Hi Jim,

< snip >
>You'll sleep better until the first user needs to replace their hard drive and they can't run your app anymore. Personally, I don't believe in copy protection but if I did and I had to use something I would spring for one of the hardward dongles that hange off the parallel port.<

I've done it both ways and I definitely prefer the software method over the hardware dongles. Users hate the dongles, and I hate having to make sure I have some in stock in order to fill orders for my software. I've made it a bit easier for the user in the situation where they legitimately had to replace their hard drive ... the copy protection scheme does not totally shut down the app at that point, but turns it into a demo and they then have 5 days to call me before it does shut down completely. Once I give them a code (based on a code they read to me), they're back in business.

~Bonnie