Ok, so I have nearly no idea how to model in XSI as of right now (hoping to learn) and since if I do model, I have no doubt I'll eventually be wanting to make my own custom player models, anims, etc. now for the question:

With XSI Foundation (trial versions) how exactly does the trial period work? I don't want to install it right now to find out, because I'd prefer not to lose precious time, what sort of information does it require for you to begin your trial? Is it possible to, say, create a new e-mail or I'd even be willing to re-format my hard drive so you can re-use the same trials?

wafter you installed/launched it the first time (not quite shure) the 30-day counter starts, it counts the days, no matter if you actually start xsi or not, after it elapsed you cant start xsi anymore, reformating the hd, may work, but im shure the license forbids that and who wants to reformat his hd every 30 days?

i would first learn modeling etc. with the modtooland after you managed to create your own proper animations and playermodels you should install the trial (you can alwqays export uniots or anims with the modtool to xsi.5 compatible formats so that you or somebody else with the full version can export it)

DarthD.U.C.K. wrote:wafter you installed/launched it the first time (not quite shure) the 30-day counter starts, it counts the days, no matter if you actually start xsi or not, after it elapsed you cant start xsi anymore, reformating the hd, may work, but im shure the license forbids that and who wants to reformat his hd every 30 days?

i would first learn modeling etc. with the modtooland after you managed to create your own proper animations and playermodels you should install the trial (you can alwqays export uniots or anims with the modtool to xsi.5 compatible formats so that you or somebody else with the full version can export it)

Thanks for the quick reply, DarthD.U.C.K.

So it just installs without any registry information, such as e-mails or anything? If so then maybe even simply uninstalling and re-installing could work? Also, is there anywhere I can see the rules for the trial version of Foundation? (So that I'd know whether or not that type of thing would be illegal)

My Idea was to first learn everything (if I decide to go down that road), then get a third hard drive that I'd keep in my brand new external enclosure (It's very nice!) that would be solely for xsi, that way I would be capable of doing everything I need myself for more than the combined 120 days.

no reinstalling wont work

Using the extra drive wouldnt work, XSI uses registry files registered to the windows partition/drive AFAIK. You would need to delete those first. Then it might work.

ANDEWEGET wrote:Using the extra drive wouldnt work, XSI uses registry files registered to the windows partition/drive AFAIK. You would need to delete those first. Then it might work.

I thought it sounded like it was something like that, I was planning on running a separate XP operating system on the extra drive, and since I have some older XP discs lying around I wouldn't mind re-formatting every 120 days, is there any reason why this solution isn't plausible (and also if it were somehow illegal)?

In any case, many thanks.

A reformat does make the trial restart but only a full one that wipes the registry.

Good to know, thanks guys. Now the only question I have left is: Would it be against the rules (Gametoast's rules, or XSI's) to do this? Or to track down the registry files that remain in your system after uninstalling so you don't have to reformat?

I'd bother with this method only if the Admins thought it wasn't against the rules, and would be acceptable to figure out and write a tut on how to do it.

AgentSmith_#27 wrote:I'd bother with this method only if the Admins thought it wasn't against the rules, and would be acceptable to figure out and write a tut on how to do it.

Working out a way to get indefinite use out of an intentionally limited product is effectively no different than pirating the product itself. The result for the end user is exactly the same.

If you end up getting a new computer down the line and reinstall it again? Still technically breaking the spirit of the law, but no one should give you a hard time for that. Reformatting (or editing your registry) continually with the express purpose of working around a built-in limit? Why is that any more okay than simply downloading a cracked version of the software?

Maveritchell wrote:

AgentSmith_#27 wrote:I'd bother with this method only if the Admins thought it wasn't against the rules, and would be acceptable to figure out and write a tut on how to do it.

Working out a way to get indefinite use out of an intentionally limited product is effectively no different than pirating the product itself. The result for the end user is exactly the same.

If you end up getting a new computer down the line and reinstall it again? Still technically breaking the spirit of the law, but no one should give you a hard time for that. Reformatting (or editing your registry) continually with the express purpose of working around a built-in limit? Why is that any more okay than simply downloading a cracked version of the software?

Apologies, I was reading over the rules just now and realized that could probably be considered piracy, in light of this, I will take no objection if the admins here would feel it right to remove/lock this topic, and be happy to comply