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selowitch · Feb 17, 2005, 06:46 PM

Sometimes when I haven't been able to find my registration code for a Windows program, I've been able to retrieve it from the Windows registry. Is there a similar technique for doing this under Mac OS X?

Big Mac · Feb 17, 2005, 07:49 PM

No, OS X does not have a global database containing such things. As you probably realize, the Registry is a source of insecurity and major headaches of all sorts to Windows users. The closest thing you have on OS X is preferences files for individual applications, but those are not often human readable anyway. You should get a password manager like Web Confidential to store passwords and registration numbers.

Detrius · Feb 17, 2005, 10:52 PM

Originally posted by Big Mac:
No, OS X does not have a global database containing such things. As you probably realize, the Registry is a source of insecurity and major headaches of all sorts to Windows users. The closest thing you have on OS X is preferences files for individual applications, but those are not often human readable anyway. You should get a password manager like Web Confidential to store passwords and registration numbers.

In OS X, preference files are in XML by default, which means you can read them and even edit them with a normal text editor. They are in Library/Preferences.

selowitch · Feb 17, 2005, 11:21 PM

Originally posted by Detrius:
In OS X, preference files are in XML by default, which means you can read them and even edit them with a normal text editor. They are in Library/Preferences.

Yes, this I knew. But in the case of GraphicConverter, the license key isn't there. Phooey. Guess I'll have to find that code somehow.

Randman · Feb 18, 2005, 01:04 AM

Always save copies in an e-mail or with your backups.

Boondoggle · Feb 19, 2005, 06:54 AM

The iDisk is a great place to save that kind of thing. That is what I do. That way whenever I re-install everything it is just a matter of putting in my .mac account info and I can retrieve all my serial numbers. And they don't get deleted by mistake.

bd

selowitch · Feb 19, 2005, 07:25 AM

Originally posted by Boondoggle:
The iDisk is a great place to save that kind of thing. That is what I do. That way whenever I re-install everything it is just a matter of putting in my .mac account info and I can retrieve all my serial numbers. And they don't get deleted by mistake.

bd

*Shudder* I don't care for .Mac -- there are many cheaper and better services out there that do essentially the same thing.

Angus_D · Feb 19, 2005, 08:09 AM

I'm sure if you e-mail Lemkesoft they'll tell you what your registration code is.

Boondoggle · Feb 19, 2005, 11:45 AM

Originally posted by selowitch:
*Shudder* I don't care for .Mac -- there are many cheaper and better services out there that do essentially the same thing.

the difference between essentially the same and the same can be significant. I mean WindowsXP does essentially the same things that OSX does, but we wouldn't be here if the differences didn't matter. If you're only talking about remote file serving though you're right there are cheaper solutions. The iDisk is only one small component of .mac though.

I use everything .Mac has to offer from synch services to Homepage photo publishing through iPhoto and all the free software. So I get my money's worth out of it. And there is no service that offers everthing that .Mac does and is as easy to use.

And all the other options I've looked at have one common theme: F'UGLY.

selowitch · Feb 19, 2005, 04:35 PM

Originally posted by Boondoggle:
the difference between essentially the same and the same can be significant.

You're right, of course. And if you genuinely use a good number of .Mac's features, it is probably worth it. But if my only need is to store registration codes and passwords, .Mac is almost certainly overkill. That's really what I was reacting to.