The program could not be started after upgrading to SSD drive

magix6 wrote on 8/15/2011, 8:11 AM

Although I am new to this forum, I am confident that I am not the first to come across this annoying problem. I have just upgraded my hardware from HDD to SDD and of several programs installed on my system, only MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 17 Plus is the only one telling me the following:

======================================================================
The program could not be started. It's possible that the installation folder is damaged.
Reinstalling the program could remedy the problem.
If the error occurs again, please contact support.
Error code: -6
======================================================================

Thank you Magix software developers for your insightful design to make your software secure! No, thank you for screwing it up! The 'so clever' software will eventually fail because you design with a myopic vision of protecting your software, not realizing how the hardware system is developing all around us. A few years ago installing an operating system and applications took a few minutes and perhaps hours. Now is takes days if you have to go through all the service packs and then make a backup of your installation (with such things as disk imaging tools).

Do Magix software developers take note of this? Not at all! I have a host of programs installed on my system, ranging from Visual Studio 2010 Professional, Expression Studio 4 Ultimate, to numerous multimedia utilities. Having installed all the service packs and relevant patches, I imaged my installation as a backup just in case I needed to restore it. This is a normal practice nowadays to minimize the time otherwise wasted in re-installing a system, particularly for installations with hefty development tools such as Visual Studio.

None of my other programs failed me when I restored my disk image on to a new Solid State Disk (SSD) drive (originally on conventional HDD). Only Movie Edit Pro 17 came up with an error telling me "It's possible that the installation folder is damaged". This actually is not true. Just for the fun of it, I put the image on another HDD and it didn't complain. This proves the point that the clever software developers have hard-wired the disk type in their clever detection of a copied installation. Why should the installation be tied to an HDD and why shouldn't the user have the freedom to transfer the installation to SDD drive?

So, my question to Magix is:
Do you have a utility or a patch that enables me running my already installed Movie Edit Pro 17 Plus without uninstalling and re-installing it again? If you do not provide such a utility it is just not right that you're putting users through a big hassle for your own short-sightedness.

While I like Movie Edit Pro 17 Plus (with all its weaknesses), perhaps this is one time I'll seriously consider not using it if this issue is not dealt with satisfactorily.

Your humble user,

Comments

johnebaker wrote on 8/15/2011, 9:18 AM

Putting aside all the unnecessary jibes and sarcastic comments about Magix software and their developers, which will get you nowhere when asking for help - this is a forum for users not tech support.

Do you have the download version installed?

Have you tried to reinstall MEP?

There are many cases of software being tied to hard drive, the serial numbers of the drive are used as part of the code generation routines which are used to generate the activation codes.

Windows activation does this - change too many components at once on your PC and you have to re-activate it.

Like all software manufacturers Magix have to protect themselves from illegal copying they are not alone in requesting re-registration.

John

magix6 wrote on 8/15/2011, 9:49 AM

Dear John,

If you care to answer or comment on, read again. Don't answer in haste, and don't make assumptions, and don't condescend. My comment is directed at Magix and Magix alone and please don't jump in their defense. I am sorry I posted the question here but under the circumstances it appears that this is the only choice I had (I did try tech support portals and tells me registration passed the 56-day limit).

I am not against Magix protecting their software at all; As a software developer I am for it and I uphold the principle if it is done in the right way. I have no problem if software installation is tied to CPU and/or motherboard but hard disk (be it magnetic or solid state) is a major inconvenience. In my experience Microsoft installations are not tied to HDD or SDD (perhaps CPU and motherboard but never been in this position to prove or disprove). My only change in my PC is the hard drive and not 'the so many components' your refer to for Windows activation.

I know how to solve the problem the hard way: uninstall, run some cleaning utility provided by Magix and re-install it again. My question is directed at avoiding this inconvenience. How? That cleaning utility can be replaced by a utility that validates the software with its product key and problem solved. This way I do not have to uninstall and re-install. Thank you for understanding. I hope Magix will make this possible.

johnebaker wrote on 8/15/2011, 12:54 PM

Hi magix6

In my experience of using MEP since version 11, and being a long term member of several MEP forums, your situation is (IIRC) the first with this type of problem.

I too clone my system hard drive as backup and have had no problems with restoring MEP on to a new HDD. However obviously in your case it is the SSD that is ca.

It is highly likely that MEP, seeing the hardware change, errors on start up - this may be due to association at installation with the device type number and seeing a change of device type is causing the problem.

Unfortunately you will have to reinstall to see if the problem is corrected.

John

magix6 wrote on 8/15/2011, 1:42 PM

Dear John,

On the basis of your recent reply, I can see some convergence in our thoughts. Yes, it is possible that such problem is the first of its kind to be reported here. But read the following link (just one example) posted nearly 2 years ago:

http://support2.magix.net/boards/magix/index.php?showtopic=49022

Disk cloning is a relatively new trend and it is possible that we're now just seeing the interaction between hardware-based software protection and cloning based hardware upgrades, particularly in consumer application such as MEP. It is inevitable that disk cloning will be a necessary tool or even the future of software installation and maintenance. As important is the ever increasing use of SSD in PC upgrades. This is an important technological trend that Magix should take notice and factor in in their software design to minimize consumer dissatisfaction.

If Magix takes note of this, I would say the several minutes I spent here composing my initial question and responding to your replies is time well spent. I don't mind correcting my MEP installation the hard way. BUT I would be cross if I have to do it all over again the next time I find myself in the same situation (hopefully not too soon).

johnebaker wrote on 8/15/2011, 3:22 PM

Hi magix6

Point taking on MEP15 problem.

As you will be very aware some manufacturers offer a Repair option on installation. This is the part I find missing from MEP.

Cloning is a good example of where software manufacturers will do their best to prevent software piracy by this and any other copying/cracking method possible. Even the giant Microsoft do this with the Windows OS to a very high degree ie the OS looks for changes in any of these items.

    Display Adapter
    SCSI Adapter
    IDE Adapter (effectively the motherboard)
    Network Adapter and its MAC Address
    RAM Amount Range
    Processor Type
    Processor Serial Number
    Hard Drive Device
    Hard Drive Volume Serial Number
    CD-ROM / CD-RW / DVD-ROM

Too many changes and you have to re-activate.

Regards

John

magix6 wrote on 8/15/2011, 3:44 PM

Agree with all your points.

I don't mind re-activating if and when software is suspicious of its installation platform for change of hardware, etc. Not at all!

What I do mind is: 1) uninstalling, 2) running a cleaning utility, and 3) re-installing all over again which is the procedure stipulated by Magix for the MEP software, and needless to say a totally unnecessary waste of time. This point is the basis of my original question.

Thank you for your interest in this matter.

yvon-robert wrote on 8/17/2011, 4:40 PM

Hi,

I have about the same problem after using a Catooh animation and burn 5 DVD and Blu-Ray my MEP 17ProHD refuse to start and a very nice Windows message tell Windows has block the opening of this program. I am sure that is not Windows or anything in my computer. Sorry gentlemen I switch to Avid Studio and transfer all my work to Avid. For the near same price I consider a professional software.

Gentleman from Magix you have my email in your record Catooh also.

My brand new computer still mot working with Magix but my old machine work.

Regards,

slance310 wrote on 1/12/2012, 12:14 PM

This problem is not isolated to cloning to an SSD or any other drive.

This same problem happens when simply EXPANDING the partition size of the EXISTING DRIVE

pbassjunk wrote on 5/8/2012, 10:10 AM

[I realize this thread is a few months old.. (now May 2012, from Aug 2011) - it's what Google turned up in searching with my issue]

I'm so pissed with Magix software treating me like a crook.

I own:
Samp Music Studio 14
Samp Music Studio 15
Samp Producer 11
Music Maker Premium 17
Music Maker Premium 18/MX

Not too long ago I lost my HD. No biggy, had data backups,etc. Got some new drives, started reinstalling and immediately ran into activation errors.

Eventually things sorted out via email, but apparently contacting you guys over your own activation issue uses the limited (1) support ticket we get. So the next time this happens, I'm on my own.

Ok, so I image my now fully installed and activated system to a spare drive for safekeeping. Restore the image to the exact same system just to make sure it works and I'm hit with the above:

I'm done, you guys have lost a repeat customer.