How to limit the number of installations in an installation package

Question

I am developing a C # Win Forms application that needs to be installed on a client machine (Windows XP / Windows 7).

The problem is that I need to limit the number of installations per installation package to 2 (or some number).

Is there any way to achieve this using Install Shield or any other way?

Is embedding a key in a file name, good practice?

Awaiting response.

Thanks Advance,

Vijay

Answer 1

This should be impossible, as the user can always make a copy of the installation package before starting it. A package (for example, a * .msi file) is just a sequence of bytes that can be copied ...

You can limit it to 2 installations per machine, given that you leave some information somewhere (for example, in the registry).

Another alternative is to have a license key (or a key embedded in the installation package), which is then used to activate the software using a central server on the Internet. This is probably just an option.

Answer 2

You will need to configure the central server to manage settings and assign keys to users, as well as monitor key usage on the central server. The binary installation itself cannot, as far as I know, track how many times it has been installed.

Answer 3

Another easy solution would be to access the registry and add a new key. When the installation happens, you check the registry key and then check the number. If the key does not exist, create it.

This has disadvantages, since any knowledgeable user can open the registry (if they have rights on the computer), and then change the value of the registration key.