|
| Re: Another Serial number prob |
Tue, 08 February 2005 18:05   |
|
|
|
Well, the serial number isn't in the registry - that much I can tell you for sure. What you need to remember is how old this game is. Windows 3.1 didn't actually use a registry in the context that you understand the Windows registry today. Programs in Windows 3.1 weren't actually registered.
And, no, the serial number isn't in the .ini file. What Stars! does is create a unique hash ID with the serial number and a call to the old windows machine id function. Stars then writes that information as a string at the end of the current drive. When the program starts it reads the hash id it created when it was installed. If you start Stars! on another computer, the hash ID is not on the drive so - blip - 'Please enter your serial number'.
There is a way you can find out where the info actually is and then you could conceivably copy it and write it manually from your old machine to a new one. However, you'd have to have your serial number (or a valid one) to do it. You'd have to write the hash raw on the disk though since as far as I know it isn't stored in a real file. The best thing to do is just re-enter your serial number the first time you start on the new machine - you only have to enter it once.
Ptolemy
[Updated on: Tue, 08 February 2005 18:06]
Though we often ask how and why, we must also do to get the answers to the questions.Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: Another Serial number prob |
Wed, 09 February 2005 11:05 |
|
| Steve1 |
 | Officer Cadet 2nd Year |
Messages: 240
Registered: January 2003
Location: Australia | |
|
| Quote: |
you 'may' be able to avoid it by moving the HD from the old machine to the new and playing the game from the same hard drive.
|
Remember to attach the old HD to an ATA33 cable (ie. the flat ribbon 40 wire cable) or a cable separate from your new hard drives (can be 80 wire if you desire). If you attach it to the same cable as your existing HD that utilises the 80 wire cable then it will slow the speed of your new HD down - substantially.
If your new HD utilises anything other than 80 wire (eg. SCSI or serial ATA), then no problems, just attach the old drive to an existing 40 wire cable within the machine (if you have available).
Note that you may need to install another controller card, depending on no. and type of drives on your new machine and any possible spare slots on the cable/s.
Also, DVD drives nowadays are normally capable of utilising ATA66 or better cables. Don't place the old drive on the same cable as this device.
Place the old drive only on the same cable with a CD drive, old HD or on its own, otherwise expect poor performance from your new PC 
All of the above assumes that your old HD is IDE. If it happens to be SCSI please advise and I'll re-submit my post with the pertinant information.
If your old Hard drive is something faster than ATA33, then please also advise and I'll update the information.
If your old Hard drive is something like an MFM, RLL or ESDI (these drives are really, really old) drive then forget it. In that case you most definately are stuck!!!
If my post sounds confusing then please advise and I'll do my best to explain what is meant 
[Updated on: Wed, 09 February 2005 11:13] Report message to a moderator
|
|
|
|
|
Members
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
Another Serial number prob
