Product Activation

Penfriend must be activated after installation otherwise it will operate with limited features, and for a limited time. Normally activation is via the Internet and is automatic if you are on-line. But it can also be done manually from another computer with Internet access, by telephone, or even by letter.

Internet Activation

When you install or run the software, a dialogue box will appear requesting activation. Please ensure that your computer is connected to the Internet, and then click on OK. The process should take a few seconds and finish automatically.

Manual Activation

If you do not have Internet access from the computer running Penfriend, please do not try to activate the software during the installation process and click 'cancel' on the activation dialogue box. Open Penfriend, select 'Activate manually'. Note down the 'activation request code' use this to obtain the activation code. There are two main ways for doing this:

Find another computer with Internet access, visit our web site and go to the Manual Activation Form. Enter your email address, click 'OK' and enter your activation request code. You may also enter your name, organisation and computer name. After clicking 'OK' the 'activation response code' will be displayed.
If you cannot access the Internet from any computer, telephone your supplier, or Penfriend Ltd, and give them the activation request code.

Finally, please type the activation response code into the dialogue box in Penfriend on your other computer, to complete the process. It would be helpful to keep the activation response code in case you need to re-install the software, but you can ask for it again if necessary.

Once you have activated the software manually, you cannot later activate it by Internet.

Un-installation

This activation system is designed to allow a limited number of transfers of activation from one machine to another. Please un-install the software from the old machine first using the Add/Remove Programs control panel, and ensure that you have Internet access enabled during this process. If you un-install the software without allowing the de-activation to be notified to the server, please re-install the software, enable Internet access and un-install it again.

If you wish to re-install Penfriend on the same computer, do not de-activate it when un-installing.

Re-activation

If you have to re-install the software on the same computer, perhaps because of a system fault, you should be able to activate it again without problems so long as the hardware in the machine has not changed substantially.

If you have a network of computers and have purchased a site licence for Penfriend, you should be able to install each machine with the same installation code, although they will automatically change their installed codes to be unique upon activation. Each code will be linked to the others.

Site Licences, User Licensing and Machine Licensing

This system is based upon activating the licence on a machine (computer) rather than for a user (person). Each machine must be activated and identified uniquely.

If you have been issued a group of install codes for your site, you can use one releatedly; the system will count remaining licences automatically.

Please try running the software after installation as a typical user. This is particularly worthwhile if you use unattended batch installation across your workstations, although success with a random sample of machines should suffice. After activation, the software must record this; if your security policy restricts the ability to write program and machine data, please activate the software while logged on as an administrator.

Trouble-shooting and Requesting Support

If the software has been installed previously on another machine, please un-install that before proceeding.

If you have a site licence and perform unattended batch installations which do not activate automatically, please read the section above on Site Licences, or contact Penfriend Ltd for assistance.

If you have a brand new copy of the software and it does not activate, it is possible that the copy is not brand new; for example it may have been sold to another customer who installed it and returned it for a refund. If you believe this may be the case, please contact your supplier for a new copy. You will then need to un-install your first copy and re-install the second copy using the new installation code.

If your computer is replaced and you are unable to un-install the software before this, for example if it is stolen or bursts into green flames, please contact your supplier or Penfriend Ltd to explain.

If you still have trouble activating your software, please contact us or your supplier. Please be prepared to provide your name, installation code, the date and time of your attempted activation, and the history of any related installations.

Privacy and Confidential Information

When your software is activated, no information about other software or data files on your computer is sent. Penfriend Ltd will not pass on your information to other parties, and will not use the details for any purpose other than controlling activation and support.