How to Deactive MS Reader / Manage Activations?

[Jon Westfall]

Ok, I need to deactivate one of my Pocket PC's MS Reader, and since I"ve never done it before, I have no idea how one goes about doing it. I'm assuming it must be possible, as MS gives you an activation limit, they must allow some way to deactivate old devices. I can't even find a place on MS's reader site that allows you to manage activations in your passport account.

Anyone have the magic link they can post? or how-to instructions?

Thanks,
Jon.

[Jorgen]

1) The easy way (easy for me: one line of explanation :)) is to hard-reset your PPC.

2) The information MS Reader uses is stored in the following files stored in the Windows directory on your PPC. Back them up on your PC so you can return to where you are today if things go wrong.

Microsoft Activation.Unload
Secrep.dat
Secrep.dll
Secrep.xml
Secrepid.dat

I think this will work: After backing them up, erase the files. Soft reset the machine. Run Reader. You should now have the ROM version of the files.

When you have activated the PPC, back-up the activation (burn them to a CD) so you in case of a hard-reset can "re-activate" without bothing Microsoft.

To reactivate the backed-up files:

1. Soft reset Pocket-PC to ensure no programs are running
2. Use Windows Explorer on your PC to copy (and overwrite) the above files into the \windows directory on the Pocket PC
3. Soft reset the Pocket PC again
4. Find \Windows\Secrep.xml with File Explorer. Double tap the file.
5. Run MS Reader: it should say that it is activated in your name

Jorgen

[rocky_raher]

I suspect that what dadarkmcse really wants is not simply how to deactivate a device, but how to deactivate it and inform Microsoft that it's been deactivated and thus should not count against his activation limit.

Unfortunately, as I understand it, the activation limit is a lifetime limit on any particular passport account, not the number active at any one time. Thus, deactivating a device (or destroying it, for that matter) would have no effect on your activation limit. You gain nothing.

The only valid motive I can think of for deliberately deactivating a device would be so you could activate it again for a different account.

[Jorgen]

I suspect that what dadarkmcse really wants is not simply how to deactivate a device, but how to deactivate it and inform Microsoft that it's been deactivated and thus should not count against his activation limit.

Ah, but the point is that using "my" method means that you never again increase your activation limit as far as the PPC's are concerned. When you buy a new PPC, you just copy those files to the new machine.

Jorgen

[rocky_raher]

Ah, but the point is that using "my" method means that you never again increase your activation limit as far as the PPC's are concerned. When you buy a new PPC, you just copy those files to the new machine.

Jorgen

???
Does this work? Have you ever actually copied the activation files from one PDA to another, then read protected eBooks on the new device?

My understanding is that the activation files contain a reference to the device's internal CPU serial number. Twice I have sent a broken PDA to HP for maintenance, they sent a replacement, and after doing a full restore (which would have restored the seven activation files), found that I no longer had an activated device. I had to activate my new PPC and use up another activation. So, the files from one device won't work on another, even if it's the exact same make and model.

If the activation files really were that portable, it would make the DRM scheme pretty worthless. Someone could easily share all of his protected eBooks simply by also sharing the activation files.

[Jorgen]

Does this work? Have you ever actually copied the activation files from one PDA to another, then read protected eBooks on the new device?

Yes, I used the files from my hp-568 to activate my h1910 and vice versa. I only have one encrypted MS Reader ebook, bought many years ago so MS may have changed the system.

However, I don't think so as this is not something MS can easily change for the old PPC's and ebooks + I every half year see a copy of a message I posted long ago being reposted at various forums. Anyway, try it next time you lose an activation and report the result.

Jorgen

[Jorgen]

Hmm, a friend of mine tried it when his machine lost all information. It works so far as to claim that it is activated and the correct email address. However, when he tried with a DRM5 .LIT file, it claimed the activation has to be updated = reactivated.

This increases the risk of losing your .LIT ebooks.

Jorgen

[SteveHoward999]

Best just to de-drm the files when you downoad them...

[Squid]

Uh, de-drm them? How is this done?

Squid

[SteveHoward999]

There is a program called - I think - change Lit .... it's easy to find. Do a search for, ehem clit.exe and you should find it. It removes the drm, then you can read your book on any device.

It means you have to have at least one device registered, but only one.

[Squid]

Thanks, I saw mention of the program in an earlier thread just now. I am wondering (this generally gets me into trouble), why it is a big deal if I convert my own book for strictly my use. Even MS is beginning to embrace this with their Media Player 10 release. It allows you to rip CDs. I have been going back and ripping old discs that I wanted in a digital format. I am worried about the discs becoming to damaged to use. Why is this different than an e-book. I am not going to try and resell the e-book/music file.

Squid

[ctmagnus]

There is a program called - I think - change Lit ....

Actually, it's Convert Lit ;)

[SteveHoward999]

I am wondering (this generally gets me into trouble), why it is a big deal if I convert my own book for strictly my use.


I think the legal point of view is that if it is your own property you have the right to make a copy of the file, and the law seems to be turning around to making it fine to decode coded files in order to make that backup for your own use. If I remember rightly, the law has recently changed here in America (or perhaps is about to) to make it perfectly legal to rip DVDs to make a personal backup.


Ultimately the common sense view is that if you own it you can use it how you like - one precedent being records that we all used to copy onto cassette and mini disc, we all had mini discs, right? :roll: . The law up till now has been against copying with things like DVD and electronic books because they were treated differently under copyright laws (sorry, it's late and I forget the exact detail of this right now) but for the sake of argument CDs were apples and books/dvds were oranges :-)


In the case of DVDs you also have the might of Holywood that gives us the rediculous situation that I cannot play my perfectly-legally-obtained DVDs from the UK on an American DVD player - or my perfectly-legally-obtained DVS purchased in America on a UK DVD player. Apparently Australia was one country that managed to tell Holywood to f*** off with that dumb idea :-)