[Virtualacorn-list] VRPC & USB HDD

[Chris Hughes]

In message <50D57CE674%mik.towse at xemik.com>
          Mik Towse <mik.towse at xemik.com> wrote:

> In article <1c9578d550.chris at o2.co.uk> Chris Hughes  wrote:
>> In message <50D57617D7%mik.towse at xemik.com>
>>           Mik Towse <mik.towse at xemik.com> wrote:
>>> In article <50d5755f70charles at charleshope.demon.co.uk> charles  wrote:
>>>> On 06 Jan, Mik Towse <mik.towse at xemik.com> wrote:
>>> [snip]
>>>>> Firstly, are there likely to be any issues using VPRC on a USB HDD?
>>>>> Secondly, are there likely to be any issues using the ROS HDs on
>>>>> different copies of VRPC (albeit the same version) bearing in mind the
>>>>> drives can only be used on one m/c at any one time.
>>>> I suspect, but Aaron can confirm, that the software protection, which
>>>> depends on the computers MAC address will not let you do this.
>>> But AFAIK this only applies to /running/ VRPC. Presumably, once VRPC is
>>> up & running on a PC, the MAC addresses are irrelevant to the normal
>>> running of RISC OS and file transfers, etc.
>> No it will check for the MAC address and prevent access.
> Prevent access to what? If VRPC is /running/ it has passed the MAC address
> validation. Are you saying that there are further checks after whilst VRPC is
> running?

It checks for the MAC address that is associated with the copy of VRPC 
in use. So if you move the USB HDD between computers  and you have the 
main program on it, it will request a new code. In theory if you have 
registered both copies using the internal hard drives then you will 
already have the unlock code for each and provided you leave the main 
program on the internal drives and amend the paths to the VRPC HDD to 
the drive letter and path of the USB drive on which you have the VRPC 
HDD drives it should work.

Copying the VRPC drive between machines are not affected, its the main 
program that is checking for the MAC Address.

>> There is also the licence implication of running the same (one
>> licence) copy on two computers, which breaches the licence conditions.
>> I really hope Mik is not doing this.

[snip]


> [1] Although I don't see what relevance it has to my query, I do understand
> the concerns. :o)

Only queried because you mentioned same copy on both, I mistook that 
as meaning the same copy of the main program.

-- 
Chris Hughes