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.

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...

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.

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?

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!  

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 :)

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"!  :-)

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.
 
 

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?

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.