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.