Re: Moving Microfocus 3.1 to a better laptop

phoberg@xxxxxxx wrote:
I own a copy of Microfocus 3.1 that I use for small personal
projects. I want to move the license to a newer computer - it is on a
very unstable old laptop now. I know there is/was a process that
involved "revoking" the license on the old computer, then doing some
2nd step to activate that license on the new computer. I have
installed 3.1 on the new computer, and can use the 30 day trial period
- it works fine. I'm retired and living on socsec, so cannot afford
to pay thousands of dollars to be on maintenance, just to move my
compiler. I can move other products from one computer to another,
windows for example, so I should be able to do the same with
Microfocus 3.1 - I paid over $4,000 for it, I think. Can someone tell
me the 2nd step? TIA, Paul

Do a google on Micro Focus Licensing, there are a number of entries. I assume you are referring to Net Express V 3.1 ?

Firstly find the office for your local rep from the M/F site. Tell them what you want and specifically, (and the tricky bit), you want Service Pack 1 (updates) which you are entitled to with V 3.1. With no maintenance contract, when I switched from a Win 98 to Win XP machine, I was able to re-install on the Win XP, get a CD with the whole of SP1, plus I had assistance getting a new key for Net Express.

Having spoken to your sales office, you will then have to go through the rigmarole of obtaining the license key - quite possibly your N/E might come up with a Merant Request Key dialog , (from the old Merant days), which they no longer accept; they'll bounce a message back telling you to use their new routine - using the Google search above, you will probably find the new form.

Currently you are in a better state than I am with my XP.

- First the Keyboard didn't work, then the screen was blank. Having bought the XP from a Canadian dealer I was able to re-install Windows from the dealer's CD without erasing. The net result I now have is that it automatically chugs away saying it's downloading Windows SP2 Security updates and then when it's finished, clears the screen and then a new Dialog says the update was unsuccessful. Even tried Windows SP3 - still no dice.

- Net Express - If I attempt to enter it - Merant dialog - 'Your Key has been corrupted'. So if I want to look at a xxx.cbl source from a zipfile - can't do it - up pops that bloody screen 'Key corrupted', so currently can't do anything with an expensive product. Eventually generated a request which they acknowledged with a numbered Incident Report. Somebody phoned me; he was unfamiliar with the Merant Dialog - guess he was still in kindergarten when Merant was around. Phoned the States quoting the Incident Number - told a girl the situation and that I might have to reinstall every friggin thing on my machine and THEN install N/E and go the same route as you. Her solution "Oh I would do that first". End of story so far as she was concerned; haven't heard a dicky bird back from them since although I made a reference to the Incident in a message to their Forum.

If I (a) zap the hard drive and re-install Windows etc.,, or (b) ignore all the other stuff in (a) and just re-install N/E - then I'm back to square one like you :-)

I really, really like their key protection system - it's really great for the manufacturer but a pain in the ass for consumers !

Jimmy, Calgary AB
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