Well you bring up a good point and I agree completely. I won't press this matter any further, I was just very curious and I know how people are, if there is a falsehood, they will be crying on their lawyer's shoulder. This is why my thought was borderline false advertisement. Free, but can't use after re-install. Either way I don't think i'll worry about it. This is all speculation anyway and i'm sure the Admins know what they are doing so i'll just stick around and enjoy this. I admit, this is all very new and an awesome way to get other's to try software. My hopes are it keeps the pirates at sea as well. Microsoft should learn from GAOTD. The genuine advantage at MS, you get software you should have gotten as a bonus for paying through the nose for it anyway, lol. BTW, nice to meet you Bill. At least people seem friendly here which is an excellent plus too. Now I can hear my wife telling me, oh no, not another forum, now i'll never see you, lol.

Paul

Yes I understand what you are saying Paul. But GAOTD is based on something completely different than what we our used too. It is a brand new concept. And the big bonus for us is that we can try software we would have never bothered with before.

And try it as long as our computers will let us. Someday our hard drive will fail or we buy a new computer. So it is free, but comes with a few restrictions. Not as bad as trial software though.

As I am pretty sure I will continue to have all of this software to about 2011 at least. My then, it will be really outdated anyway. So I don't see it as a big deal. And those I really want, I will have upgraded and bought the newer versions anyway.

I personally like to see this GAOTD concept work. As you don't know how many trial software programs I have installed thinking that maybe I could use it and I get busy with other things and the trial period is already over with when I find sometime to play with it.

Oh I understand that, Erunt is right on my desktop. I guess , and perhaps i'm being picky, but if something says it's free to own as if we bought it, then it should be just that. It would seem that while you and I know how to backup our registry, etc...how many don't? If in fact you cannot use it after a fresh install "excluding backups" then it's trial, not free, no? Let's face it, with Windows, many do reinstalls ALL the time and I am actually surprised how many don't know how or even about backing up. So here we have say 200 people who get a software they think is FREE and they reinstall Windows, even if they have the original setup file and find it won't activate. I think there is simply a fine line here. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying this is true, i'm not assuming anything but I would like to know is all. I still think it's great here and all but I do feel it's a good question and should be validated.

Paul

Well Paul... for most of them, all you have to do is to backup your registry with something like ERUNT (free) and the program folder and you should be all set (rarely some programs does dump files in your Windows folders too). So you just need the most recent working backup of the registry. As they contain all of the keys and all of everything you installed earlier anyway.

BillW50, thanks for the info and the reply. I do back up all the time, it's part of my career after all, however, if something is completely free, I shouldn't have to back up my whole drive for the sake of that Free software in fear it's not going to be free after I re-install. Besides, backing to removable media when you get some progs isn't bad but backing up the WHOLE hard drive for the sake of them is a bit extreme. YW about Vnunet. However, they don't run a new one every day but maybe a few a month but they last for a few weeks to get them. Either way it's nice. I have paragon exact image, drive copy, Reg mechanic, among others from there. But here, you see a new one every day which is nice too. I just want to know if they are still viable if you reinstall, "assuming the downloaded program original is backed up and used" of course.

Thanks,
Paul

Well to be honest... those that do full backups will not lose anything. And thanks for the tip about Vnunet. <grin>

Now, first of all, I love this place so don't take this the wrong way. I have seen other arguments in the forum which prompted me to join the forum. The argument is, if you re-install Windows, do you have full free software that you download from the giveaway of the day? I have seen most answers as NO, it goes back to trial and that's it. Also it says no other site offers such a deal but that is a bit incorrect. Vnunet offers such offers and it's free for as long as you use it, you get a key code etc...I got Paragon partition manager, registry mechanic and many others for FREE with a reg key. If I re-install, they are still mine to use. I am not comparing but this is a fact. As well, is this a true statement then to say this Giveaway software is truly FREE? Not really. I didn't read in any of my downloads that said it was no longer free if I did a re-install of my system. I found no such limitations so in fact if this happens isn't it false advertisement unless this stipulation is in nice plain writing? No, i'm not going to sue, lol. I am not like that but some may. Ok, in defense of GOTD, this is from users saying if reinstalled you lose your full liscensed "FREE" software so I am taking this with, well a hand full of salt, not a grain but if someone could set me straight it would be appreciated. I love this site so far and want to think I am getting what I am told i'm getting is all. Thanks and so far great job with GOTD :)

Paul