DVrack activation bug!

nsoltz said:
You can't delete the Softwrap folder since that is part of the whole activation scheme. It may be a pain, but call the toll free number to Softwrap, give them your particulars and they will help you activate the software. Once I finally got activated, I have had no problems.

Ned
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I have spokew with them, and I did activate it "succesfully"... they were the ones that told me to delete it and then re-install, I was told to go in SAFE mode an delete it like that, but it cannot be done!!!

they created a folder in my computer that is preventing me from being able to install it OR activate it... so they should be paying me interest on the $500 and they should create a partch that does it automatically instead of having me work for them by having to spend my time troubleshooting with a tech that has no clue as to how to turn a PC on and paying for the phonecall, and of course, they should fix the program for all other future customers... and it shouldn't take this long
 
GreenFern said:
TwoHatCat,

Have you had the same problem with shooting in 1080 24P or 30P? Cuz that's what I'd really like the program for. But if it's going to give me similar problems, I'm going to ask for my money back.
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I have not tried it with 1080p/24p, but the problem will most probably be there. But remember that it only happens if you mix a standard frame rate with DV Rack's unfortunate hybrid. (And 1080p/24p over 60, and 720p/24p over 60 -- the most common formats -- are 59.54, not 23.976) If all of your shoot is on DV Rack you shouldn't suffer, but my crew's problem was that it is impractical (at the very least) to haul a laptop and cable with you in a action shot with a moving camera.

Another solution is to do like THof does, and buy Edius. It does have a few nice features, but it's a rather expensive solution to a problem that should not exist in the first place. Third party vendors like DV Rack should code their products for the mainsteam, and Edius is so far off the beaten track that it is lost in the woods, even with all of its nice features. (That is a shame; I would like to be able to jusify one of those systems as a second station; it's really pretty cool. But for now I will stick with my Avid Nitris.)

So, if you don't demand your money back, be very careful to do some tests before you shoot. My crew didn't, and they were in Florida while I am in Los Angeles...and they had only bought DV Rack the night before their first shooting day. Don't rely on their "manual" or "help". It is poorly organized, and you can easily miss some important things. And above all, don't pay any attention to their advertising hype.

I, for one, would prefer that they iron out their problem (including activation) because the concept is good. But for now, I will take my HD field monitor and my SD field monitor along with me on my shoots, and compare what DV Rack does with what I know will not be a disaster. It is just too new to trust.

Of course, if you stuck to 30i ntsc...
 
USLatinContent said:
If anyone knows how to delete the SoftWrap folder installed from using the trial from your computer please help!

Then if anyone knows of a particular way we have to perform the activation steps so that we don't run into any other probems, please make it known.
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The only way that my tech savvy wife was able to delete the Softwrap folder and it's contents, was to move up several directories to the All Users folder( the directory path is C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Shared Documents\Softwrap) and drag the All Users folder to the desktop, thus breaking the directory link/path that the files require. She deleted the Softwrap folder, dragged the All Users folder back into it's proper place and trhus I was able to reinstall and get past the activation loop I was stuck in.

I assume that this eliminated the file(s) that were causing a conflict between activating a full version while having had a trial version previously installed.

I hope this helps :)
 
John, I tried to do it, but I couldn't get it to work...
I copied about five ramdom folders into the All Users folder and then tried to cut/copy it to the desktop, but I get a prompt saying it is needed by the OS so it canot be moved.
 
If you know your way around the command prompt, you can always start in Safe Mode with Command Prompt -- that will avoid loading all of SoftCrap BS that might keep you from deleting the folder it resides in.
 
THoff said:
If you know your way around the command prompt, you can always start in Safe Mode with Command Prompt -- that will avoid loading all of SoftCrap BS that might keep you from deleting the folder it resides in.
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I had already tried that, and to my surprise, the files in the Softwrap folder would not even allow deletion in safe mode using a command prompt and DOS commands.

The only thing that worked for me was what my wife did in moving the All Users folder to the desktop.

USLatin, you should not have to copy anything to the All Users folder. In any case, maybe you have other files that require running on your system that I did not have on my system.

Try moving the All Users folder to the desktop in safe mode after you have run task manager to close down all unnescessary programs first (in safe mode as well) and then delete the Softwrap stuff.

Good Luck
 
Nope... I tried moving it in Safe mode... didn't work. thank you so much though John!

What really pisses me off is that those guys at SoftCrap don't even call or e-mail me!!!Only once did I get an e-mail letting me know that they were looking at it, none to let me know they still are. Only only twice I got a call, and I probably called them 10 times! E-mailed them 4! They are trully ruining this for me!!!
 
This Softwrap activation scheme is way more trouble than it's worth. I hope Adobe realizes how much it is killing potential sales. After my nightmare with my own activation I am still worried that something may go wrong with any future updates or upgrades. Things are pretty bad when I've got a great program that I want to rely on for professional use and at the same time I am worried that I won't be able to access the program every time I launch it. I will feel so much better around my clients when Softwrap is eliminated from the software. It is just like USLatin said to me before, it is more like a virus than a legit piece of activation software.
 
FYI. There is a program called Gipo (I think), that is real good about allowing you to delete files, folders, and programs, that you are unable to delete. Anybody having this problem in the future, might give it a shot.

Jason
 
ok, found it! will dl and try when I get back from work in the AM, thanks John and Jason, will report on Gipo

Today thir support lines were busy, no answer to my e-mails, it has been 13 days since I paid for DVrack!!!
 
Guess what! I went to the Serious Magic site today to find the number for support and bug them again (Softcrap) and as of today's morning when you click on DVrack under support it takes you to an Adobe website!!!

I can only think that this is a good thing! I am currently on hold, but I am talking to a different kind of customer support! The Adobe guys (at least the lady I'm dealing with) is that much more attentive and eager to fix my problem! They however don't know about this issue BUT she is picking up on it quicky... so hopefully in a little while I'll be in the HD world again!
 
IT WORKS!!!

It was, yes you guessed it, a super dumb thing... to delete the folder, all you have to do is right-click it and uncheck the "Read-Only" box... I didn't even try to uncheck it in mine because it was faded out like when you can't change the option... if might have something to do with the fact that I'm running the classic windows theme...

Adobe will work with you until the problem is solved!

Adobe will use their own theft protection software in future releases!
 
Buyer Beware

Buyer Beware

IT DOESN'T!!!

It crapped out on me AGAIN!!!! I called Adobe so they could walk me though the activation of the Devoder that also needs to be installed that comes with the package just to be safe, and he said I should install the patch DVrack20HDpatch1b.exe from the SeriousMagic site... So we did that, and it worked... but when I tried to open DVrack it was back to the registration prompt! Now the Adobe guy thinks he might have to transfer me to SoftCrap again! I told him no-way! I'm not going to waste my time anymore on this, I'll shoot DV and wait for my P2 my $500 will probably almost get me an other 8G! and I'll only miss the monitoring features... and the ultra long capture possibility

I really hope they can fix it...
 
This worked for me.

This worked for me.

Had the same problem with the activation screen as everyone else until I went to my start menu and clicked on Check for Program Updates.

Start/All Programs/Serious Magic DV Rack/Check for Program Updates.

It found an update and installed it. After that, I tried the activation screen again and it worked.

Don't know if I just got lucky, but maybe it can help someone else. Good luck.
 
This problem has caused me more grief than any other in my short shooting life. If you're buying dv rack with an upcoming shoot in mind...beware.

Numerous emails to support eventually fixed the problem. God I hope I never have to reactivate.
 
I had the same problem activating DVRack when my hard drive failed and I had to reload everything. I finally ended up calling tech support and was told they had changed severs. I need to install all updates so that change would be recognized. Once I did that on my trial version, everything worked great.

Grasshopper
 
USLatinContent said:
IT DOESN'T!!!

It crapped out on me AGAIN!!!! I called Adobe so they could walk me though the activation of the Devoder that also needs to be installed that comes with the package just to be safe, and he said I should install the patch DVrack20HDpatch1b.exe from the SeriousMagic site... So we did that, and it worked... but when I tried to open DVrack it was back to the registration prompt! Now the Adobe guy thinks he might have to transfer me to SoftCrap again! I told him no-way! I'm not going to waste my time anymore on this, I'll shoot DV and wait for my P2 my $500 will probably almost get me an other 8G! and I'll only miss the monitoring features... and the ultra long capture possibility

I really hope they can fix it...
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Hey USLatin,

I totally sympathize with you.

I bought the program earlier on in the week and had the same activation problem. I contacted Softwrap and they emailed me instructions to fix the problem. None of them worked. Then I called their direct line (which I paid for out of my own pocket because their toll free number doesn't work in my area) on Friday. Their tech guy couldn't figure out why my program wouldn't start. He said he would work on it.

I've never had such a hard time activating a program that I bought (PAID IN FULL!!!). I'm tired of having my time wasted. I'm asking for my money back and will figure out another solution for long capture and field monitoring that's just as cheap. Any ideas? What are you planning on doing?
 
As much as I like the idea of this product, after reviewing this thread I'm going to hold off until I see some feedback that their activation (be it serious magic, or Adobe's) works smoother. Few fhings burn me like customers not getting what they paid for because the software vendor is overly concerned with stopping the pirates. They need to find a better balance before they get my dollar.

I'm betting I'm not the only reader who feels this way and so this could be costing them a great deal of revenue.
 
capt chuck said:
Few fhings burn me like customers not getting what they paid for because the software vendor is overly concerned with stopping the pirates. They need to find a better balance before they get my dollar.

I'm betting I'm not the only reader who feels this way and so this could be costing them a great deal of revenue.
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I have to agree.

Another scheme is downloaded installs that once installed, delete themselves. You have no way to backup.

In many respects, the old dongle was a better idea.

If activation schemes are to be employed, they must be foolproof -- companies ought to test it as users and see the problems before the schemes are released.
 
I hate activation schemes too.

I hate activation schemes too.

Just wondering. I was reading one of the threads and someone mentioned another program that was similar to DV Rack HD (although it was a little more expensive). Can someone tell me the name of that product so I can research into it more? For the life of me, I don't remember the name.

More importantly, has anyone had ACTIVATION ISSUES with this other program? And how effective/ good is it to use?

Thanks.
 
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