mood to be trying to learn a freaking program when I first download/install it.

The front page probably will be flooded by desperate non US residents.
But it's only 04:10 AM over there, so it might take them a while to notice...

same here even trying to use the clock of my home planet

Yes indeed.

I did change my clock to US and it still gives the same response.

I did email them and they have yet to respond.

Just have to wait I guess.

And me too. I mentioned it in the comments section. How shortsighted of them, lol

Yup...I got the same error as well. If it can't be fixed without changing my system around, I guess I will be uninstalling this one unfortunately.

I found an error already, 19.12.2008 is not a valid date.

This happens during registration.

So I guess they don't recognise how non-Americans do their dates.

I am writing to them now.