"Just remember guys, when you buy software, YOU DO NOT OWN THE PROGRAM. You are buying a LICENSE TO USE THE SOFTWARE." Ray, before I start, I want to make it clear that I am NOT singling you out. It's just that you've perfectly summed up why I don't like the response codes we've been talking about. I pay a good deal of money for a license to use the software, and yet I am still at another person's whim as to whether I CAN use it. If the company went under, I would still have the license and the right to use the software, but if I had to reinstall for some reason, I might not have the ability anymore. That is not right. I personally suspect that measures like this do more harm than the pirates themselves. Most, of the pirates would probably never by the program anyway, so the company would not get any money from them either way. However, these measures do chase away potential customers who would have bought the product otherwise. That is the exact and most major reason I have not upgraded to Windows XP. I doubt any of the PTBs will listen to this hypothetical, so I'll vote with my wallet.