But this does absolutely NOTHING about warezing, which is the problem. Warez groups concentrate their hacks on the specific code/executable, etc that is protected. Hacking through a program is very simple. I will use the following simple series to explain: 1. Program load 2. Call program security subprogram 3. If good code - THEN continue install ELSE stop install The warez monkey's just edit the program load to point to the part AFTER the IF THEN, else, and just do the THEN. THe challenge part is never executed. In your example, all it takes is one person to validly unpack the software, and then the warez monkeys just repackage it and distribute, with the hacked EXE. THe copy protection is bypassed. End of story. The only type of copy protection that will ever work is something that is hardware and software related, where the hardware part actaully contains part of teh code that must be used, and can only reference it when called, and even this can be compromised by copying memory buffers, etc. Some company now is touting CDROMs that contain a smart chip built into the CD disc, that must be read to run the software. A good idea, but one that can be bypassed by my example above. All you can do is try to minimize the pirating by the vast majority, and suck up the losses of the pirating/warez minority. - Ray