"Please insert the installation CD and restart the program"

I just got my XaraXtreme 4.0 CD and tried to install it onto a Windows XP (SP2) VM (running on VirtualBox in Ubuntu). And after installing, I get a message asking me to "Please insert the installation CD and restart the program." After installing/uninstalling 4 times... and yes the CD is in the drive and is accessible, it continues to show that message and never starts Xara up. Here's screenshot of the image:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2042/...1ffefc59_o.png

Before I installed the CD version, I did have the downloaded version installed. I uninstalled that before installing the CD version. Oh, and I tried the full install and the minimal install... same result.

Anyone ever encounter this before?

Rich :(

I have Xtreme Pro 4. I think the CD is copy protected. :eek: I typically copy CDs to my server (permitted by the EULA). I was not able to successfully copy all files (2 had CRC errors). Nor was I able to make an ISO of the CD.

If the CD is hardware copy protected, your VirtualBox VM may not be able to access the hardware directly from within the VM. Direct hardware access is required to use certain types of copy protection.

As a test, I was able to install XP4 from the CD onto a VMWare VM with a guest OS of Windows XP SP1a.

I have the same problem, I cannot make an image of the CD as 2 files are unreadable. These 2 files are Iofile.x64 and Mov_io.x64.

Strangely enough, these 2 files have the exact same size as Sound.x64, which is readable though.

Bernard

I got my X4 disk today. Same problem.
Can't overcome it. Now the downloaded version doesn't work either.
Rupert

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Originally Posted by PatentGuy

I have Xtreme Pro 4. I think the CD is copy protected. :eek: I typically copy CDs to my server (permitted by the EULA). I was not able to successfully copy all files (2 had CRC errors). Nor was I able to make an ISO of the CD.

If the CD is hardware copy protected, your VirtualBox VM may not be able to access the hardware directly from within the VM. Direct hardware access is required to use certain types of copy protection.

As a test, I was able to install XP4 from the CD onto a VMWare VM with a guest OS of Windows XP SP1a.

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Thanks for the clue... I got it to install after changing my VirtualBox config to use the CD/DVD in "passthrough" mode which gives the VM direct access to the hardware.

Thanks a bunch.:)

Can't seem to find such an option in VirtualPC, I'm stymied. :-(

Xara: I realise this is a Magix standard copy protection system that has been dropped on you, but copy protection on apps is not acceptable to me, and I'm especially annoyed that we were not notified of this limitation prior to purchase.

As long as it stands I will no longer be purchasing or recommending anything from Xara. I would appreciate it if you could pass my intense annoyance onto the responsible parties. Cheers.

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Originally Posted by BobInce

Xara: I realise this is a Magix standard copy protection system that has been dropped on you, but copy protection on apps is not acceptable to me, and I'm especially annoyed that we were not notified of this limitation prior to purchase.

As long as it stands I will no longer be purchasing or recommending anything from Xara. I would appreciate it if you could pass my intense annoyance onto the responsible parties. Cheers.

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Not only is the CD copy protected, but the software requires online activation/registration after entering a serial number. These multiple forms of redundant protection make the software very unattractive for businesses that have multiple copies. It really plays havoc with software control schemes employed by many businesses. At least Adobe allows me to make backups of their software and install from a server (you can even download the full version instead of getting a CD).

>As long as it stands I will no longer be purchasing or recommending anything from Xara. I would appreciate it if you could pass my intense annoyance onto the responsible parties. Cheers.

I'm sorry to say that I have the same feeling.
I have been a Xara customer since Webster time.
I bought, Xara, all versions of it, Webstyle, from 1.2 to 4, X3D from v3 to 6 ... suffice it to say I love Xara products.
But this new protection scheme put on the CD itself that won't allow me to backup the software I have purchased is giving me a very bad feeling ..

Let's hope that Xara is able to explain Magix that customers deserve trust .. not to say rights.

Bernard

I thought faffing with CD-ROM formats as part of crappy copy-protection schemes went out of fashion about 10 years ago...

Can they really have done this? I don't understand how that squares with selling software on-line at all.

I know we're approaching a replay of 1978 in British politics, but software vendors don't need to join in with retro kitch of their own.

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Not only is the CD copy protected, but the software requires online activation/registration after entering a serial number.

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I don't believe it *requires* it. I unticked the 'continue registration' box and it's been working fine since. No network connection was needed. This is in contrast to the download version which does require activation, but since the CD version existed as an alternative this wasn't too important.

(It might continue to bug you for registration in the future, but Xtreme has always done that, and it's easily disabled in the registry.)

A required-activation would be a disaster; the Magix copy protection is not nearly that bad. But it's still annoying and I want no part of it.

Curiously, even clicking on one of the bogus files causes explorer.exe to go into a hard hang for me, I have to cycle the power switch to get control back. This is not appreciated.

Preventing the creation of a backup disc definately seems un XARA-like to me. Personally I've always made backups of purchased software cd's, it just makes sense.
I assume the thinking is to prevent any pirated copies of the CD version being distributed.

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Originally Posted by willdean

I thought faffing with CD-ROM formats as part of crappy copy-protection schemes went out of fashion about 10 years ago...

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Hardware CD copy protection went out of fashion when it became really easy to circumvent the copy protection schemes being used. It was used primarily to prevent pirating by gamers.

I wish Xara would get serious about the business market. I have to set up a separate account for each copy I buy for my business (I don't buy in 5, 10, or 20 copy increments).

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Originally Posted by PatentGuy

I wish Xara would get serious about the business market.

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I quite agree. Along similar lines, they've failed to issue us with any VAT invoice/receipt for our upgrade to 4.0, and failed to respond to the support query about it.

I'm fairly resigned to scrappy paperwork when dealing with companies outside the UK, but one UK company buying from another UK company should not have to kick up a fuss just to get a proper invoice.

Sigh.

In fairness to Xara, I should say that this invoice appeared by email about ten minutes ago. Whether that's coincidence or a result of my whining in here I don't know...

The copy protection is worse than meets they eye….

If there are any school IT people here with RM CC3 networks and they’re trying to “repackage” Xara X4 Pro so that it can be deployed over the network to their machines, the copy protection prevents it running on any machine other than the one you repackaged it on (a Virtual PC in my case).

I spent a whole week repackaging it into a deployable MSI installer only to have fallen down at final testing where it soon became apparent the new copy protection was not only physically part of the media but also due software restrictions.

We don’t have CD drives on the PCs and without a solution, we cannot install or use the current version of Xara. Per station installs with a portable CD drive is not an option either as the machines are frequently rebuilt (very quick and easy to do on CC3)

I am thankful Xara gave us CD to try out before we rushed into buying licences but I am troubled by this new development.

I raised the issue with Xara over a week ago and am waiting to see if there will be any workaround. For education and corporate deployment of Xara, it would be ideal if they could make a non-copy protected installer available on request.

If Xara is able to implement a copy protection, I'm sure they are also able to help customers with a lot of licenses. Let the Xara support find a solution for you.

Remi

Owning a registered copy means that we can install and use our copies of XXP4 without any real issues but like everyone else, I like to make a backup copy for general use and store the originals in a safe place where they won't get damaged.

A quick trawl around the net would seem to indicate that CD copy protection is a standard Magix procedure across all their apps but what bugs me about it is that having paid for my own, personal copy, there is absolutely BoB Hope and no hope of me ever thinking of letting somebody have a copy, so why can't Magix allow a backup CD to be made. I think that the overwhelming majority of users would likewise guard their prized possession!

That said the CD version isn't Xara's, sorry Magix's main problem as I see it. A quick search for XXP4 via the various leading file sharing networks yields a plethora of links for the download version together with keygens. There lies the problem, not registered users wanting to backup their CD!

Well said Woody, in another thread about the new copy protected cd I said that the protection only hurts genuine purchasers not the pirates who simply download a cracked copy so nice to see someone else feels the same

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Originally Posted by gdavidson

We don’t have CD drives on the PCs and without a solution, we cannot install or use the current version of Xara.

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Can you put the CD in a drive on the network and share that drive so installs can be run over the network? Or does the copy protection interfere with that as well?

I have bought every version since CorelXara, as well as WebStyle and Xara3d. I am opposed to copy protection and predict that Xara/Magix will not see any revenue increase as a result users of pirated copies suddenly deciding to pay for a legit copy.

It would be interesting to see a poll on how many current Xtreme users agree with this change and whether this will dissuade them from future upgrades.

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Originally Posted by StevenWWinters

Can you put the CD in a drive on the network and share that drive so installs can be run over the network? Or does the copy protection interfere with that as well?

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I haven't tried that - it might work but then again...! If so, it might indeed be a workaround for the occasional low volume network installation.

Speaking for myself.... Unfortunately it would not be practical for our school's needs where we have to modify the installer to deploy it and there can be up to 80 machines installing it concurrently and even then sometimes randomly due to repair installations. Certainly on CC3, the "SETUP" user only sees a limited number of drives on the network whilst the station is installing deployed software but again it wouln't be practical to have to leave the CD in the server to act like a dongle.

Whether Xara would be able to see the data it needs with a shared out CD drive would be another matter. Our stations access CDs via the use of virtual CD images, I've already discovered the physical media protection stops us imaging the Xara CD.

I really do hope they can come up with a "corporate" installer!

I still get this message on both my computers and cannot load X4 successfully. Just to make sure I wasn't doing the process wrong I gave the chore over to my son who is in IT work. Same result.
There is a new computer arriving this week and my guess is that I still will not be able to load from the CD. I had to revert back to the e copy to get on with my work. Not that thrilled.
I am actually thinking that I have a faulty disk. Only time and patience will tell.
Rupert.

As much as we moan and groan, things ain't going to change, it's the Magix way! I assume that there is a clear CD medium replacement policy, should your original become damaged, so it'll have to be a case of grin and bear it.

As I've said before, Xara isn't a big player in educational graphic software in the UK. Certainly problems with network installs are not going to endear them to the admins. The "competition" provide easy network installs and give free copies to teachers... a sprat to catch a mackerel!

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Originally Posted by w00dy

As much as we moan and groan, things ain't going to change, it's the Magix way!

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That's a rather defeatist view of the power of public criticism to influence companies.

Magix is not doing that well at the moment, and realising that they've queered Xara's already tenuous 'professional' (i.e. high-margin) credentials with games-industry craptech might be important to them.

I suspect that at Xara UK there are people with their heads in their hands saying, "I told them, I told them..."

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Originally Posted by Rhanna

I still get this message on both my computers and cannot load X4 successfully. Just to make sure I wasn't doing the process wrong I gave the chore over to my son who is in IT work. Same result.

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You probably are doing everything correctly. The CD is copy protected and it sounds like your hardware is having trouble dealing with the copy protection.

I suggest contacting Xara support. There is another thread here where Sigmation said Xara Tech Support provided instructions for installing the extra files from the CD with the download version. It would be nice if Xara provided that information publicly.

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Originally Posted by willdean

That's a rather defeatist view of the power of public criticism to influence companies.

Magix is not doing that well at the moment, and realising that they've queered Xara's already tenuous 'professional' (i.e. high-margin) credentials with games-industry craptech might be important to them.

I suspect that at Xara UK there are people with their heads in their hands saying, "I told them, I told them..."

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FWIW, Not really being defeatist, just a realist! What proportion of Magix's sales is made up by Xara, I don't know but I would have thought that it was perhaps not that significant, so it's grin and bear it.

I fully agree that it's likely that Xara UK folks themselves are not happy but it's out of their hands now. Look on the brighter side, as long as Charles is around, I ain't got too much of a problem, if he was to ride off into the sunset, then I would be a worried man!

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Originally Posted by Rhanna

I still get this message on both my computers and cannot load X4 successfully. ...Rupert.

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Hi,

just a note:

- I had to DISABLE Avast antivirus during setup, since it was hanging-up the system. In fact he was analyzing the CD, but due to the error scheme on the CD it crashed the system or hanged-up.

So, DISABLE ANY ON-ACCESS antivirus and install XARA 4 again. It may work also for you! .:cool:

Regards.

Not sure is anyone is still dealing with this issue, but I figured it out on my install of ubuntu 8.10 running winxp sp2 on VirtualBox...

Rather than mounting the CD after the VM is running... shutdown windows and mount the cd from the settings page... be sure and check "Enable Passtrough". This will allow the install of Xara in the VM to directly access the CD/DVD drive and in my case solved the problem...

Just thought I would share that incase it helps anyone else...