Software Lifetime - A Thinstall Story

I purchased Thinstall version 2 in 2003, and recently re-installed it to deploy my game (Archon: Evolution) for one final release. However, Thinstall simply will not run (it actually stops responding)! Basically, when it runs, it tries to connect with Thinstall's server(s) to validate my license, and Thinstall have clearly taken the servers down.

I contacted Thinstall via email, asking why I couldn’t run the software I'd paid for. I received no reply. I've since tried to contact them on two further occasions, but they haven't even bothered to acknowledge my emails.

This is really frustrating. I was never told that the software had a four year lifespan when I purchased it. What is generally regarded as a reasonable lifespan for a piece of software? I appreciate that support will cease after a certain time, but surely I should be able to continue to run the application itself? Have I got any rights in this situation, and is there anything I can do about it? Surely I should be able to use the software I paid for?

Thinstall is still being developed, although it appears to have changed direction *slightly*, and it's now up to version 3.

Depends what their license and small print says. Without further information, I'd say you probably have rights, but that you won't get anywhere unless you can embarrass the company. They know you're not going to hire a lawyer for this, but if you can get a story on Slashdot or something making them look like a bunch of thieves, and potentially putting off many new customers, you might find they'll do something just to shut you up. Of course, you have to be very careful what you say, because you *don't* know that they're not going to hire a lawyer.

Well there's sure to be a crack around for that. Failing that a hosts entry and packet sniffer could probably allow you to roll your own.

Depends. Business software tends to last 30 years, for consumer software you shouldn't expect anything beyond the day you buy it.

Not after 4 years. Sorry. Software usually comes with a 90 day warranty (depending on legislation in various countries). I mean if you're really pissed you could take the EULA to a lawyer and ask his opinion, but unless you live in the U.S. and the company that wrote THInstall is incorporated in the U.S. your chances of winning are slim to none.

Well I agree completely. In reality however it's pretty much hit and miss with software products. This is why free (as in speech, not beer) software is such a good idea. If you had had the source to THInstall, you could simply have removed the license check.

My Thinstall version is 2.521, it's stable enough while the author has dropped the support with Thinstall V2.

Thinstall has go copletely nonsense when the V3 is out(bloated, troublesome to use etc), I suggest to try MoleBox(and it's next-gen packer SteelHide) instead.

Thanks for the advice guys. It looks like I'm going to have to accept that I can't use it anymore :(

Yoko: Can you still run your Thinstall 2.521?

This is why i wont buy anything that must have online activation unless theres a hack to get around it when they decide they dont want to support it anymore.

@Bobby

Yes, still runable, mail me for workaround(patch) if you still need it, I have no time to use Thinstall but this version still works on Vista, so can be considered as safe version.

There's file unpackers for Thinstall or MoleBox around, but not always works, if you're using MoleBox it's possible to implament a 2nd protection which make it stronger.