If You Have a Dell Computer...
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
won't install on anything but a Dell
How does it know it's a Dell?
There's a whole bunch of things the installer could check - Bios version/ID, the existence of that "special" partition that seems to infest all Dell computers, etc...
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Dell computers have Dell written on them or they have the Dell logo. ;)
5!
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I know it generally doesn't bother you, but why on earth would anyone down vote that. That is genuinely useful. There are a load of muppets around.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
I stand before you, baffled...
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001 -
There's a whole bunch of things the installer could check - Bios version/ID, the existence of that "special" partition that seems to infest all Dell computers, etc...
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
won't install on anything but a Dell
How does it know it's a Dell?
On a serious note. One way to find that out is via the following registry setting:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SystemInformationIt has keys called Manufacturer and Model. I am sure there are some other ways too. -
On a serious note. One way to find that out is via the following registry setting:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\SystemInformationIt has keys called Manufacturer and Model. I am sure there are some other ways too.Ok, that key does not exist on my computer, but what if I made it and put the Dell info there? Surely they wouldn't be happy if I "stole" the program that way, and it would be very easy to do.. Or someone could write a virus to mess with those values so the victim can't use the Dell Dock anymore It could be that they did it that way, but it seems a little unsafe..
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So then basically, it can't. Or to say it an other way: you can de-Dellify a Dell. With just a BIOS reflash and a hdd reformat..
harold aptroot wrote:
you can de-Dellify a Dell
No way. Everything about a Dell is non-standard. Even the mainboards have non-standard dimensions which means you can't re-use a Dell case and put in a proper mainboard. So, there is always some crap left so it can be identified as a Dell. Have a look at Lavalys Everest and you get the idea as to the extent of hardware information one can obtain: http://www.lavalys.com[^]
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I know it generally doesn't bother you, but why on earth would anyone down vote that. That is genuinely useful. There are a load of muppets around.
Henry Minute Do not read medical books! You could die of a misprint. - Mark Twain Girl: (staring) "Why do you need an icy cucumber?" “I want to report a fraud. The government is lying to us all.”
asked:
Henry Minute wrote:
but why on earth would anyone down vote that.
and answered:
Henry Minute wrote:
There are a load of muppets around.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. -- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
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Ok, that key does not exist on my computer, but what if I made it and put the Dell info there? Surely they wouldn't be happy if I "stole" the program that way, and it would be very easy to do.. Or someone could write a virus to mess with those values so the victim can't use the Dell Dock anymore It could be that they did it that way, but it seems a little unsafe..
They're probably using a BIOS data check. That's beyond the ability of your average warez d00d to scam. (Or rather it's just as hard as cracking Stardock's for pay version.)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains. -- Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
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Ok, that key does not exist on my computer, but what if I made it and put the Dell info there? Surely they wouldn't be happy if I "stole" the program that way, and it would be very easy to do.. Or someone could write a virus to mess with those values so the victim can't use the Dell Dock anymore It could be that they did it that way, but it seems a little unsafe..
That settings get automatically populated via some means. But that is the easiest way to check.
harold aptroot wrote:
they wouldn't be happy if I "stole" the program that way,
Average users don't know how to hack through that information. Also if you change that setting I think it will revert back. I will do some more research and probably post an article: "How to find if you are running on a Dell Machine".:)
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How the hell should I know?
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001You are attracting the one-voters like a cheap prostitute truck drivers…
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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Dell computers have Dell written on them or they have the Dell logo. ;)
They even have printed it on their motherboard!
Don't attribute to stupidity what can be equally well explained by buerocracy.
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So then basically, it can't. Or to say it an other way: you can de-Dellify a Dell. With just a BIOS reflash and a hdd reformat..
harold aptroot wrote:
So then basically, it can't. Or to say it an other way: you can de-Dellify a Dell. With just a BIOS reflash and a hdd reformat..
It could call home sending your hardware parts serial numbers and wait for an answer. Back in my country some game servers use this approach. In order to play there you need to have installed a small program and if you are cheating or using “modified” game versions you will get a permanent ban based on your hardware. If you want to play again you will need from a new PC.
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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How the hell should I know?
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
How the hell should I know?
How the Dell should I know. FFY. :) (trying to attract more
1s)If the Lord God Almighty had consulted me before embarking upon the Creation, I would have recommended something simpler. -- Alfonso the Wise, 13th Century King of Castile.
This is going on my arrogant assumptions. You may have a superb reason why I'm completely wrong. -- Iain Clarke
[My articles] -
John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
won't install on anything but a Dell
How does it know it's a Dell?
harold aptroot wrote:
How does it know it's a Dell?
Reflection. How do you know you're you? :)
Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles]
DISCLAIMER: this message may have been modified by others; it may no longer reflect what I intended, and may contain bad advice; use at your own risk and with extreme care.
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John Simmons / outlaw programmer wrote:
won't install on anything but a Dell
How does it know it's a Dell?
Dell and other computer manufacturers insert identification codes into the system BIOS. The installer simply looks for those codes as a control check. :) Flynn
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You can get a Dell-branded version of ObjectDock for free: Dell Dock[^] If you're not using a Dell, don't bother downloading it, because it won't install on anything but a Dell.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001Thanks, John. I've played with the demo of ObjectDock before. Not too shabby. :) Flynn
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You can get a Dell-branded version of ObjectDock for free: Dell Dock[^] If you're not using a Dell, don't bother downloading it, because it won't install on anything but a Dell.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001-2 man points for using/mentioning ObjectDock. ObjectDock is nice, but it's for little girls.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow
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You are attracting the one-voters like a cheap prostitute truck drivers…
The narrow specialist in the broad sense of the word is a complete idiot in the narrow sense of the word. Advertise here – minimum three posts per day are guaranteed.
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You can get a Dell-branded version of ObjectDock for free: Dell Dock[^] If you're not using a Dell, don't bother downloading it, because it won't install on anything but a Dell.
"Why don't you tie a kerosene-soaked rag around your ankles so the ants won't climb up and eat your candy ass..." - Dale Earnhardt, 1997
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"...the staggering layers of obscenity in your statement make it a work of art on so many levels." - Jason Jystad, 10/26/2001Is there a reason to use ObjectDock? I mean, I think you lose man-points if you need a stinkin' ObjectDock.
CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E. Comport Computing Specializing in Technical Engineering Software