How to LEGALLY re-install Activated Software...???

[leoblob]

In April, I bought a 3-user license for NAV 2005. I have it loaded on three computers, each running WIN98SE. Now, I am planning on wiping the hard drives on all three, and loading WIN2K. I will also need to re-install NAV... but how do I do this? I assume my on-line activation won't work since these have already been activated...? Is there a way to 'fix' this, or am I stuck buying another 3-user license?

[jdhurst]

If you legally own the software, there is no case I know of where you have to purchase another license. What I do (if planned, and no crash) is to uninstall activated software. Generally that will let you re-install and re-activate. If not, call the vendor and they invariably assist. ... JD Hurst

[verktyg]

In April, I bought a 3-user license for NAV 2005. I have it loaded on three computers, each running WIN98SE. Now, I am planning on wiping the hard drives on all three, and loading WIN2K. I will also need to re-install NAV... but how do I do this? I assume my on-line activation won't work since these have already been activated...? Is there a way to 'fix' this, or am I stuck buying another 3-user license?

It's hard to say with Symantec. At least up through NAV 2003 you could just reinstall the software after you removed ALL traces throughout the system and then Live Reg and Live Update would allow another year of updates.

Symantec in their piracy paranoia have loaded massive amounts of registration bloatware in the later versions of their software. There are plenty of simple ways to determine whether a user is qualified to update virus signatures.

I used NAV in one form or another from 1995 until last fall. By that time, I only had it running on one PC, my E-mail box. When I uninstalled NAV I recovered 400MB of disk space. NAV is real bloatware plus it uses way to many system resources. There are many better, faster, smaller AV programs available.

I've been using NOD32 since last fall and I'm really pleased with it. NOD32 provides far more security than NAV with a much smaller footprint - 29MBs - and it only uses 1120k of system resources. It doesn't slow my systems down like NAV did and updates take seconds.

BTW. I made the mistake of registering NAV 2.0 in 1995 and it took me 6 years of calls, E-mails and letters to get off of all of Symantec's junk mail lists!

[leoblob]

If you legally own the software, there is no case I know of where you have to purchase another license. What I do (if planned, and no crash) is to uninstall activated software. Generally that will let you re-install and re-activate. If not, call the vendor and they invariably assist. ... JD Hurst

Thanks for the info. This is very reassuring!

(and I do know that NAV is not everyone's favorite... but it has worked fine for me, with no problems... so far)

[carbon_unit]

(and I do know that NAV is not everyone's favorite... but it has worked fine for me, with no problems... so far)

Have you checked with any other AV product to see if NAV is missing anything?
Not trying to preach, just asking.

[GomJabbar]

I had to replace a hard drive with Norton AV 2004 on it, and I had no problem with reactivation of Norton. See below for information I copied from Symantec's website:
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Can I transfer an existing subscription to my new computer or restore my subscription after having a problem?


If you will not be using the Norton program on your old computer, you can transfer your remaining subscription time to another computer. However, installing the subscription on more than one computer at a time is not an available option. Each copy of the program provides a subscription for one computer.




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Note: In some cases, reinstalling or restoring Windows can also cause your subscription information to be lost. In these cases, you should treat the computer as if it was a new one and follow the procedures below to transfer the subscription time back to the computer.
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How to transfer the subscription time remaining
If your situation qualifies, use these steps below to have the remaining time on your subscription transferred a different computer using the same Norton program.

To transfer the remaining subscription time
Write down the Account ID from the old computer. Read Determining your Account ID to find the Account ID.
Install the Norton software on your new computer.
Run LiveUpdate. Download the updates and restart the computer if you are prompted to do so.
Write down the new Account ID from the new computer. Read Determining your Account ID to find the Account ID.
Contact Customer Service. Give the Account ID for the old computer and the new computer. Ask Customer Service to transfer the remaining time to your new installation of the Norton program.



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Note: If you already uninstalled the program from your old computer and therefore cannot get the Account ID to send to Customer Service, they will still be able to transfer the time by looking up your purchase record. If you can send your subscription renewal order confirmation number, it will facilitate the process but it is not required.

[leoblob]

See below for information I copied from Symantec's website...

Thanks! That will be very helpful!

And carbon_unit, no problem. ... when I bought NAV2005 I was in a bit of a time crunch (long story), and I think I even posted an inquiry on this board about NAV compared to AVG. I did read quite a few unflattering opinions about NAV... but finally decided on NAV anyway since the "enemy you know is better than the enemy you don't know," and... I got my 3-user license for only $20 after rebates.

I guess, now that I don't have a time crunch, I might look into other alternatives...

[farna]

Well, I'm NOT running Norton AV now because they wanted to charge me to reinstall. I bought it as an on-line download instead of on a CD. When the computer crashed and had to be reformatted, I was told I'd have to pay an additional charge to get a replacement copy, even though I did write down and save my registration code. So I don't buy Norton products if I can help it, especially as a direct download. I've bought direct download products before, just had to send my registration code and reason to get another copy.

By the way, I've had excellent results with AVG home edition (a FREE AV software). I run that on all but my desktop, but I don't use Internet Explorer either (Firefox or Netscape -- best to run "non-targeted" software!). I wouldn't run XP if there was good, inexpensive, easy to use Linux software. Linux has way to far to go though.