Helpful ReplyOffline Activation process and ties to hardware

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AndrewLMacaulay
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2017/11/26 13:52:35 (permalink)

Offline Activation process and ties to hardware

Out of interest and given the current situation - is the offline activation process available for Music Creator, Rapture Pro, Rapture Session, SONAR Platinum/Professional/Artist, Z3TA+2 and CA-2A tied to the machine in some way, or will it work after hardware upgrades?
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013384/Offline-Activation
 
Feels like this step is worth doing for as much of the software installed as possible, even if only to protect installation on the current machine if a rebuild is needed in the future.
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Piotr
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/26 14:09:01 (permalink)
AndrewLMacaulay
Out of interest and given the current situation - is the offline activation process available for Music Creator, Rapture Pro, Rapture Session, SONAR Platinum/Professional/Artist, Z3TA+2 and CA-2A tied to the machine in some way, or will it work after hardware upgrades?
 
https://www.cakewalk.com/Support/Knowledge-Base/2007013384/Offline-Activation
 
Feels like this step is worth doing for as much of the software installed as possible, even if only to protect installation on the current machine if a rebuild is needed in the future.


Thank you for this finding.  Very helpful in our uncertain situation...

Regards,
Piotr
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#2
chuckebaby
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/26 14:13:09 (permalink)
I posted this yesterday
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Membership-FAQ-m3692900.aspx
 
No one seems to be taking it seriously but its the only way to cover your A.

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RickJP909
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/26 19:24:59 (permalink)
chuckebaby
I posted this yesterday
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Membership-FAQ-m3692900.aspx
 
No one seems to be taking it seriously but its the only way to cover your A.


Hey Chuck, I've taken this seriously and answered in that thread but didn't get a reply.
 
I never like relying on servers in the cloud as I had terrible problems with Waves back in the day so I did an offline activation the minute I installed Sonar Platinum but I don't get how having another activation file will help me with a reinstall in future because as I understand it, the request is either tied to the hardware where it is generated or its tied to that particular installation instance so surely a new install would trigger a new offline authorisation request?

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bwbalint
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/26 21:06:38 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby RickJP909 2017/11/27 21:57:06
See: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Membership-FAQ-m3692900.aspx
 
I did a test yesterday.  extra laptop, offline activation, no problems in activating Sonar PLT with the resultant .dat file generated by Cakewalk.  Today my wife let me install Sonar PLT on her computer and see if I could activate it with the .dat file that I used yesterday.  NO GO!  Sonar kept telling me that it was in demo mode after I applied the .dat file from a different computer.  So, in my case anyway, activation .dat files generated by Cakewalk in response to offline activation requests are very computer specific.  Please prove me wrong!  

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Piotr
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/26 21:24:36 (permalink)
chuckebaby
I posted this yesterday
http://forum.cakewalk.com/Membership-FAQ-m3692900.aspx
 
No one seems to be taking it seriously but its the only way to cover your A.


Thank you, too, Chuck, I missed it yesterday...  Still in sock, in the middle of weekend, BF time etc... Not able to process all threads :)

Regards,
Piotr
Sonar Platinum Lifetime
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RickJP909
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/26 21:34:33 (permalink)
bwbalint
See: http://forum.cakewalk.com/Membership-FAQ-m3692900.aspx
 
I did a test yesterday.  extra laptop, offline activation, no problems in activating Sonar PLT with the resultant .dat file generated by Cakewalk.  Today my wife let me install Sonar PLT on her computer and see if I could activate it with the .dat file that I used yesterday.  NO GO!  Sonar kept telling me that it was in demo mode after I applied the .dat file from a different computer.  So, in my case anyway, activation .dat files generated by Cakewalk in response to offline activation requests are very computer specific.  Please prove me wrong!  


Thank you dude, as you just saved me loads of time because I was just about to try this myself!
 
From my understanding, your outcome is expected behavior otherwise anyone could share that offline activation file around warez sites effectively making this whole process pointless right?
 
The only 2 scenarios I can see this working are:
 
1. To ensure that if the activation servers go offline, your current installation will continue working
2. If you have another computer then you can have a second program running incase your primary fails
 
Until we're all given a lifetime offline activation file/code, then we're reliant on those servers remaining online for future installs otherwise, we'll all be "up sh*t creek without a paddle"!  :-)

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Martin Hines
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 08:15:19 (permalink)
Older products that had both a Serial Number and a Registration Code (e,g, Dimension Pro) can be installed on any computer if you have all of the installation files. 
 
Newer products that only come with a Serial  Number (e.g. Sonar Platinum or Rapture Pro) must be activated through Cakewalk servers, either through the Cakewalk Command Center or through off-line activation.  These activations are computer and hardware specific.  The Cakewalk CTO did state in another thread that all registered users would receive some type of permanent activation file IF the Cakewalk Servers are ever shut down.
 
 
#8
nebukenazar
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 08:23:54 (permalink)
What about Steam editions? I have mailed to Steam and their reponse is "you can download your *game* after company shuts down" But How long?

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#9
JClosed
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 08:46:38 (permalink)
Martin Hines
Older products that had both a Serial Number and a Registration Code (e,g, Dimension Pro) can be installed on any computer if you have all of the installation files. 
 
Newer products that only come with a Serial  Number (e.g. Sonar Platinum or Rapture Pro) must be activated through Cakewalk servers, either through the Cakewalk Command Center or through off-line activation.  These activations are computer and hardware specific.  The Cakewalk CTO did state in another thread that all registered users would receive some type of permanent activation file IF the Cakewalk Servers are ever shut down.
 
 




Point is, that I have no great trust in those servers being on-line for a long time. I rather have that permanent activation right now, so we are covered for all unforeseen trouble that could happen in the future.
 
I mean - It's not that Cakewalk (or even Gibson) has anything to loose. Even if those files could be used to pirate the software, they would not notice that because the program will not be sold anymore. And thus - they would not loose any income or whatever by giving that activation file/program.
 
So - Just give that activation file/program and give us at least some peace of mind, in stead of praying the activation keeps working.
#10
M@
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 08:58:56 (permalink)
Question is: how are we ever going to get that activation file.....by post? Seeing Gibson/CW did not inform it's customers about the closedown by email. I'd like peace of mind else i will be checking the formun 10 times a day in order to not miss any announcement and maybe miss a very short tine-frame to receive the permanent activation-file.

I feel sorry for CW employees...not because I believe they are going to have hard times...they are pros in their field and I am confident they will find a new place. However I do feel sorry for them not being able of care about their 'child' anymore. Imagine all the hours of heart put in and all gone in a wink. That must hurt.

All the best to all.

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chuckebaby
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 12:44:18 (permalink) ☄ Helpfulby RickJP909 2017/11/27 21:56:07
Im afraid the OP is correct. I tried a few different platforms and came up with the same thing.
the activation is somehow linked to the Motherboard. One thing I didn't try is the project.
Sonar uses a project for off line activation. this will be my next test.
 
It should be noted though that Sonar version X3 and earlier (this includes Dimension Pro Rapture, Z3ta 2 and other plug ins). Are challenge and response. Which means as long as you have the Serial and Confirmation code you can use those plug ins for ever.
 

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RickJP909
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 21:55:38 (permalink)
Martin Hines
The Cakewalk CTO did state in another thread that all registered users would receive some type of permanent activation file IF the Cakewalk Servers are ever shut down.
 


Unfortunately Martin, that is currently "hearsay" as while I appreciate the OP who posted that thread was trying to reassure everyone, the CTO did NOT publicly state that within this forum, rather the OP had PM'd Noel and apparently that was his reply.
 
Until we see an official statement regarding this, we're all entitled to feel uneasy because I like many others are concerned that the parent company (Gibson) could pull the plug on the Cakewalk servers overnight and we'd all be at the mercy of our present installations not getting corrupted.
 
Personally, once Thanksgiving is over in the US, I really think Gibson or Cakewalk owe it to their customers and this community to publish that FAQ which we were promised ASAP and also address the concerns aired here.
 
If Cakewalk are never going to develop products again, I can see no reason why we shouldn't be given a key/licence file which unlocks/unties our owned assets from the mercy of someone else because actually, even if that appeared on warez sites, they've nothing to loose anymore as they're not in business.

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azslow3
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 22:51:31 (permalink)
chuckebaby
It should be noted though that Sonar version X3 and earlier (this includes Dimension Pro Rapture, Z3ta 2 and other plug ins). Are challenge and response. Which means as long as you have the Serial and Confirmation code you can use those plug ins for ever.

Note that starting from some update, Z3TA 2 got online activation... That has PO me once, so I still remember
 
BTW I have initially chosen Sonar because it had "user care" licensing. I went as far as Lifetime, in general I think that was bad decision.
 
Since I do not like the explanation "loosing/breaking our usb stick means you loose the right to use our product", and I do not want to repeat "challenge response" adventure we have now, the only choice I have is Reaper. And the more I look/watch/read about it the more I like that idea

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Cactus Music
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Re: Offline Activation process and ties to hardware 2017/11/27 23:40:18 (permalink)
As said, the offline activation still requires a Cakewalk server this is the heart of the matter. That server get's turned off tomorrow and we are dead in the water for new installs. 
 
You can install and Activate Sonar on more than one computer. 
I have Platinum on 5 computers. One is an Office computer and that version is out of date. I only use it for referance to answer questions on the Forum. 
Two Computers ( Studio and Downstairs)  are fully operational DAW's and 100% upto date and set for AD2 and Air stuff. 
The 2 others are on Laptops, one I don't use Sonar anymore and the version is probably last winters. 
The newer laptop is Aug version. I had my AD and Pace licences on it but swapped those over to the Downstairs DAW few weeks ago when I set that up.
I have Home Studio on 3 of my computers including the one at work. I also Have Professional ( AUG 2015 ) on my main DAW and the old laptop. Oh and then there's X1 LE on my Net Book and 8.5 and X3e on an old W7 back up machine that hasn't been turned on for a long time now.  
Seems Cakewalk does not hassle you about installs which is one of it's best atributes. After all it just me and no one else using all these.   I know one of them was in Demo mode but I ran CCC and it went away. 
 
My plan of action:
I have downloaded everything from my Products page to the laptop at work.  
I will put on a External drive too. 
I already have everything on at least 3 hardrives at home.
I have about 12 versions of Splat saved as well for rollbacks. 
 
Now I have the downstairs DAW running I can safely re build my Upstairs Studio machine' 
I just hope the activation system stays in place for at least another week. 
With a fresh SSD drive and Windows 7 I will be set for possibly 6 to 10 years if all else fails and we never get that magic code. 
I will bring all my computers up to date. 
I will make more music. 
 
post edited by Cactus Music - 2017/11/28 00:11:04

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