How Do Softwares Track How Long We Have Used Them

[gd3110]

I wonder how do softwares (trials) keep a track of how long or how many times we have used them
I wanna know this for 2 reasons
1) I hate those trail / demo versions(but generally find a way to get a crack )

2) I really hate to think that even after uninstalling these softwarez and try to reinstall them they remember for how long I used them.
From privicy prespective I hate to think that even after uninstalling the software(and cleanig the registry) it left somting in my comp that I did not want(hidden file/registry key)
So...

Is there any software that tracks what all a software installed(files,registry keys etc) while instalation and help me truly clean my system when I unstallall a program.Coz what I want is that that after I install a programm it shold not leave any trace on my system ..hence once I re-install the same software it should not have any ways to know I had install it before

[delphin460]

use an instalation utility to track the installed files ect , then u can remove everything

[james_bond_rulez]

Originally posted by gd3110@24 March 2004 - 01:48
I wonder how do softwares (trials) keep a track of how long or how many times we have used them
I wanna know this for 2 reasons
1) I hate those trail / demo versions(but generally find a way to get a crack )

2) I really hate to think that even after uninstalling these softwarez and try to reinstall them they remember for how long I used them.
From privicy prespective I hate to think that even after uninstalling the software(and cleanig the registry) it left somting in my comp that I did not want(hidden file/registry key)
So...

Is there any software that tracks what all a software installed(files,registry keys etc) while instalation and help me truly clean my system when I unstallall a program.Coz what I want is that that after I install a programm it shold not leave any trace on my system ..hence once I re-install the same software it should not have any ways to know I had install it before

you are looking for Norton Clean Sweep

[gd3110]

Thanks.. could you all suggest some more utill.
like Norton Clean Sweep is one

[b4icu]

great avatar~!

[Storm]

Originally posted by james_bond_rulez@24 March 2004 - 12:18
you are looking for Norton Clean Sweep

does that also clean norton shit out of the registry????????

[fkdup74]

jv16 powertools

[gd3110]

Thanks FKDUP74 I will try this soft
and yaa b4icu I love this avataar too

any more suggestions

[nostalgia]

Originally posted by FKDUP74@24 March 2004 - 15:23
jv16 powertools

Great tool but doesn't clean all the registry keys which give away the time you tried a trialversion. Had this with some progs, cleaned the registry with JV and Ace Utilities but still after installing again the nagscreen came up to tell me the trial period expired.
So basically you can use regedit and the searchoption in it. Search the entire registry for keys with the name of the programm and the name of the vendor/maker. Delete them.
Also there could be a hidden .dll which contains the info.

[gd3110]

well that is exactly what I am trig to look for
Is there a ware that logs waht all files and regis entry were made by a promram so that I can search them and delete the manually if the uninstaller does not do it (like in most Time and Use Ltd software some info will always be left by default)