This just to inform anyone that, the updated Addon Manager installer, which will ask to update the QW757 Gauge ( only if it's found ), is already online on our website ( the "Stand-Alone Addon Manager" link on every Info page )I'll probably be able to update and upload all the rest of the FSDT installers around tomorrow, and Flightbeam and QW installers should be available shortly so this should address the main complain Tom was having.I would like to stress that, we constantly update both the Addon Manager and the installers, trying to make it more user-friendly so, if anyone have other suggestions how to improve it (sometimes, even replacing a text with a better description might be enough), by any means let us know, there's no need to start such rant to get updates, nobody really asked for user-controlled deactivation, but we added it anyway.

As someone who added to this thread (above), and has had issues persistently with the FSDT KORD buildings disappearing (which is more likely my FSX setup more than anything), this latest action by the author of the Addon Manager sure seems to be going beyond anything that might be required to address the larger issues in this thread. Thanks!Bruce.

Thank you Umberto for all you do. I'm grateful for devs like you that don't charge nearly enough for scenery that makes my day. Thank you,Mark

Umberto--I love your products, now have all your sceneries+the flightbeam KSFO+QW757+FSUIPC and have ZERO problems with your DRM.It is unfortunate that developers have to resort to DRM schemes to begin with but it is what it is.Please keep up the good work and I look forward to KLAX.Jim

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/243449-positive-security-package-results-flight1-flt1chk4dll/

That thread is completely different (and much older) than this one... which confuses me greatly.The cause of that thread is antivirus software misbehaving (because it returns false positives regarding certain code protection methods that are also used by malicious codes/trojans to prevent reverse engineering). What's that to do with this topic? I thought this topic was about software updates being performed without permission or knowledge of the end user.

If you install any PMDG airplane, and don't trust Pmdgoptions.dll, I doubt the airplane will load correctly.

Note the PMDG in Pmdgoptions.dll. What does "Virtuali" have to do with "Qualitywings"???I totally stand by some users not trusting "some module" where it doesn't say what it EXACTLY is.Many here live without AV, since it bogs the system down, Tom included. If I were so trustworthy to trust any crap that gets installed, I would have caught a virus a long time ago.

I would like to stress that, we constantly update both the Addon Manager and the installers, trying to make it more user-friendly so, if anyone have other suggestions how to improve it (sometimes, even replacing a text with a better description might be enough), by any means let us know, there's no need to start such rant to get updates, nobody really asked for user-controlled deactivation, but we added it anyway.

Yes, it would be good to replace the text "Addon Manager" with something else, so your customers (and those customers of Quality Wings) know that it is not really a manager of addons, but essentially it is proprietry anti-piracy product licensing software. That would be the honest description. The only addon manager I know of is in my own head. I manage my addons by deciding which addon I wish to install ;)

What's that to do with this topic? I thought this topic was about software updates being performed without permission or knowledge of the end user.

It has to do with this because, the thread wouldn't have started if Tom didn't had a *problem* with the Addon Manager not running, for some reason (which I couldn't know when I've posted, since I never get a chance trying to help him), and the most common reason for the Addon Manager to fail, is antivirus. Not the only one, but the most common. And, more generally, it's related because, any software module which is related to anti-piracy or security, can be affected by other security products like antivirus or anti-spyware, just because the measures those program need to do (like encrypt itself or test against debuggers) to stay secure, are similar to what real virus do.

I thought this topic was about software updates being performed without permission or knowledge of the end user.

Yes, but not only, it was also questioning the very need of using a software module at all, the need to trust it, why a developer A uses a module from developer B, etc. so, many different things were covered,

Yes, it would be good to replace the text "Addon Manager" with something else, so your customers (and those customers of Quality Wings) know that it is not really a manager of addons, but essentially it is proprietry anti-piracy product licensing software. That would be the honest description.

The Addon Manager name is correct, both because managing licensing of Addons still means managing Addons and, because licensing is not the only thing the Addon Manager does to manage Addons because, for example, it allows to set some tweak options for them, some global tweaks for FSX, allows to open the manuals of the installed Addons from its menu, allows to visit their webpage, allows to enable HD textures which, added to the all the licensing, registration and deactivation features related to addons, means managing.I would like to hear more substantial suggestions on what it does, rather than just a name change.

I own a few FSDT sceneries and I don't have any problem at all.I admire Mr. Umberto guy for his professionalism in this matter (I read the whole thing) since many others would become very defensive and start treating customers like :(.But I also understand the OP.. FSX is a very delicate "ecosystem"... we put A LOT of our time into this, also installing, setting up, tweaking, converting, ... building our FSX. And if something wants to mess with this equilibrium we're not happy about it, to say it very very mildly.

Note the PMDG in Pmdgoptions.dll. What does "Virtuali" have to do with "Qualitywings"???

Same as fsuipc.dll not having anything to do with it. You need to trust that either, and you have, otherwise the airplane will not work, and that's not just with QW.So, suppose you have many different products installed coming from 20 different developers, do you think it would be better if you had a different .dll all loading at start, each one named with a name that recalls the developer that made it ? If you consider being convenient for many developers all using a single support product, like fsuipc, the same holds true for a single support module that handle licensing (but not only that).

I totally stand by some users not trusting "some module" where it doesn't say what it EXACTLY is.

The module can't describe its operation in detail on the Trust screen, because that one only allows to list the name and the publisher that signed it. If you don't trust it, fair enough, just don't. Expect the program you just installed will not work, and if you want to get more information on it, open the manual, in this case the QW, and look for its description, make up your mind, and launch FSX again, so it will be asked to trust it or not another time.

You say beside licensing its managing addons and all.Then pray tell, how do other major scenery developers of similar qualities, manage to stay away from such solutions?Why would one need a manual inside FSX? Can't I run windowed and open Acrobat?Why would someone want to change HD textures inside FSX? It's a small thing but not REALLY necessary - it gives you and option to tweak more rather than fly. Set, see how the performance is and let it be (externally).Tweak options? Set before FSX? WAY easier if you ask me - and cleaner.Visit webpage? COME ON.Of course it means managing, it also means another menu in FSX when you already have many, some that are really needed (FSUIPC...).You will probably say small things - but do they really matter when it comes to the >scenery<?I feel like having some shareware crap on my computer and can't get rid of adds (there are none, I'm exaggerating a bit now, but you know what I mean).My opinion? Dump the managing (do it externally, forget the module in FSX), manage the licensing some other way (eg. prior to installation) and be done with it!I think the whole thread got so flamed up because Tom had a problem, but apparently is not the only user with this opinion.

This thread is such an eye-opener to me. Wow.Never had any unsolvable problems with their products or add-on manager. All I can say, I will support FSDT from now on more than ever.

If you don't trust it, fair enough, just don't. Expect the program you just installed will not work, and if you want to get more information on it, open the manual, in this case the QW, and look for its description, make up your mind, and launch FSX again, so it will be asked to trust it or not another time.

Well, so you don't really have an 'option' because it simply doesn't work without it, or even worse crash FSX.If I would request a refund because I don't want to install third party files which have nothing to do with the product, that would be for sure a problem.You can't compare FSUIPC with the bglmanx stuff because problems with the vitualli/bglmanx stuff is all over the place in various forums since years.FSUIPC never had this problem AFAIK

As far as I am concerned this issue is one step short of malware.

But I also understand the OP.. FSX is a very delicate "ecosystem"... we put A LOT of our time into this, also installing, setting up, tweaking, converting, ... building our FSX. And if something wants to mess with this equilibrium we're not happy about it, to say it very very mildly.

I am me too scared of possible mess of my ecosystem, that way I advice everyone to Clone the proper Hardrive and keep it update all the time you add new stuff and you are happy with, if anyting goes wrong just recover your image without any kind of problem and no drama on reistall W7/Software/FSX/ADDon ect.When you clone your HD you copy a parfect state of it.