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Post by grummy on Mar 4, 2014 16:23:04 GMT -6
Wasn't sure where to post this. But it's put my computer pro audio equipment at a stand still. More of a warning than anything. Also posted this on GS to warn folks over there too. This morning I got an email from iLok starting the following: "Dear [My Name], We wanted to let you know that we've taken action to resolve an issue with your iLok license(s) listed below. These licenses may have been showing in the iLok License Manager application as being activated on more than one iLok. While in this state, the licenses authorize your software, but you may not be able to update the licenses or in some cases, activate or deactivate them. The issue will be corrected when each of the iLok(s) shown in the ACTIVATION LOCATION(S) column below is seen by our server. Your iLok account User ID: [my ID] Licenses and iLoks involved: NAME TYPE EXPIRATION ACTIVATION LOCATION(S) DEPOSIT DATE PUBLISHER [Then it lists my Waves V-series plugins, supposedly activated on my two functioning iloks. Including the individual iLok numbers] Simply follow these steps: Quit the iLok License Manager, if it is running. Plug in the iLok(s) shown in the ACTIVATION LOCATION(S) column above. Launch the iLok License Manager application. Wait for the progress bar to indicate that the process is complete. IMPORTANT: After your iLok is seen by our server, your licenses may be back in your account and not on any of your iLoks. If this occurs, simply activate the license to the iLok of your choice. Any expired licenses will also be removed from your iLok during this process. Please note that by the time you receive this email, it may be possible that your iLok has already been seen by our servers, and the issue has already been addressed. We apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused you. If you have any problems following the steps above, click on the following web address or put this address into your web browser to contact our support team: www.ilok.com/support.html?type=gnBest regards, --The iLok Team" So I went ahead and followed these instructions. In the iLok Manager it shows both iLoks one with 29 activations (the iLok2 I use now for everything), and my old iLok which reads "0 Activations". But when I clicked to Sign In the iLok Manager completely froze up. It doesn't appear to have signed in and the progress bar which barely moved to begin with has been frozen for two hours now. I can't open Pro Tools. I don't appear to have any use from my iLok, and now I'm waiting for someone at iLok to get back to me as to weather it's safe or not for me to force quit this application. One thing or another with these guys, it seems. Anyways if you get such an email from iLok. I recommend holding off on any action. The only reason I did, is I figured I'd need to at some time anyways. I am now yet again full of regret thanks to iLok. |
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Post by cowboycoalminer on Mar 4, 2014 16:30:21 GMT -6
That is a regular dog and pony show over there. I hate the fact that they hold us hostage so much.
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Post by mobeach on Mar 4, 2014 17:27:30 GMT -6
I have two good sounding programs sitting on the shelf collecting dust, it's a shame you can't just register the damn things instead of.. iLok. It's just another way to milk more money out of people and that system is very unnecessary.
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Post by kcatthedog on Mar 4, 2014 18:06:50 GMT -6
Frustrating, when they had the previous problem, even when it seemed your computer was hung they said not to shut down as it was processing in the background.
Wonder whats up ?
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Post by popmann on Mar 4, 2014 18:18:21 GMT -6
Well, it's copy protection. And more useful, IMO, than machine authorizations. That said--ilok is so the VHS to eLicenser's Betamax....nothing but tech issues with iLok...never a single eLicenser issue. It seems to me the best would be for a compnay to offer your choice. ProTools folks can choose iLok, since they have to use it for their host--and I can choose eLicenser, which I"m gonna have to use for Cubase and VSL. It would make more sense if you're gonna need a dongle to simply let us choose which dongle we use.
I feel for companies, but I also wonder how much money they'd really lose to go serial number like Sonar and others. Sure...it's easier to "steal"...but, not really all that much easier. As an IT guy...I'm just saying--I helped Slate fix some iLok/Win7 issues early on--I have the skills and tools to do so. You shouldn't NEED to be able to do that to get stuff to work.
The Machine auths are the worst. I need to be able to wipe my machine at will. Last time I did, I think IK is the only machine auth I put back...and BFD2...fuck'em.
They'll solve this soon by making the DAWs and plug ins app store purchases...watermarked to your machine...have to be an IT guy to actually find the install files...indefinitely linked to your Apple ID...trackable...
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Post by grummy on Mar 5, 2014 11:17:42 GMT -6
Someone from iLok got back to me. Force quitting didn't hurt the iloks. I had to update the ilok manager software. Following their instructions removed my waves V-Series plugins from the one ilok they actually were on and now of coarse it's not letting me authorize it back to my ilok. So I can see the licenses that I paid money for but the ilok manager won't let me use them.
This was all out of the blue. These licences were only ever on one ilok. Now they are on none. At least I can work now.
On the conversation of ilok in general. I've personally had WAY more downtime on the account of iLok blunders than any of the other protection methods combined.
That said if the system (or another like it) actually reliably worked as advertised I would love it.
My biggest beef is that this company has a history of refusing to take ownership of their mistakes.
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Post by drbill on Mar 5, 2014 11:29:02 GMT -6
Sorry for your problems. ILok has been nothing but a dream come true for me. Love it. Someday it may bite me, but it's saved me weeks of time in the interim....
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Post by adogg4629 on Mar 5, 2014 11:57:02 GMT -6
Well, it's copy protection. And more useful, IMO, than machine authorizations. That said--ilok is so the VHS to eLicenser's Betamax....nothing but tech issues with iLok...never a single eLicenser issue. It seems to me the best would be for a compnay to offer your choice. ProTools folks can choose iLok, since they have to use it for their host--and I can choose eLicenser, which I"m gonna have to use for Cubase and VSL. It would make more sense if you're gonna need a dongle to simply let us choose which dongle we use. I feel for companies, but I also wonder how much money they'd really lose to go serial number like Sonar and others. Sure...it's easier to "steal"...but, not really all that much easier. As an IT guy...I'm just saying--I helped Slate fix some iLok/Win7 issues early on--I have the skills and tools to do so. You shouldn't NEED to be able to do that to get stuff to work. The Machine auths are the worst. I need to be able to wipe my machine at will. Last time I did, I think IK is the only machine auth I put back...and BFD2...fuck'em. They'll solve this soon by making the DAWs and plug ins app store purchases...watermarked to your machine...have to be an IT guy to actually find the install files...indefinitely linked to your Apple ID...trackable... Let me say that if you think dealing with Avid and iLok is bad, that is a walk in the park when compared to dealing with their machine licensing workflow they use with Media Composer. The amount of time I've been down because Avid just forgot that I have a serial number that works is astounding. Thank GOD Pro Tools uses the iLok in that case. I'd be eating bullets if I had to file a ticket with Avid support every time there was an update. |
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Post by grummy on Mar 5, 2014 14:25:37 GMT -6
It's all working now. Got my licensed back and everything.
Yeah I like the advantages that a system like iLok can bring to the table, but I've just had so many issues with them in the past, where they seem to not care about when their system (that I never asked to be a customer of) hurts my business. I had my very first iLok die on me back when I only had a single Sound Toys Plugin on it. That was basically my introduction from them. They treated me very poorly and dismissively while jumping through support ticket hoops. All the while saying I needed to buy another iLok to replace the one that died AND that I should get their Zero Downtime, so I didn't have to wait the next time their product fails on me. I felt like I was being extorted. I paid less for the Sound Toys plugin I had on the thing then what iLok was trying to charge me to fix their faulty product. So I basically wrote that plugin off. Boycotted Sound Toys and anything iLok related up until Pro Tools went that way. Then I had no choice.
I haven't had an iLok dongle die on me since so I'm hoping that first encounter was just a freak abnormality. The rest of the problems over here have just been with the new iLok Manager system.
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Post by geoff738 on Mar 5, 2014 15:09:52 GMT -6
It's all working now. Got my licensed back and everything. Yeah I like the advantages that a system like iLok can bring to the table, but I've just had so many issues with them in the past, where they seem to not care about when their system (that I never asked to be a customer of) hurts my business. I had my very first iLok die on me back when I only had a single Sound Toys Plugin on it. That was basically my introduction from them. They treated me very poorly and dismissively while jumping through support ticket hoops. All the while saying I needed to buy another iLok to replace the one that died AND that I should get their Zero Downtime, so I didn't have to wait the next time their product fails on me. I felt like I was being extorted. I paid less for the Sound Toys plugin I had on the thing then what iLok was trying to charge me to fix their faulty product. So I basically wrote that plugin off. Boycotted Sound Toys and anything iLok related up until Pro Tools went that way. Then I had no choice. I haven't had an iLok dongle die on me since so I'm hoping that first encounter was just a freak abnormality. The rest of the problems over here have just been with the new iLok Manager system. I had one die. Non-smoking space, never moved the thing - not once. Then one day it just died. Was within the warranty period or whatever, but I had to send it back so they could "ensure" it was broken. Yup, sure was and they sent a new one. Cost of shipping was about what a new one would have cost. So, I've basically paid twice what they cost to get one that works. Great. Cheers, Geoff |
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Post by popmann on Mar 5, 2014 18:02:43 GMT -6
I've always said--machine auths give a dev the ABILITY to be great to the end user....or fuck them hard. FXpansion has been wonderful. But, go belly up and want to authorize a new install? F'd. DECIDE they no longer "support" some version? F'd. While I realize such things are all in EULAs...oh god don't ever read those--they're usually "thanks for giving us money...we'll let you use this the way we intend until we don't"...but...
At least dongles are what they are. I've never had anything quit working after the license was on the key...well...the Slate thing....did have to do with them using the Mac address as a public key for some license encryption...and Win7's making ethernet controllers "disappear" all together when media is unplugged--so, I guess that's kinda like after it was on the key...but, again--eLicenser? Never an issue. I would certainly prefer they allow you to pick which one you want to use. I have no issue with having all my licenses on a key...it annoys me that I own TWO keys (and technically two more backups in case of hardware fail)...
iLok's business model is about selling devs on using it...and selling ZDT to end users...they give away SOOO many hardware units to make that happen...I think eLicenser and Steinberg and VSL are all...are they all German? I do wonder if they're not somehow related businesses.
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Post by mobeach on Mar 5, 2014 18:24:51 GMT -6
Do the old blue keys still work? I'm going to give mine another go shortly.
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Post by popmann on Mar 5, 2014 20:19:27 GMT -6
Do the old blue keys still work? I'm going to give mine another go shortly. The v1s work for plugs that support them. Many, like Slate only support the v2 keys... Everyone supports v2...meaning you can put a v1 license on 2--not visa versa. I've kept my v1 around so I can sell the East West QLSO I have on it. It's apparently illegal to sell, so...um...fuck me? Anyway...at least I can give it away or something--just give them the software discs and the key... |
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Post by jeromemason on Mar 10, 2014 23:55:49 GMT -6
Just to let you guys know, my iLok went down on me tonight when I was upgrading my Protools. If you plan on upgrading make sure it's during a time of day that you can contact these people or, if you havn't spent a trial license. Basically what happens is when you go to activate the new license it wants you to surrender the old one, well for some reason or another the iLok software will lock up and make you force quit while it's processing this. When that happens say bye bye to your PT license because it's already been surrendered, and now I've got to wait for these people to go in and give me back my old license so the new will upgrade. Just ridiculous.
Just don't do this if you've got work to do, make sure you're not doing anything or you've got a trial before proceeding, otherwise you could end up in a massive pile of doggy doo. Learned me a good lesson, thank God I never activated my trial I downloaded back in Sept, and it just happens to have 4 days left. I won't be trusting iLok anymore that's for sure.
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Post by Bob Olhsson on Mar 11, 2014 15:54:14 GMT -6
The Pace site seems very sensitive to traffic. I always log in using a browser to see if things there are moving along OK. If not, I wait until a time when my browser is responsive.
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Post by Johnkenn on Mar 11, 2014 16:30:27 GMT -6
As much as I despise paying ilok for insurance on a product that SHOULD work, I might just have to spring for the Zero downtime thing. The alternative would be disaster
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