Re: OK --- a question of ethics
- From: dannysdailys@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (dannysdailys)
- Date: Wed, 12 Oct 2005 13:34:06 GMT
> MB_wrote:
Just curious as to your opinions.
>
> Just a very quick summary as my saga has been memorialized in a
bunch of
> threads.
>
> I have a desktop and a newer laptop. I wanted to back both of them
up. I had
> a very hard time getting the CD/DVD s-ware to mesh on both
computers. Long
> story-- but I eventually gave up on that (too unreliable) and
decided to get
> an external USB drive. I got a very good deal on a WD 120 GB drive.
The 2
> drives for my computers are both 40 GB, and they have about 60% free
space,
> so my ext. hard drive has plenty of room to back up both.
>
> I then ran into problems with their bundled B/U s-ware, Retrospect
Express.
> I would completely B/U one computer. When I went to the other one,
it would
> erase the other B/U set. I could probably fool the program by
screwing
> around and changing folder names, moving files, etc. but I didn't
want to do
> this for fear of screwing up the RESTORE feature should I ever
really need
> it.
>
> I called WD tech support. They said the license only allows me to
B/U ONE
> computer. Hence, the erasing is a licensing protection device in
their
> s-ware.
>
> Well, frankly, I am really quite ticked off. I spent a LOT of time
trying to
> solve the CD issue and then I decided to go the ext. drive route.
There was
> nothing on the outisde box saying it should only be used for one
computer.
> But, after installation, I guess the fine print of the licensing
agreement
> does say that (let's assume that's the case -- like many of us who
install a
> variety of programs I admit to not reading the license before
clicking the I
> Accept tab).
>
> OK, now for the ethical part. I reformatted my USB hard drive and
made TWO
> partitions, E and F. I can now successfully back up my two computers
(one to
> E drive and the other to F drive). The s-ware does not look beyond
one
> partition,
>
> I can do this, but should I? The argument against it is that I'm in
effect
> stealing. OTOH, it is quite annoying when the license information
occurs
> AFTER you install everything. Had I known about the license
beforehand, I
> could have looked at other products. But, realistically, I can also
return
> the product for a full refund. But it does seem like a bunch of BS
that I am
> not supposed to B/U my two home computers.
>
> OK --- I would really appreciate your comments. I suspect we have
reached
> that crossroads where we know what might be the proper/right/ethical
thing
> to do (ie: either return the package or look into either upgrading
the
> license or buying another drive). In fact, I'm really not sure
whether this
> restriction to one computer is the s-ware license or the hardware
license (I
> should check).
>
> The crossroads: what would you HONESTLY do???
>
> Mel
I'm surprised WD didn't come up with a way to stop the partitioning.
I mean after all, you only bought one hard drive.
Don't worry about it, just pat yourself on the back for your
ingenuity. In the old days, work arounds were a way of life. It
surprises me that they did this in this way. It's too simple to
crack and causes the customer nothing but a hassle.
If it bothers you, buy a copy of Nero Gold, it has an excellent backup
utility.
.
- References:
- OK --- a question of ethics
- From: MB_
- OK --- a question of ethics
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