Application Trials

[semaja2]

Hey guys this question has always plagued me, how do applications like Microsoft Office and other applications know they have been installed before if you have removed all the old files and prefences and everything the installer did.

I used http://rixstep.com/1/20060719,00.shtml but what unable to see what it changes to know its trial period.

PS. This is no way related to illegal purposes just always wondered it since there is no registry and such

 

[theBB]

/Library/Receipts might be keeping some records of what is installed.

 

[timmac]

I <ahem> have a "friend" who has been able to reinstall a trial by searching in spotlight for every file that has, as part of its name, the manufacturer and/or application name, and deleting those. The only problem is that my friend then has to restore his preferences, so if it can have complex preferences, such as MS Office, my friend does not recommend it.