[nfbcs] An odd Jaws fact

[Joseph C. Lininger]

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA256

Tracy,
The JAWS copy protection scheme works by tying your copy of JAWS to a
particular computer. A fingerprint is generated based on your hardware.
Therefore, changing the hardware on your machine can result in your
activation code being invalidated. Back when I was a JAWS user, I had it
happen once just because I updated the firmware on my CD-Rom drive.

As an additional point of interest, in theory you should be able to
format and reinstall windows, then use the same activation code as long
as you don't change the hardware. In practice, it doesn't work that way.
I think it uses the Windows gid in the fingerprinting process because
the fingerprint changes if you reinstall windows. I suggest anyone who
uses JAWS use a disk imaging program to back up your Windows
installation in case it goes bad. It's good practice anyway honestly,
and is especially so in this case. The fact Windows itself requires
activation now in most cases underscores that particular need.
- --
Stress (N): The condition that occurs when ones mind overrides the
body's natural desire to reach out and slap the hell out of someone
who desperately deserves it.
Joseph C. Lininger, <jbahm at pcdesk.net>
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.4.9 (MingW32)

iQEcBAEBCAAGBQJKoBEiAAoJEMh8jNraUiwqfQ4IAIt1zbswXEEx5MUAMxlPXcU8
XVX+Y6agLtVoJFiYIdo8W/AWH3yhdxgwjNL1LUVh7fyt4LbzyBknQEJJky0OTAV7
9ejB2YVSnp6C0KXx8nZK7aO4Wg4+uPc+W7IU6znLgjbpHUxlIxgI+NS45NNlt6yn
5vTSPDsKSYxj+0jz6e4afx+1HKaO647MMt8UXqokiI2Os0XidD9pgegDI0VsPNNX
K4inXWel2slWWnpPjd91QYZM6RHqKHefF8fk4JiwL66i+dklc3K5uHsWz9gWmHbi
PaZLCU6E2tVcR7bUVNoWB1ubmne8pWDwfbfi+ymGN633/C7/bC2yKC50azeuAHs=
=fh+U
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----