thanks for this hint. If this works out – MS Reader truly will be the perfect solution for many people out there :)

ignore this, just some keywords so google users can find this trick:

ms reader activation backup
backup ms reader
ms reader backup
microsoft reader backup

When you download it, it’s tagged so that you can read it, but does the server also save it so it’s limited to a@b.com ?

Would be interesting to know, sharing Fictionwise accounts :-)

Thanks!

Perhaps you were thinking of SysInternal’s RegMon (http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/regmon.shtml). It’s good as it will give you a real-time look of what’s accessing the registry and save it to a file. However, the amount of data that it collects can be a little mind numbing. I prefer a program that will take a snap shot of your registry before, then you can install your app, then it will take another snap shot of your registry after. Like RegShot (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download965.html).

With Fictionwise, you can just use PayPal to transfer funds to your account – which is the perfect solution for me.

Nonetheless, I agree that MS should rework their DRM system (yet again) and release an updated version of MS Reader.

On a slightly different note, I wonder if you ever came across software other than MS Reader which is able to display / read DRM protected eBooks

Recently I found that there is some kind of application that will tell you exactly what happened during an installation. Now if you start this utility it will tell you which files are being modified etc. incl. Registry;

Too sad I can’t remember the name, but if I do I’ll make sure to try / post it here…

Now, you could just activate one PC with another passport and see what the utility lists as changed. Thru that, you should be able to figure out a backup, even if its tied to the computer ID – it would still work after reinstalling Reader on the same PC.

I agree with you on the fact that MS didn’t do the best job about DRM, and that there should be facilities to delete the Activation for a device. This however would mean that Reader would always have to go online before you open a book and check if the device that is trying to read the book is still in your list of authorized devices. If it wouldnt do the online check, you could use your 6 activations, delete all of them and activate another 6 devices.

eReader certainly has an interesting solution but as a student I don’t have a Creditcard, nor would I use it to activate ebooks even if I had one.

You’re right, Palm Reader (now eReader) does require a credit card for purchase and activation so that is a problem.

Oh and Palm Reader may be better, but it’s not an option for those without creditcards…