Anyone still registering shareware? Or is this a topic that's too old to discuss?

I remember shareware when I was using 8088 and 286/386 class machines. I
always wanted to register but never had the funds (at the time). Now I
can still find the applications, but the authors are long gone and
there's no way to register.

I also still see the older applications I had registered, but don't have
the keys or codes for any longer.

Searching for keys or codes on old software is a bust nowdays. So is
there anyone who can help with this?

Or is it just a lost cause?

Thanks

... I call things as I see them; If I didn't see them, I make them up!

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (1:135/363)

Hello Don!

12 May 25 11:08, you wrote to all:

First try to google the product or search you local BBS systems for a later copy of the s/w.

How ever, it is more likely that the Author/programmer has left fido / bbsing etc. so the need to register is no longer possible.

I will admit that I made a copy of the reg. keys in a special folder and copied
that over along with many other whenever I upgraded the system and from DOS that was over 30+ years ago as I switched to using OS/2 and again around 25+ years ago switched to Linux.

Anyone still registering shareware? Or is this a topic that's too old
to discuss?

I remember shareware when I was using 8088 and 286/386 class machines.
I always wanted to register but never had the funds (at the time). Now
I can still find the applications, but the authors are long gone
and there's no way to register.

I also still see the older applications I had registered, but don't
have the keys or codes for any longer.

Searching for keys or codes on old software is a bust nowdays. So is
there anyone who can help with this?

Or is it just a lost cause?

Vincent


--- Mageia Linux v9 X64/Mbse v1.1.1/GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240604
* Origin: Air Applewood, The Linux Gateway to the UK & Eire (2:250/1)

Anyone still registering shareware? Or is this a topic that's too old to discuss?

I'd register if there was any shareware I needed/wanted. I registed quite a bit of shareware back in the day.

Or is it just a lost cause?

It probably is a lost cause looking for shareware authors from the 90's. Not hopeless but I think you'll not find many today.

--- BBBS/Li6 v4.10 Toy-7
* Origin: The Rusty MailBox - Penticton, BC Canada (1:153/757)

Quoting Vincent Coen to Don Vally <=-

Hello Don!

First try to google the product or search you local BBS systems for a later copy of the s/w.

How ever, it is more likely that the Author/programmer has left fido / bbsing etc. so the need to register is no longer possible.

Yea for the applications I am interested in, the search results are
nil. The applications are ones that the author would send a 'key disk'
for which was registered to my name. So no luck looking for that on
systems I have perused. Hence my message.

I will admit that I made a copy of the reg. keys in a special folder
and copied that over along with many other whenever I upgraded

I can only kick myself for not doing this at the time. The only other
way I can think of is to reverse engineer, but I am clueless when it
comes to that arena.

Thanks for your reply...

Have a great day!

Anyone still registering shareware? Or is this a topic that's too old
to discuss?

I remember shareware when I was using 8088 and 286/386 class machines.
I always wanted to register but never had the funds (at the time). Now
I can still find the applications, but the authors are long gone
and there's no way to register.

I also still see the older applications I had registered, but don't
have the keys or codes for any longer.

Searching for keys or codes on old software is a bust nowdays. So is
there anyone who can help with this?

Or is it just a lost cause?

... Danger, Vincent Coen! Off-topic messages! Danger!

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (1:135/363)

Quoting Alan Ianson to Don Vally <=-

Anyone still registering shareware? Or is this a topic that's too old to discuss?

I'd register if there was any shareware I needed/wanted. I registed
quite a bit of shareware back in the day.

Or is it just a lost cause?

It probably is a lost cause looking for shareware authors from the
90's. Not hopeless but I think you'll not find many today.

Yeah, that's kind of what I figured but just wanted to ask.

I was able to connect with my old text editor (Boxer 7.5) author David
Hammel and he did let me register that software, but he no longer
provided the manual for it. Which was OK with me, so now I am able to
use my old editor again without the nags.

Thanks for your reply and have a wonderful day!

... If a cow doesn't produce any milk is it a Milk Dud or an udder failure

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (1:135/363)

Re:
By: Don Vally to ALL on Mon May 12 2025 11:08:27

Searching for keys or codes on old software is
a bust nowdays. So is there anyone who can
help with this, or is it just a lost cause?

Depends on your patience and how big a net your casting.
--- SBBSecho 3.26-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)

Quoting Mortar M. to Don Vally <=-

Searching for keys or codes on old software is
a bust nowdays. So is there anyone who can
help with this, or is it just a lost cause?

Depends on your patience and how big a net your casting.

I guess I must not be devoting enough resources to the search or I'm
not asking the right questions. Care to share where you think I should
cast my net?

Thanks for your reply, have a great day!

... 90% of being smart is knowing what you're dumb at.

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (1:135/363)

Re: Sharing is Caring
By: Don Vally to MORTAR M. on Wed May 14 2025 08:01:50

Care to share where you think I should cast my
net?

Not specifically, but your right, search engines won't be much help; too obscure. I'd start hitting the various social media sites, focusing on their BBS/retro-computing forums. Also, don't discount places like YouTube, there's a ton of BBS/Retro vids there; Make inquires in the comments.

Look anywhere and everywhere.
--- SBBSecho 3.27-Linux
* Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)

Quoting Mortar M. to Don Vally <=-

Re: Sharing is Caring
By: Don Vally to MORTAR M. on Wed May 14 2025 08:01:50

Care to share where you think I should cast my
net?

Not specifically, but your right, search engines won't be much help;
too obscure. I'd start hitting the various social media sites,
focusing on their BBS/retro-computing forums. Also, don't discount
places like YouTube, there's a ton of BBS/Retro vids there; Make
inquires in the comments.
Look anywhere and everywhere.

Hey Mortar, thanks for your reply and help! I'll keep looking, just
wondered if anyone knew something I didn't.

Have a great day!

... Radioactive cats have 18 half-lives

___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.20
--- SBBSecho 3.23-Linux
* Origin: CJ's Place, Orange City FL > cjsplace.thruhere.net (1:135/363)