Do people actually read my whole post? I TRIED backing up my files, my backup program doesn't backup setup files. Which I had to find out AFTER I did the reformat. But as I said, complaining nor asking someone to change anything ever does any good so I've ended my argument.

What program your using to back up your files since if your using  just the o/s  back up system to  back up your hard drive  you probably run into troubles. You will need  another  program  to do this for  you  eg  like acronis true image or  something else  similar  to this, it will back up your  complete  hard drive  to an external drive since it mirrors  your  hard  drive  where as  the o/s  back up system only   does  half  of  it

Is there a way to close your own discussion post? Edit: I used the one that came with my Dell, datasafe? I think its called. How do I backup via the computer? Sorry if I missed the previous post, on pricing  if there was one.

No there is no option to do that, only the mods  can delete the post or lock the thread when it  becomes to heated

I don't have any PMDG products and personally I back up everything but my 3 cents are as follows:

 

 

1. PMDG are free to set their own download policies. That is their right and no one is forcing people to buy the product if they don't like their download policies. If you don't like it, don't buy it. If you want it bad enough - put up with the associated download policies.

 

 

2. In the FSX world 'less' premium cheaper products but greater download size (ORBX software for e.g.) which run into a few GB each allow unlimited downloads. It is not heresy for customers to think how come a more expensive smaller file size product does not have a similar level of downloads.

 

 

3. Fanbois, make threads a pain to read. Apparently there are people out there who read EULA's of all software products they buy.

Nothing really to add to the substantive discussion here, but I will say I think saying that as consumers our only options are buy or don't buy misunderstand the niche nature of this hobby on some level. One benefit is that we actually can talk directly to developers in a way that most other consumers can't.

One notable example: Avsim hosted a similar discussion a few years back about Orbx products, with some posters saying they were priced too high. It attracted similar rejoinders to this thread ("What's the big deal?" "It's not that much money--I can pay for it." "Do you really think Orbx doesn't know how to price their products?") Well, apparently they didn't know everything about how to price their products, because after several pages John Venema posted saying they were looking very closely at the thread. A few weeks later Orbx held the first-ever of their many sales.

It never hurts to listen to your customers (something Orbx has done better some times than others), and conversely, it never hurts to tell developers what we want.

James

3. Fanbois, make threads a pain to read. Apparently there are people out there who read EULA's of all software products they buy.

 

You read the Windows EULA? Still reading? 

How do I backup via the computer?

 

Here is what you do. I will use the PMDG JS4100 as an example because I have it too.

 

Make a directory on your hard drive called something like "PMDG JS41 Backup". You will copy 2 files to this directory.

 

1. The file called PMDG_BAE_JS4100.ZIP. It is 175.5 MB in size. This is the installer file you downloaded when you bought the addon.

 

2. Your email from PMDG called Order Confirmation - Thank you for your order. Be sure this email contains 3 things:

 

a: Your order ID - a 6 digit number. XXXXXX

b: Your Order Code - mine is 3 letters and 10 numbers. ABCXXXXXXXXXX

c: Your J41 Activation Key - XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

 

Make sure all 3 of the numbers/codes are in the text file.

 

You are almost done. Now you only need to copy the backup directory with the 2 files to a thumb drive or burn onto a CD. That's it. Copy it to at least 2 different places other than your computer where no one else will have access.

 

These are the critical files for you to be able to reinstall the product.

I still have my PMDG 737NG for FS2002 on a CD packed away in my cupboard somewhere. Actually saw it last week when I was moving some stuff around. I also have my original PIC767 for FS2000 right next to it.

While there is a lot of discussion about backups and so forth, the original topic appears to remain in question. The way I see it, and I have a pretty strong opinion on this, is that if you have purchased software, you are effectively purchasing a licence to use some numbers and code to make a product work, you are not purchasing a piece of hardware, or something that exists in solid form, unless of course it's a DVD. So I agree wholeheartedly, if you have bought some software and wish to download it again then, of course there should be no additional cost, why should there be? There is no cost for the developer in allowing you to download the software again, so why should the customer be expected to pay once more? He's paid for it. If you purchase from FlightSim Store, Aerosoft and many other online stores, they allow virtually unlimited downloads. That's becasue they understand that the software has already been paid for... a licence to use some code and some numbers. However, by holding this view doesn't mean I don't understand why a company might introduce a system of only allowing single or limited downloads, It's because of piracy, but IMO while effectively targeting the pirates this becomes at the expense of hitting the legitimate customer.

That is enough. This topic is not up for debate and I'm sorry I even entertained letting it be discussed.