Upgraded Program, Original Becomes Useless

[Tom Saurus]

I occasionally have to take my computer in for work to be done to it. So on occasion the need may arise where I have to have the C Drive erased, so that the OS can be reinstalled. I recently purchased a program, that was termed as a Upgrade, but I didn't realize the full ramifications of what that meant. I have two computers, one is a P4 System and that is the one that may need some work. Well the P4 has the original program on it and it has a validation code that is good for life.

Then I got my new Dual Core, and wanted the capability and features of the new program that just launched. So I purchased the program that does this and I saw where I could get it as 50 bucks or so as an upgrade. Well anyway if I had know that I would have my Validation for my existing program on my P4 "voided", I wouldn't have jumped so quickly on the Upgrade bandwagon.

I am assuming until I have a situation arise where I have to unistall this program on my P4 that it will work, but on the re-install after I have my OS reinstalled, I will probably loose the use of the program.

Is there some way for me to backup my original program or transfer it to another hard drive and without unistalling? I am going to try to work something out with the company to hold onto my original investment. I am hoping they will let me send some more money to make up on what I saved by using the Upgrade option. I feel like such a fool now. I didn't think of the full ramifications of what Upgrade really meant. I thought it just meant, "Since You Bought Our Products Before, here is this new one at a Reduced Price, to show our respect for your loyality" kind of thing. Now it is "Your Existing Software once you need to Validate it again, is rendered useless". I didn't want to to save 20 bucks to loose 50 bucks, incase I need to do something to my C Drive, like have it wiped clean and the OS reinstalled.

I have the original Installation File, and my Validation Code, but this rule, has me really worried. My P4 computer will need some work sometime down the line. At the very least we know that Mobo and other parts break down and sometimes one is faced with loosing ones data on the C Drive.

Any advice on this situation would be greatly appreciated. If nothing can be done, I will have to live with it; but maybe others will learn from my situation and not necessarily choose Upgrade, unless you understand the full ramifications of what that means. I assure you the value of my original program to me is worth much more than what I saved by chosing upgrade. In dollar terms alone that program cost me around sixty bucks or so in Canadian money.

[Tom Saurus]

I just went to the FAQ section of the company's website and it says that once you "chose upgrade" that the original software looses all support and the program will no longer work. It doesn't look like I have a leg to stand on. I am hoping that somehow I can just send some additional money and have two seperate licences. I really am the "Moron Of The Year", to throw away 40 or 50 bucks to save maybe 20.

It seems in my excitement to get the new and improved program and not looking into what "Upgrade really entails", that I will end up loosing the function of a program that has served me well and that I have used for making nearly 2 thousand projects over the last 2 years.

But maybe they will show some mercy and let me send some more money to fix the situation. Actually when I bought the original program I bought a program that works with the files to edit them before using in the progam I am talking about. I never use that program anymore and I am hoping they can "void" it because I use another program that I like better for the tasks that the editing program preforms.

So it is all clearly is down to my not looking into things thorougly in the first place.