Activated successfully but now asking for security key

[gvovermyer]

I downloaded and installed Vidblaster 1.17 trial version, liked it, and purchased the Home version. Received license code, registered Vidblaster, sent the activation email, received the activation code and activated successfully. Used Vidblaster for several weeks, but suddenly last Sunday morning, when I started Vidblaster it asked for a "security key."

"This program requires a security key. If you have one select OK to enter it. After entering a valid key, you will not be prompted again."

I answer OK and enter my name and license key from my original email and it says they don't match. I tried activation key, checked and rechecked my email, used copy and paste, etc. to no avail.

I uninstalled Vidblaster, rebooted, and downloaded the now current version, 1.19, and as soon as I install it and start it up, I immediately get the above message asking for a security key.

How can I get Vidblaster licensed and activated again?

[Mike]

That's not coming from VidBlaster. Google it if you don't know which program is doing this, I found 15,500 hits :)

[gvovermyer]

Mike, The message IS definitely coming from the vidblaster.exe process. I proved that with WINSPY++, a tool that identifies info about any window being displayed. Reading many of the actually, about 4000 hits on the quoted string of the message displayed, it appears that you are using SoftwarePassport Pro/Armadillo to generate and manage your security keys. One hit on Google sounded like the message many people are getting from a large variety of applications is the "default" message from SoftwarePassport Pro, perhaps having to do with a missing certificate. How can I reset my environment, registry, etc., to get back to square one and install, register, and activate vidlaster again.

[Mike]

I have never heard of this problem so will have to make inquiries what could cause this. Meanwhile if there is any info you can share please let me know. Things like what changed shortly before you got this message, do you have any utilities that "protect" the registry (like undelete programs), did you confirm you are virus free etc.

[lill]

I answer OK and enter my name and license key from my original email and it says they don't match.

Humm VidBlaster only asks for a key, I cant remember that it has asks for my name ?

Is this something special in Home version ?

[weconverse]

Gerry, I would suspect some kind of Trojan or similar in your system. Sorry.

[Jakob]

Hi,
Just want to say, that I had a similar issue. I experienced exactly the same as Gary describes. I used licensed VB for some days, but one morning I was prompted for a key. I wanted to make a post about it, but instead applied for a new key and that solved it.

Best
Jakob

[gvovermyer]

This week, I completely restored the computer from the recovery partition, ran all the windows updates to bring Windows XP back to current and downloaded vidblaster fresh from the vidblaster site. When I fired it up, I got the same unexpected message, rather than a trial version of vidblaster.

When I recovered the hard drive, I chose the save data option, which saved most of my data files except for rebuilding My Documents and the registry. There certainly is no virus nor malware on this fresh build, but it is conceivable that something was written outside the registry that is telling SoftwarePassport Pro to ask for a security key. Next week I will format the hard drive when I do the recovery to be sure the entire hard drive is fresh.

[gvovermyer]

UPDATE: I just did a complete format drive and recovery and then downloaded Vidblaster fresh before running any Windows updates. This time I get the expected trial version starting up normally. Haven't tried my product key, yet, but I'm sure it or a new one will work. Obviously, there was something written in the Program Files\CombiTech\Vidblaster directory that fooled SoftwarePassport. I should be ok, now. Thanks, everyone.

[weconverse]

Gerry,
I feel with you. A lot of (work) time for a little problem. But hopefully you are good to go and Blast away :) now!