Checking drives (was Re: Disk serial numbers)
Ken Ray wrote: Hey, Richard! You have something there... if you do a shell to switch to a drive (like D:) and there's no media in the drive, it's return The device not ready. under XP, and it DOESN'T throw up a dialog box in your face! Not so fast: I'm finding mixed results with shell(driveLetter) Here's a matrix of results: Drive typeFunction call result --- Hard disk partition shell(C:) no err Hard disk partition shell(D:) no err Memory stick shell(E:) XP err dialog DVD drive shell(F:) no err CD-ROM drive shell(G:) XP err dialog Removable memory card shell(I:) XP err dialog Questions: 1. Is there a way to query a drive that doesn't require low-level calls to the API in XP that won't throw an error requiring user interaction? 2. Am I correct in assuming that this will affect thousands of applications and an uncountable number of DOS batch scripts worldwide? 3. Is Microsoft familiar with the term backwardly compatible? -- Richard Gaskin Fourth World Media Corporation Developer of WebMerge 2.2: Publish any database on any site ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.FourthWorld.com Tel: 323-225-3717 AIM: FourthWorldInc ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
Re: Checking drives (was Re: Disk serial numbers)
3. Is Microsoft familiar with the term backwardly compatible? -- Richard Gaskin Oh Richard, I needed a good laugh this morning! :-) -- --Shareware Games for the Mac-- http://www.gypsyware.com ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
Re: Disk serial numbers
Monte Goulding wrote: I use heavy duty antipiracy methods, which are a hassle for my users, and this would actually simplify things, and allow registered users a bit more freedom than they currently have. Hi Shari Have a look at the MAC Address stuff on the Sons of Thunder website. That's what I used for a client. It's almost as good as a dongle and far better for users than requiring a CD in the drive. Wouldn't a machine-specific protection scheme prevent a legitimate user from moving their software when they buy a new computer? -- Richard Gaskin Fourth World Media Corporation Developer of WebMerge 2.2: Publish any database on any site ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.FourthWorld.com Tel: 323-225-3717 AIM: FourthWorldInc ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
RE: Disk serial numbers
Yes You need to give them a new code. It all depends on the price of the app if it's worth the time to manage this. CD's can go missing also. -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Richard Gaskin Sent: Friday, 14 March 2003 8:43 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Disk serial numbers Monte Goulding wrote: I use heavy duty antipiracy methods, which are a hassle for my users, and this would actually simplify things, and allow registered users a bit more freedom than they currently have. Hi Shari Have a look at the MAC Address stuff on the Sons of Thunder website. That's what I used for a client. It's almost as good as a dongle and far better for users than requiring a CD in the drive. Wouldn't a machine-specific protection scheme prevent a legitimate user from moving their software when they buy a new computer? -- Richard Gaskin Fourth World Media Corporation Developer of WebMerge 2.2: Publish any database on any site ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.FourthWorld.com Tel: 323-225-3717 AIM: FourthWorldInc ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
Re: Disk serial numbers
Wouldn't a machine-specific protection scheme prevent a legitimate user from moving their software when they buy a new computer? -- Richard Gaskin It would actually be an improvement on my current scheme, and yes, you are right, it would. I have that covered :-) There is no way I know of, to allow someone total freedom, without also allowing easy piracy. Shari C -- --Shareware Games for the Mac-- http://www.gypsyware.com ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
RE: Disk serial numbers
Hey, Richard! You have something there... if you do a shell to switch to a drive (like D:) and there's no media in the drive, it's return The device not ready. under XP, and it DOESN'T throw up a dialog box in your face! Now all you know is that the device isn't ready (not necessarily that there's no media in the drive), but 99% of the time it would be giving that response because of no media. Good catch! Ken Ray Sons of Thunder Software Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: http://www.sonsothunder.com/ -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Gaskin Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 12:47 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Disk serial numbers Ken Ray wrote: CDs have serial numbers as well... you can retrieve it this way: http://www.sonsothunder.com/devres/metacard/metacard.htm?disk001 Wouldn't calling the DOS dir command on a series of devices throw an exception in XP for those devices without media in them? -- Richard Gaskin Fourth World Media Corporation Developer of WebMerge 2.2: Publish any database on any site ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.FourthWorld.com Tel: 323-225-3717 AIM: FourthWorldInc ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metac ard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
RE: Disk serial numbers
Hi Ken Is there any way to do it without the system profiller? That thing is a slug! Cheers Monte -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ken Ray Sent: Thursday, 13 March 2003 9:46 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Disk serial numbers That should be no problem. Apple System Profiler provides that information in OS X, but returns it as Unicode text: tell application Apple System Profiler get the system profile end tell You can't run it effectively in Script Editor, as you can only see the first 2 characters in the Result window, but at least you'll get a feel for how things are formatted. I'll see what I can come up with as a function to do this in MC... Ken Ray Sons of Thunder Software Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: http://www.sonsothunder.com/ -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Monte Goulding Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 3:42 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Disk serial numbers Hi Sorry I meant the serial number Thanks Monte -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ken Ray Sent: Thursday, 13 March 2003 7:58 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Disk serial numbers Well, with Macs, you can check the drives to see if the disk you're expecting is mounted. Although this doesn't tell you if there's nothing in the CD drive, it takes you a lot farther than in Windows. If you really need to know if there's nothing in the CD drive, let me know, and I'll hunt around for it. Ken Ray Sons of Thunder Software Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: http://www.sonsothunder.com/ -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Monte Goulding Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 3:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Disk serial numbers HI Ken Can you get this info on OS X? Thanks Monte -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ken Ray Sent: Thursday, 13 March 2003 7:13 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Disk serial numbers Hey, Richard! You have something there... if you do a shell to switch to a drive (like D:) and there's no media in the drive, it's return The device not ready. under XP, and it DOESN'T throw up a dialog box in your face! Now all you know is that the device isn't ready (not necessarily that there's no media in the drive), but 99% of the time it would be giving that response because of no media. Good catch! Ken Ray Sons of Thunder Software Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web Site: http://www.sonsothunder.com/ -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard Gaskin Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 12:47 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Disk serial numbers Ken Ray wrote: CDs have serial numbers as well... you can retrieve it this way: http://www.sonsothunder.com/devres/metacard/metacard.htm?disk0 01 Wouldn't calling the DOS dir command on a series of devices throw an exception in XP for those devices without media in them? -- Richard Gaskin Fourth World Media Corporation Developer of WebMerge 2.2: Publish any database on any site ___ [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.FourthWorld.com Tel: 323-225-3717 AIM: FourthWorldInc ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metac ard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metac ard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metac ard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
Re: Disk serial numbers
This thread was originally about finding out if a particular cd was in the drive. Would MCIsendString do what you need? I know it will tell you if media is present. (which might be enough) Also, you could just see if a file which you know is on your CD is present Something like... if there is file D:/my folder/whatever.txt then --My cd is in there! Just some thoughts, tom mccarthy ___ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web! ___ metacard mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/metacard
