Pack your nonsense elsewhere, Dennis.It's not about what you think is right or wrong. It's not about your treating folks who disagree with you like idiots ("can we spell E..M..A..I..L). It's not about your opinions at all!It's about each consumer making their own choices. Period. If you want to do the e-mail thing, you're welcome to do just that. No one will belittle you for doing so (though you clearly lack the same understanding of others' feelings and wishes).You are intent on creating a conflict here because some folks are choosing to NOT put their payware dollars where you are putting yours. Your opinions amount to zilch when it comes to my money and how I spend it.If you choose to buy a new computer every couple of years or so, good for you. You'll have few if any problems getting your payware revalidated. I choose to upgrade differently. I'm on a schedule. A little bit of money for hardware every 3-4 months. Machine binding is not worth my time and energy to revalidate. My time is worth more than a $10-$30 product.You do it your way, I'll do it mine. You spend your money as you wish, I'll spend mine as I wish.

"What this means to some of you is if you dont purchase it you aint going get it."In the above statement I did not mean to accuse anyone involved with this thread of theft. I apologise. What I meant to say was that I suspect many of the messages complaining about the protection scheme of this or that FS addon stem from the fact that Johnny downloaded this or that from somewhere or gave it to somebody and now he cant play. So he writes to this or that FS Addon Company and they tell him in so many words that he is a thief and they dont appreciate him stealing their product and or telling him that he will no longer be allowed to purchase anything from them and so he goes where ever he can find a audience such as here and spews venom and froth this way and that because he cant play with said product any more.Dennis Waggoner

No agenda, Dennis, so please don't make out that I have one.All I am saying is that I don't like FSD's way of going about anti-piracy as I find it unnecessarily too restrictive. This is a STATEMENT and not a COMPLAINT.I take great exception to anyone saying that I am complaining when I am not.David

*The only problems you are going to have with the FSD Porter and security is one that is caused by either stealing it or giving it to someone else. Other that that you will have no problems. If thats to much of a restriction then tough!*Let me make it quite clear to you Dennis that I am not a thief and I don't give my software to anyone else. It is quite possible to have a different problem.David

It is a hastle how the payware vendors have to distribute their software. Its often a very large hastle to try and get keys resent and things like that.but really u cant do much about it, its really the only option to prevent piracy.

The Porter looks nice but I won't be buying it I'm afraid....I have purchased their Commander in the past and apart from the over zealous copy protection thing I also had all manner of convoluted hassles when updating it to FS9, plus being made to feel by FSD's support people it was all my fault that I couldn't get it installed properly. So I've decided against future purchases from them, I really don't need that sort of hassle....there is nothing wrong with my computer as all my other addon planes, etc work fine, but try telling them that!. At one point they suggested I ditch my OS (win98) and buy XP as if I was a fool to be still running that OS....I was made to feel as if I should be guilty and I don't appreciate it....The commander is no longer flown by me now I've permanently uninstalled FS2002. A shame but a lesson learned I guess...Anyway, excuse my rant and if they can improve their customer support in future then good luck to them...RegardsDave

You are intent on creating a conflict here because some folks are choosing to NOT put their payware dollars where you are putting yours.What I am intend on doing is standing up for Company that I believe in. I throughly enjoy this hobby and Im very greatful for FSD-International. Ill never be well enough off to own my on plane but because of them I at least have a taste of what if would be like to actually fly a Seneca or a Porter in real life. They fill a void the no other Company can or will fill.Thats my agenda.Dennis Waggoner

I had problems with the FS2002 2004 transfer also (I'm running XP). Just waited for the service release and request a full FS2004 install, I had the answer in less than 24H. As far I can see the installation worked very well with no problem. In the past I had to request a key since on each Windows install the activation pop up. Not this last time the plane didn't ask for activation.Jos

Dennis I can tell you that I WAS also a paying customer of FSD. I had pretty much everything they sold up through the Commander. I purchased a new computer about 6 months ago, had a few problems with it, and that's where the problems started. I finally got everything squared away but it took several formats, reinstalls, etc to do it. During this time I had to re-install my payware add-ons several times and had no problems with ANY of them (Dream Fleet, Flight1, Captain Sim and,,,,FSD) the only one I had a problem with was FSD and they basically accused me of installing my software on many different computers. I think FSD has some of the best add-on aircraft available and it's going to kill me not to get the Porter, but I won't be giving anymore $$ so a company that doesn't have a clue how to talk with customers with any level of respect. If they have changed their protection to just check for hardware differences, that just proves my point that their old system was seriously flawed because I was changing software(operating systems etc, to try to correct my problems and that's what was screwing me up. Although, obviously, you believe that the protection systems must be OK and if FSD says they are using second party sources for the add-ons, it must be so. I can tell you IT AIN'T SO. I truly don't care if you believe me or not but I can tell you that there are not just "a couple" of folks out there that have had this type of experience with FSD.Nuf SaidGeorge Stoddard

That's a very one-sided story you are telling here George. Your "way of talking" to us was much less than civil.You are forgetting to tell these good people that we refunded your purchase. You are also forgetting to tell them how you attempted to install it again after we issued the refund.I think objective people can appreciate that one-sided tales are generally not to be taken at face value.http://www.fsd-international.com/team/TD_forum_sig.gif

I really don't understand what the big deal is in requesting a reseting of your codes.I have recently upgraded a few things on my system also installed a new OS and FS9. When I attempted to install my FSD Commander and Cheyenne I was greeted with the message that my codes didn't work. I simply followed the instructions to request working codes and promptly recieved a message the next morning that my codes were reset and I was good to go! No problems, no hassles and no accusations.If someone has to do MANY reinstalls for whatever reason, than requesting new codes is the least of his problems.

Tim,As has been the case the entire time, you are again absolutely misleading everyone. In the past I was going to post the ENTIRE e-mail communications we had concerning my issues and I guarantee you that the only one who comes across like a jerk is FSD. I haven't done so because it was requested that I didn't by the AVSIM staff and I respect that. As far as trying to install after refund, that is absolutely, positively a LIE, and you know it!The plane I was attempting to re-install was one that I had NOT received a refund on. You know it, Steve knows it, and as usual you are trying to mislead folks by telling half truths. If folks would bother to do a search on this forum they would see to what level you are willing to stoop to to try and make your case. Hopefully, one day enough people will realize this.George Stoddard

I'm sorry but I just have to laugh at this entire thread. Tim's last post focused everything so clearly I couldn't keep from giggling.Every vendor takes a certain approach to protecting their product and every customer reacts to that approach. Some agree and others agree to disagree. That is the way of business. What makes this so hilarious are those customers who are so irate about a ir products again. Even though they profess to absolutely love them. Now what is wrong with this picture?The old phrase "cutting of your nose to spite your face" comes to mind. The customer is the loser in this scenario not the vendor. The vendor most likely is glad the angry buyer did NOT buy as it would only lead to more arguments. And the customer has deprived himself of the enjoyment of flying one of the better designed model around.In the meantime, I'll happily plunk down the necessary coins to add the Porter to my growing collection of FSD planes. And if I ever do have to talk to their support -- as I've done a couple times before -- I would expect to have the same civil discussion as before.Racartronit means something, but I just can't remember what

It's very easy in to appreciate and enjoy the artistic and technical talent of a product and to totally disagree with the business model and customer service/support. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see the problem in seperating the two.George Stoddard

I can't but agree. There's no pleasing some people.When someone tells me "I have deleted the software from my system" - as both George and Lungs did when we refunded their sales after tiring of their abuse - I tend to take such undertakings at face value. Because I'm a fundamentally trusting bloke - right up to the point someone shows themselves to NOT be worthy of ANY trust.But to be fair to George, he isn't alone in this (even in this thread), he's just one. For example, in Lungs case, I thought his lodging a Replacement File Request with us months after we refunded his purchase, was being a bit cheeky. That was for a file he had certified uninstalled, deleted - and had refunded. There are always two sides to every coin, as any reader will appreciate (as you do), and in this case both these fine fellows are taking liberties with the truth and I'm getting a bit sick of it. At some point turning the other cheek in the face of ongoing dishonesty starts to really lose it's appeal. .....Steve SmallCanberra, Australiahttp://www.fsd-international.com/team/Steve_signature.gif