Question

Does anybody know the solution for this? I create an exe file of my software. After first installation I have to disable the exe, so it cannot be run again because when someone purchases the software from me they can install it only once.

Answer 1

To do this you’ll need to store something somewhere, that something could be:

• A file
• A registry entry
• A call to a web service you own that stores a unique identifier for the machine, and is checked on subsequent installation attempts (Note: If you choose this method you must be clear and up-front with your users that it’s what you’re doing).

Bear in mind that a determined user will be able to circumvent file and registry methods and also quite possibly the web service method. The former two by using something such as Process Monitor to identify the files/registry entries you’re writing to and clear them. For the latter, by using something like Fiddler to identify the web service calls you’re making and replacing the responses with ones that allow them to bypass your protection.

Remember, ultimately the user can disassemble your code and remove the protection mechanisms you’ve put in place, so don’t rely on them being 100% un-breakable