Is It
Legal?
Unlicensed and illegal HGIS usage costs you in
support
available for your own HGIS problems. All HGIS licenses are “Single User -
2 Computer”.
This means “1 user with 2 computers under that person's control” This
does not mean sharing your unlock
codes
with your
brother-in-law, your employee, your son, your boss, your neighbor, etc.
Only one computer may be in use with HGIS at one
time per license. You may loan a computer out for a job if you
keep your second computer secure AND not use it while the first one is
loaned out (you also may not rent it). NEVER give anyone your unlock
code or your HGIS support code. Keep your codes to
yourself. If you give your
unlock code to a co-worker; and they use that code to activate another
computer, or they contact support for any reason; YOU can lose your HGIS
license. ONE SINGLE USER is responsible for securing all
codes, contacting support, and uninstalling HGIS when the computer is
removed from service and replaced. Keeping your codes secure is
the only way you can certify that you are complying with your HGIS
license terms.
IF SOMEONE STEALS YOUR CODE AND USES IT, YOU CAN
LOSE YOUR HGIS LICENSE.
The HGIS License Activation Server tracks all
computers
running HGIS. Every computer contains a unique serial number (called a
GUID). HGIS generates a unique “Machine
ID” from this serial number. The HGIS
License Activation Server generates an unlock code (key) only for that
computer.
Once an Activation key is created, it cannot be un-created. That
Activation
Code can run HGIS on that computer until something is upgraded
(upgrading could
change the GUID, and therefore change the key). [Some Pocket PC 2003 computers can change
the GUID when the battery ran down. Microsoft fixed this problem in all
versions of Windows Mobile 5 and later. ]
Some companies use
“floating license servers” to track users. Floating licenses work when
all
users are on the same network all the time. Field HGIS users are NOT
usually on a
network when they are in the field; there is no way for a floating
license server to track users in the field. Another type of
license key is a pass-around "token"; the problem with tokens is when
your computer dies, you can't pass your license to another
computer. We use a “Serial Number Key” to license HGIS which
allows
field HGIS work without a network, and allows for a dead or stolen
computer to be replaced; or allows a "Hot Backup Computer"(2nd
computer is spare, not in use, but ready to go). Serial Number Keys are
used with HGIS are because "Mission Critical" applications require
minimum down time. The difficulty with Serial Number Keys is that they
allow users to violate license terms and activate too many computers at
times.
I got this old computer
with HGIS on it; can I transfer the license?
Most of the time, someone else has already activated a replacement
computer. There could be several old
computers lying around your shop with HGIS installed on them. These are unlicensed computers. (To remove an HGIS Activation from a computer,
go to Help...About...Erase
Registration...) When multiple users contact us for
support under one license, we find out about these unlicensed
computers; and will terminate that HGIS license for all users.
ONLY, if
the original user has left the
company, AND they didn’t take the license with them, AND you are the
only
current user, THEN you may purchase an HGIS license transfer to your
name for a
fee (currently US$199).
HGIS Support and
Training
Users without a
legal license or even an annual support contract improperly contact us
asking for support. You receive one year
of
support with each HGIS license
purchased (2 hours maximum). And legally licensed users may purchase an
Annual Support Agreement
on our
Google Checkout page each year. Then you receive a support phone
number. When you contact us, please have your Unlock Code ready (If the
license is over 1 year old, we ask for your Google Transaction # where
you purchased HGIS support as well)..
Training
is
priced separately and purchased directly from HGIS dealers. If
your
question starts with "How do I ..." it is often a training question,
please check your documentation for the answer to your question (Tap
the "?"
next to any menu to go to the section of the Manual for that
item.)
Users without an Annual Support Agreement are supported by email as
time allows (may take a day or so). By purchasing support you
allow us to provide you with quicker and a higher level of support by
phone (up to 2 hours per year). We only support hardware or software
purchased from us. Please don't ask about MapInfo, ActiveSync, or that
GPS you purchased on ebay; we don't know the answer. [In the past, some have thought support
meant anything from
how to make a Corn Maze to how to change their Printer Cartridge.] For
email support: www.starpal.com/Contact.html
If you don’t know the full history of your license or computer, the answer is likely NO. If the license was grossly violated, we may have terminated the license. Someone else may still be using the license (at your company or another company). If the license has not been terminated for improper usage, we may offer you an Authentic Copy of HGIS at a discounted price.
Email us your unlock code, we will research your code; and tell you the
cost for an Authentic Copy of HGIS with support. You may
receive a
discounted price, and receive quicker and better support.
Everyone wins.
www.starpal.com/Contact.html
PLEASE KEEP IT LEGAL. THANK YOU FOR RUNNING
AN AUTHENTIC HGIS
COPY.