EAZ-FIX free today

[Meriadoc]

Giveaway of the Day - EAZ-FIX (http://www.giveawayoftheday.com/)

[innerpeace]

Thanks! If anyone tries this offer, let us know the details about the license (other than what is posted at GAOTD). I know someone who badly needs a proggy like this.

[rendez2k]

The only problem with GOTD is that it has to be installed today then can't be reinstalled in the future. The other bad thing is.... I only bought this two days ago!

[nexstar]

-{ Quote: "The only problem with GOTD is that it has to be installed today then can't be reinstalled in the future. The other bad thing is.... I only bought this two days ago!" }-
I've just tried it out on a spare laptop and it seems to be fine but I'm sure that the activation code supplied will only work for today.

To overcome this for a future install you could do the following:

Before installing Eaz-Fix:
Defrag your drive
Run something like Disk Redactor (http://www.cezeo.com/products/disk-redactor/) on the drive to wipe the empty areas
Install Eaz-Fix and activate it.

Then make a sector/RAW image of the drive from outside of Windows with an imaging program that also saves the MBR etc.

You should then have an image which you can restore at some later point which will have EF installed and activated :) .

Graham

[nanana1]

Are you reading this, mighty EASTER ?

[Perman]

Hi, folks:

Nice to hear this.

I am using DeepFreeze Standard and VCOM system suite's recovery commander. Do I still need EAZ-FIX ? and is there any danger of causing any trouble by adding this mighty app ?

[nanana1]

This is for the faint-hearted.....miss it to regret later !

[MaB69]

Hi,

Thanks to GAOTD and EAZ Solutions for this great gift :thumb:

Regards,

MaB

[Peter2150]

What happens with the free license when you uninstalled for some reason, and go to reinstall?

[Pedro]

Then it is kaput i think.

[rendez2k]

Yup, can only be installed today. Guess thats what you get for free! Does it also need an internet connection to install?

[Pedro]

When it was with DW, it needed to connect to verify with GAOTD.
Does it install into the mbr ?

[lodore]

wont the license key be in the registry somewhere?
lodore

[rendez2k]

The installer will be a custom GOTD version which will have to connect to the net to install.

[Perman]

Hi,

I have the following doubts, hoping some one can assist me:

(1) EAZ-FIX disables Windows system restore feature.
(2) EAZ-FIX blocks the use of defragmentation programs
(3) EAZ-FIX changes MBR.
(4) EAZ-FIX claims that"make sure the hdd drive does not have EAZ-FIX installed before restoring the back up image."


There are numerous negative reports re this app on several forums, I would like to take extra precautions prior to installing it. Any app with above-mentioned capabilities warrants my close scrutiny.

[sukarof]

Thanks Meriadoc! I love you very much for putting this reminder up! I watn to be your husband!
I am trialing EAZ-FIX right now, but 15 days are way, way, way too short to evaluate and test this kind of software properly (I have used a paid Rollback RX for two months before the problems in that build surfaced without any apparent reason, and I lost confidence completely regarding Rollback)
I sure love this software and will gladly pay for it if it is better than the Rollback 7.21 version I used a couple of years ago. Now I can try it for months to see if it is stable enough :thumb: I hope there is some benefit when using software from the original author.

Did I say I love you?

[Peter2150]

One off topic post removed.

Pete

[Peter2150]

-{ Quote: "wont the license key be in the registry somewhere?
lodore" }-

If it's like Rollback, no. They write it somewhere on the disk, so defraggers screw it up.

[appster]

-{ Quote: "Hi,

I have the following doubts, hoping some one can assist me:

(1) EAZ-FIX disables Windows system restore feature.
(2) EAZ-FIX blocks the use of defragmentation programs
(3) EAZ-FIX changes MBR.
(4) EAZ-FIX claims that"make sure the hdd drive does not have EAZ-FIX installed before restoring the back up image."

There are numerous negative reports re this app on several forums, I would like to take extra precautions prior to installing it. Any app with above-mentioned capabilities warrants my close scrutiny." }-
1. Yes it does because SR is excess baggage with EF. Furthermore, you can re-enable SR if you stop using EF.
2. Correct - it has it's own snapshot defragger.
3. Correct - afaik, all ISR programs do that when they are installed.
4. (?) I have restored many times with RB (EF) installed on the HDD and never had any problems, however you should use 'sector-by-sector' images that include the entire MBR.

[sukarof]

Oh no anticlimax :(
Is it too popular? I´ve disabled my firewall but no go.... but I will not sleep for the next thirteen hours (while this giveawayoftheday remains.

[appster]

As I see it, the biggest disadvantage to this 'freebie' is that if and when you need to uninstall it, you will not be able to ever re-install it (free), unless you use Graham's method (post #4) which works like a charm!

[Perman]

@ Apster:

Thanks for your reply.

One more question: re defragmentation program; I have O&O defrag installed and on auto as well, does that mean EF will block O&O defrg's use both on demand and auto? I noticed Peter has mentioned that any defrag other than EF's own may wipe out the registration key ?

Thanks.

[Franklin]

Thanks for pointing this out Meriadoc, but honestly I really have had a gutsfull of trying and testing.:)

Sandboxie and Returmil are excellent with the best support you could possibly get and it's gonna take a lot to change my current setup, free or paid!;D

[appster]

-{ Quote: "@ Apster:

Thanks for your reply.

One more question: re defragmentation program; I have O&O defrag installed and on auto as well, does that mean EF will block O&O defrg's use both on demand and auto? I noticed Peter has mentioned that any defrag other than EF's own may wipe out the registration key ?

Thanks." }-
It's very risky to use any 3rd party defragger (auto or manually)on your system partition with RB/EF installed. Even if it doesn't bring about any problems, it won't do you any good whatsoever with RB/EF installed.

[huntnyc]

@appster,

Do you do your sector-by-sector imaging inside or outside of Windows when doing th esytem drive? Am I right to understand that imaging must be done outside of Windows and thanks.

Gary

[appster]

-{ Quote: "@appster,

Do you do your sector-by-sector imaging inside or outside of Windows when doing th esytem drive? Am I right to understand that imaging must be done outside of Windows and thanks.

Gary" }-
In order to capture ALL RB/EF snapshots, imaging must be done by booting up into another OS environment (which can be WinPE or the like). If you create the image from within your normal Windows environment, you will only capture your current snapshot (if that's ok with you, that seems to work).

Edit: My comments (above) are based on my experiences with ATI, DS and Paragon, but I should mention that I recall markymoo once stating that he somehow used IFW with Phylock to successfully image RB/EF (presumably with all snapshots) from within Windows!!!

[sukarof]

-{ Quote: "It's very risky to use any 3rd party defragger (auto or manually)on your system partition with RB/EF installed. Even if it doesn't bring about any problems, it won't do you any good whatsoever with RB/EF installed." }-

I dont know if it is very risky, maybe it is. I´ve done it once or twice and nothing happened (good or bad). But it is pointless to use a defragger other than the one provided by EAZ-FIX (unless you uninstall EF first). They have explained very clearly and pedagogically why, and once you read the FAQ it is not hard to understand the concept of the software and why a defragger is useless, why they are a waste of time. External defraggers does not do anything, they can not do anything to the file system while EF or its clones are installed. Simple as that. So forget all about defraggers other than the built into EF.
If anyone think that a external defragger does anything benefical while EF is installed, they have just not understood what EAZ-FIX is all about. If a external defragger is so important to someone, they should not get involved in the concept of EAZ-FIX or its clones.

[Peter2150]

-{ Quote: "As I see it, the biggest disadvantage to this 'freebie' is that if and when you need to uninstall it, you will not be able to ever re-install it (free), unless you use Graham's method (post #4) which works like a charm!" }-

Grahams method would most likely work, excepts it's like using a bulldozer when a shovel should do. Also if your system changes you'd have to reimage that way. Not worth the price of free for me.

[appster]

-{ Quote: "Grahams method would most likely work, excepts it's like using a bulldozer when a shovel should do. Also if your system changes you'd have to reimage that way. Not worth the price of free for me." }-Pete, I'm missing the point of your analogy. Unless you change your OS, it seems to me that Graham's method works fine for any other system changes, and without any more hassle than just performing a restore.

[iceni60]

-{ Quote: "One off topic post removed.

Pete" }-
you removed my question ??? where did it go lol.

[MaB69]

Hi all,

I think the right problem is not GAOTD one day limitation but will EAZ servers validate this license during activation process next days?

Regards,

MaB

[Aaron Here]

-{ Quote: "....I should mention that I recall markymoo once stating that he somehow used IFW with Phylock to successfully image RB/EF (presumably with all snapshots) from within Windows!!!" }-
I just downloaded EF thanks to Meriadoc. If appster is correct about Markymoo being able to fully image an EF-managed Windows partition from within Windows, I would sure like to explore doing that with Drive Snapshot (which I happen to use).

Markymoo, if you happen to read this, would you elaborate as to whether or not this is doable?

[kennyboy]

-{ Quote: "Thanks for pointing this out Meriadoc, but honestly I really have had a gutsfull of trying and testing.:)

Sandboxie and Returmil are excellent with the best support you could possibly get and it's gonna take a lot to change my current setup, free or paid!;D" }-


Have to agree Franklin.

My setup of Sandboxie, SD, FDISR, and Drive Snapshot/Paragon seem to be sufficient for my system. Can't think under what circumstances I would need any more at the moment. Sometimes it's too much..
Will leave EF to the more adventurous, but appreciate the link.

[nexstar]

-{ Quote: "Grahams method would most likely work, excepts it's like using a bulldozer when a shovel should do. Also if your system changes you'd have to reimage that way. Not worth the price of free for me." }-
As appster rightly says, it does work. I do it regularly and I don't know what you are doing with shovels on your PC, Pete, but I never let bulldozers near mine :) .

For those of us that don't have terabyte system partitions (;) )it can work very well. I used it earlier on a 60GB laptop drive which has a 15GB C partition and on which I have the pagefile moved to the D drive. The resulting image of the C drive is 1.5GB which takes less than 10 minutes to restore from a DVD boot disk (including the booting). That then restores an Eaz-Fix protected and activated system. Even if I hadn't cleaned up the disk previously, the largest that the image can be is 15GB.

-{ Quote: "you removed my question ??? where did it go lol." }-
If I remember correctly, you just wanted to know if Eaz-Fix would sort out a problem Vista installation (?). The short answer is, no. Not unless it was already installed when/if Vista was working ok (I could be unkind here ;) ).
-{ Quote: "I think the right problem is not GAOTD one day limitation but will EAZ servers validate this license during activation process next days?
" }-
I think this is right. The GAOTD file was just a wrapper around the Eaz-Fix installation files. Once extracted to the C:\Eaz-Fix folder you can install EF without a problem. However, I'd be very surprised if the license provided would be allowed to work on the online activation after the 24 hours is up which is why a RAW image is one way to have something to use at a later date without re-activating. I tend to do this anyway, even with my paid-for licences, as it means you don't have to bother with the activation.
-{ Quote: "I just downloaded EF thanks to Meriadoc. If appster is correct about Markymoo being able to fully image an EF-managed Windows partition from within Windows, I would sure like to explore doing that with Drive Snapshot (which I happen to use).

Markymoo, if you happen to read this, would you elaborate as to whether or not this is doable?" }-
I'm sure Mark will be along but, no, you can't do this with DS from within Windows and retain all snapshots. Mark's testing discovered that you could only do this within Windows using IFW as long as the Phylock add-on was installed. I've tried this myself and it does work.

Thanks to Meriadoc for the info on this. An extra license, even just for testing, is always welcome :) .

Graham

[EASTER]

-{ Quote: "Are you reading this, mighty EASTER ?" }-

You bet your buttons i am, and loving it!

It doesn't bother me at all right after i invested with some real revenue in it they pass a version over to Give-Away.

EAZ-FIX is working PERFECTLY for me!

Just need to keep the defraggers away and let it do it itself. Also don't run a extra space wiper on it like RESTORATION or you might get an overloaded disk like i tried once.

Since learning what NOT to run with it installed, it's a Charm.

I am curious on the imaging part though so i need to make a Sector by Sector or DS Maintenance image and restore to see if it indeed holds up.

Regards EASTER

[Meriadoc]

I am glad that I could point this out. As a RollBack rx user I know how good this software can be.

[nfranken]

Hi all,

I wanted to share my experience on Eaz-fix "the-free-one-for-one-day".
This is what I did:
1. made a snapshot with drivesnapshot.exe (never failed me) from c: to d:
2. Put back a virgin xp image, made with drivesnapshot to c:
3. installed easy-fix, went through the activation etc, all went well.
4. made a image with drivesnapshot from c: to d:
5. put back my original image to c:
6. didn't work. I saw eaz-fix trying to do something from within mbr i guess.
7. Booted with my pe restore cd and replaced the mbr from the drivesnapshot image back to c:
7. My old pc worked again like a charm.
Note. I always thought that drivesnapshot automatically restored the MBR from the image taken. Anyway. Restoring the mbr did the job.

8. Booted again with my pe restore cd, and restored the eaz-fix image taken a little while before.
Also restored the mbr with the command snapshot.exe --restorembr hd1 c-ful.sna.
9. Booted and voilà clean xp with eaz-fix working.

Long time ago I used rollback. Got it replaced with First-Defense.
Now came a nice opportunity to try rollbacks' clone or visa versa, again.
Regards.
Nick Franken

[iceni60]

-{ Quote: "
If I remember correctly, you just wanted to know if Eaz-Fix would sort out a problem Vista installation (?). The short answer is, no. Not unless it was already installed when/if Vista was working ok (I could be unkind here ;) )." }-
yeah, well that's not surprising, i can't ask a question about vista without people being unkind. it's too late now, the program isn't free anymore.

this is how my computer looked when i first booted it, HP's own software they preinstall makes the whole computer unstable too and has lots of security holes. i don't see how that's my fault when there's no windows cd to reinstall with!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ern/1991958171/

[Aaron Here]

-{ Quote: "I'm sure Mark will be along but, no, you can't do this with DS from within Windows and retain all snapshots. Mark's testing discovered that you could only do this within Windows using IFW as long as the Phylock add-on was installed. I've tried this myself and it does work." }-
So as a new EF user (and an old DS user) as far as preserving my EF installation, I must run DS by booting up into DOS/WinPE and create a maintenance mode image of EF-managed C-partition - is that correct?

That begs the question what results would I achieve if I were to image my EF-managed C-partition using DS from within WinXP...

a) ...using maintenance mode?
as compared to:
b) ...using normal mode?

[appster]

-{ Quote: "So as a new EF user (and an old DS user) as far as preserving my EF installation, I must run DS by booting up into DOS/WinPE and create a maintenance mode image of EF-managed C-partition - is that correct?" }-
Yes, that is correct insofar as my experience with DS & RB goes (but then again, markymoo may disagree?).


-{ Quote: "That begs the question what results would I achieve if I were to image my EF-managed C-partition using DS from within WinXP
a) ...using maintenance mode?
as compared to:
b) ...using normal mode?" }-
Addressing option (b) first, doing that will definitely result in capturing only your current snapshot (been there, done that). Although I don't recall ever trying option (a), I don't think the results would be any different than option (b), except for the larger size of the resulting image!

Perhaps Graham can chime-in and educate both of us - re option (a).

[nexstar]

-{ Quote: "Yes, that is correct insofar as my experience with DS & RB goes (but then again, markymoo may disagree?).



Addressing option (b) first, doing that will definitely result in capturing only your current snapshot (been there, done that). Although I don't recall ever trying option (a), I don't think the results would be any different than option (b), except for the larger size of the resulting image!

Perhaps Graham can chime-in and educate both of us - re option (a)." }-
I've not successfully restored a DS maintenance mode image taken within Windows. I had a sneaky feeling that Mark had done this by restoring the mbr with secinspect after having saved it outside of Windows but I've just tried this and I couldn't get the sub-console back this way. Outside of Windows it works fine.

Graham

[Hairy Coo]

Suggest that you do NOT try to update in the future,as this will rate as a new shareware download and unless you have imaged,theres no way to go back to the freebie and activation will be lost.

There may in fact be a minor EF update on the way,as the current RBx version is 8.1-9437,whilst EF is 8.1-7387.

They appear identical,the only difference I could guess at ,was better uninstalling with RBx.

edit; Both great-pity the imaging is so slow and apparently unreliable.

[mata7]

-{ Quote: "
I am curious on the imaging part though so i need to make a Sector by Sector or DS Maintenance image and restore to see if it indeed holds up.

Regards EASTER" }-

easter how are you, do you know how create a image raw or sector by sector with paragon?

if you do can you please explain me me how

thanks in advanced

[Aaron Here]

@ appster & nexstar, thanks for your feedback. Based on your experiences, I will image my EF-managed partition by using DS outside of WinXP so that I have a full and reliable backup.

However, it's a heck of a lot more convenient to run backups from within WinXP (as I'm sure you guys would agree). So I'm still curious as to the different results I would get using DS' maintenance mode vs. its normal mode when imaging my EF-managed partition from within WinXP. :-\

[appster]

-{ Quote: "@ appster & nexstar, thanks for your feedback. Based on your experiences, I will image my EF-managed partition by using DS outside of WinXP so that I have a full and reliable backup.

However, it's a heck of a lot more convenient to run backups from within WinXP (as I'm sure you guys would agree). So I'm still curious as to the different results I would get using DS' maintenance mode vs. its normal mode when imaging my EF-managed partition from within WinXP. :-\" }-
No question that it's less hassle to backup from within WinXP, but you have to accept the method that works!

If you want to backup ALL of your EF snapshots and preserve the EF-modified MBR so that EF will be totally operational when you restore your system partition, then you must backup by booting into DOS/WinPE/BartPE/VistaPE and then run DS in maintenance mode. End of story!

Personally, I hate backing up or restoring in DOS, so I strongly recommend booting into one of the 'PE' environments. Then you can run snapshot.exe from wherever it resides! ;)

[EASTER]

-{ Quote: "Personally, I hate backing up or restoring in DOS, so I strongly recommend booting into one of the 'PE' environments. Then you can run snapshot.exe from wherever it resides!" }-

CD/DVD Environments are a dream come true. You can accomplish plenty, especially useful for DS as well.

-{ Quote: "easter how are you, do you know how create a image raw or sector by sector with paragon?

if you do can you please explain me me how

thanks in advanced" }-

Hi mata7 Fine thanks.

This week i'll be switching drives again so i'll have to get my hands wet again since been quite awhile since i took any action with Paragon aside from a normal backup image. Next week i'm due to pick up some additional HD's and those i am going to test every single option with both PARAGON + Drive Snapshot and some others. There are some pretty smart Paragon users here so hopefully they can weight on your question for you before i can. If you're like me, waiting is pure torture. LoL

Regards EASTER

[markymoo]

-{ Quote: "I just downloaded EF thanks to Meriadoc. If appster is correct about Markymoo being able to fully image an EF-managed Windows partition from within Windows, I would sure like to explore doing that with Drive Snapshot (which I happen to use).

Markymoo, if you happen to read this, would you elaborate as to whether or not this is doable?" }-

Hi Aaron, Its possible using IFW v1.xx or 2.xx in windows with PHYLOCK (i used to call it PSYLOCK) installed on default and raw(all sectors) settings. The MBR has then have to be saved in Dos or Bartpe with a MBR util(my preferred choice is MBRWiz). If the partition is big then it is an extra plus doing it in windows along with the convenience. It beneficial to boot into dos off a usb stick or cd and save the MBR ran from a batch file then launch a BartPe or other recovery cd just to do this. I used secinspect initially before MBRWiz outside of windows to back up the MBR but now prefer MBRWiz as it has alot more options and for dos too. When you come to restore the image back you can restore the image and MBR one after the other as thats always done outside of windows and make this automatic.

Alternatively you could do it with IFW outside of windows or any image software that does RAW backup and then you wouldn't have to bother backing up the MBR. Try both ways and weigh up which is best for you. If you try to backup windows in windows with another software like DS in maintenance mode when you come to reboot - the Eaz-Fix startup console will be missing and the Eaz-Fix will not be installed or greyed out as the MBR needed info is missing. Once that happens the windows is corrupt and all the snapsots are corrupt as the xp has written over sectors that were protected so you would have to restore the image again from a successful all snaphots Eaz-Fix backup.

If the partition is 10-20 gig say then i use dos or BartPe to backup and restore as the time factor is small even with verify. DS and IFD/IFW will backup all Eaz-Fix snapshots outside of xp fine with no need to restore the MBR too. ShadowProtect is my third choice but i prefer the other 2 as they so reliable,compact, can be run from dos or xp...from any drive or folder...have lots of options to run from batch files for optimum use and have the auto verify option. :)

An older thread from November you can glean useful info from on trying to backup all snapshots is here http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=189409&page=4&highlight=eaz-fix+snapshots more interesting reading here...http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=187031 Theres quite a few more threads going back from start of mid 2007 that are good reading too.

Using this restriced free Eaz-Fix for the long term is a bad idea. As you start to use Eaz-fix more and more, you start to take this way of backup and restore for granted and the one day you need to rely on it and reinstall it could be bad day. You can jump through loops to make it work indefinitely but is it worth it for something this important. Even if you do what nexstar suggested the Eaz-Fix that runs again in the new image might do a date check with the current date anyways. I can't comment much as i not tried it.

[Aaron Here]

markymoo, thanks for explaining how you imaged an EF-managed partition from within Windows. While I appreciate learning of the method, as a very satisfied DS user I'm not about to start up with any other disk imaging product (ie., IFW).

After reading a few older threads (in this forum) last night I downloaded the free UBCD4Windows iso and used the boot CD it creates to startup my system. Once I got to the desktop (takes quite a while!) I went to my DS program folder, ran snapshot.exe and as suggested, made a maintenance mode image of my C-partition which ran without incident and verified ok. Tonight I'm planning to restore that image.

As far as using the free version of EF being a bad idea, it beats the usual 15 day trial and if (after a few months) EF does become a 'way of life', I will not hesitate to buy the then current build.

Thanks again,
Aaron

[mata7]

thanks easter cant wait, please just let me know

again thanks

[sukarof]

-{ Quote: "The only problem with GOTD is that it has to be installed today then can't be reinstalled in the future. " }-

Hmm.. Really? Where did you get that info from?

As you can see from my earlier post I never managed to register with GAOTD so I just used the serial provided in the downloaded zip I got from GAOTD on the trial I had installed (so I never installed the EF you get from GAOTD)

Yesterday I decided I needed to get rid of the FDISR snapshots I saved after uninstalling FDISR and do a "real" defrag with a third party defragger..
So I uninstalled EF and deleted the FDISR snapshots. Did a defrag with auslogic and then I installed EAZ-FIX again and activated it online. No problems.

Unless the fact that I did use the provided serial on my existing EAZ-FIX has something to do with it, I would say that you can uninstall and install again without fear. Of course they have some counter (atleast Rollback did) so you can not uninstall and install it too many times, but that has nothing to do with the GAOTD key.If my memory serves me right I believe I could reinstall Rollback Rx three times before I had to contact HDS to open up the key.

[aigle]

I did a reinstall after the offer expired, no problems.

[QQ2595]

I have it for few weeks. it is very smooth. nice one.8)

[sukarof]

-{ Quote: "I did a reinstall after the offer expired, no problems." }-

Well, that settles it then. No need to do all the hassle with raw images :)

[aigle]

I am afraid, they might stop activation any time! Better to have an image with baseline snapshot atleast.

[sukarof]

-{ Quote: "I am afraid, they might stop activation any time! Better to have an image with baseline snapshot atleast." }-

Is it stated somewhere that they will do that? or where do you get that idea from?

When I look at the about for Giveawayoftheday conditions they say:

-{ Quote: "Basically, every day we nominate one software title that will be a Giveaway title of that day. The software will be available for download for 24 hours (or more, if agreed by software publisher) and that software will be absolutely free. That means - not a trial, not a limited version - but a registered and legal version of the software will be free for our visitors*." }-
and the asterix means:
-{ Quote: "* Under specific Terms and Conditions, which limit the software usage to non-commercial only, and may also limit software updates and technical support." }-
It wont get updated and you wont get techical support, but nothing about that the key is time limited . It is only the download from GAOTD that is time limited, not the key. I understand it that the serial is as if you would have bought it, minus the things stated above. Please correct me if I have misunderstood the conditions.

[aigle]

-{ Quote: "Is it stated somewhere that they will do that? or where do you get that idea from? " }-I said: I am afraid! Idea from my heart.;D
When u buy Eaz Fix and if it can,t be activated during a reinstall of EazFix, u have to mail them and they refix ur key so it,s reactivated via internet. Now i am not sure that they will do the same if u tel them that u can,t activate ur GAOD key.
-{ Quote: "
When I look at the about for Giveawayoftheday conditions they say:

and the asterix means:

It wont get updated and you wont get techical support, but nothing about that the key is time limited . It is only the download from GAOTD that is time limited, not the key. I understand it that the serial is as if you would have bought it, minus the things stated above. Please correct me if I have misunderstood the conditions." }-
I have a limited experience with GAOD. I noted they have two types of offers:

1- You get only a special GAOD installer. When u run the installer, u get the key via internet and this key is used to activate the product. Now this key can be used as many times as u want while reinstalling the application. U only need to get the original installer of same software( same version etc) from the vendor.s web site. U have the chance to reinstall the software as many times as u want but no updates etc. Example of it was probably SSM given by them.

2- You get a special GAOD installer with a key from GOAD site. For such offers my idea was that u have to activate the key within that time period and if u try to activate later, u will fail. I have seen people talking about and trying to look into registry to grab the reg enteries for furure reactivations of such products. Eaz-Fix offer was of this type. Key was already included in the pacakge. I have not tried such type of offers from GAOD before. I was just thinking that this key must be activated within that specified time but seems my guess is wrong.

If u or any other user has tried such offers, they can tell from their experience whether these keys are honoured for good or not?

You are right that GAOD terms and conditions don,t say in any way that product can,t be reinstalled/ reactivated after 24 hours but I guess this is the truth with most of their offers. Am i true?

[SourMilk]

Got it free on Giveawayoftheday. Liked it. Bought it. Found it calls home with NetReg.exe. Tech's said it was to check for updates and confirm serial numbers. They also said you could deny it with a firewall (which I did :thumb: .) It makes a nice compliment to ATI v11.

SourMilk out

[aigle]

Me too, blocked it with FW.

[Aaron Here]

NetReg.exe is also required for registration/activation.

[DasFox]

Darn I missed the giveaway... :(

By the way how many giveaway sites are there like this one?

[nanana1]

-{ Quote: "I did a reinstall after the offer expired, no problems." }-

Are you sure you were able to uninstall and reinstall the free version with activation ???

[aigle]

Dead sure! But do it on ur own risk!

[farmerlee]

I just did a fresh install of xp and i was able to successfully re-activate eaz-fix. However who knows how long this will last, best to do a sector by sector backup just in case. I also tried to activate it on another system that i hadn't installed it on during the giveaway period however it didn't work, it came back saying activation limit exceeded.

I'm gonna try to activate it again on a third system that i also installed it on during the giveaway period, i'll post back how it goes.

[aigle]

I think u can install and reinstall on same HD, not anyother until they reset the key for you!

-{ Quote: "EAZ-FIX uses hard drive's serial number as the unique identifier in the license database. In this case, the hard drive serial number has changed. The activation server cannot find a match for the new hard drive in the license database." }-

http://kb.eazsolutions.com/article.php?id=080

[aigle]

-{ Quote: "EAZ-FIX uses hard drive's serial number as the unique identifier in the license database. In this case, the hard drive serial number has changed." }-

Now I am not sure if a format or loading a fresh image of system can change the hard drive,s serial no?

[farmerlee]

-{ Quote: "Now I am not sure if a format or loading a fresh image of system can change the hard drive,s serial no?" }-
I'd say no. I formatted and did a fresh install of windows and eaz-fix activated just fine. From my experience with rollback, if you change hard drives or change the hard drive configuration then activation will not work anymore.

[nanana1]

-{ Quote: "Are you sure you were able to uninstall and reinstall the free version with activation ???" }-

OK, I tried, uninstall and install again. It does activate without any problems.;D

Thanks for letting me know this, now I can uninstall for defrag and install again as I wish.

[nanana1]

New Eaz-Fix Pro version build 2692876302 is now available for download from the website although the latest build information is not updated yet.::)

Able to uninstall free version and reinstall this new build and activate it using the same product ID provided during for the free version.;D

Don't know what is the changelog for this already incredibly stable product.???

[TonyW]

-{ Quote: "New Eaz-Fix Pro version build 2692876302 is now available for download from the website although the latest build information is not updated yet.::)" }-Website still says v8.1.0 Build 2692837387. I wish vendors would update such info - that kind of edit takes less than a minute to do.

[nanana1]

-{ Quote: "Website still says v8.1.0 Build 2692837387. I wish vendors would update such info - that kind of edit takes less than a minute to do." }-

Agree...should now state build 2692876302 and provide their changelog too:argh:

[nanana1]

One of my computers with EAZ-Fix Build 2692837387 started up and automatically went through the chkdsk process and now all my snap-shots cannot be used with a dwwin.exe error message on booting into windows xp.
Only the base installation snapshot is clean and usable.

Be warned here.

[demoneye]

-{ Quote: "@ Apster:

Thanks for your reply.

One more question: re defragmentation program; I have O&O defrag installed and on auto as well, does that mean EF will block O&O defrg's use both on demand and auto? I noticed Peter has mentioned that any defrag other than EF's own may wipe out the registration key ?

Thanks." }-

its got a service run in the background . so it may try auto defrag your hd i asume.
acording to eaz fix no defragment tools should use after it been install, so better uninstall them all or make sure they wont try to defrag while eaz fix installed

cheers:)

[aigle]

Hi nanana1! Not an unusuall problem with Eaz-Fix.

It,s good for instant recovery but not always so reliable. U can loose ur snapshots any time.

I am using it since they offered free. There have been some chkdsk run without issues. But few days back, one of my snapshots became corrupt and unbootable without running chkdsk. However all othere were OK, so no big deal

One good thing is that usually the corrupted snapshot can be mounted to retrieve the data.