As you can see from my blog, I am a frequent user of time-limited programs (both Shareware and Commercial). However, I am sometimes so busy that, after installing a program, I don’t have the time to evaluate it properly before the trial period is over. This problem is made worse because some developers use very small trial periods – sometimes 10 days or less. If I am away from work for a week, or have to work on an urgent project, it is sometimes impossible to re-install a program and just start again because the program will have made changes to the Registry or written a hidden file somewhere.
I need to thoroughly test a software before making a decision in purchasing it. If the software is going to lack a feature that I need, it will be a waste of money buying a license for it. Sometimes if I find that the trial software is valuable, I’d request the developer to extend the evaluation period for me to test it for another day or two. If the author agrees, it’s great! But if the developer doesn’t reply my email, and I think the chances of me buying the software is higher than 50%, then I’d use this method to extend the shareware’s evaluation period.
Never Expire is a small utility designed to help you run time-limited programs beyond their expiration dates. The program works by changing the system date, running your program and then resetting the date. In addition, you can specify a delay between running the program and resetting the date. This will allow time for the program to load and initialise.
Never Expire comes in both free and commercial version. The commercial version benefits are:
* Program lists can contain up to 10 items.
* No “nag screens” shown at any time.
* Adjust program settings, such as “Exit On Run”
* All future upgrades free of charge, for as long as the program remains in development.
* Unlimited user support
Never Expire official website is gone and it looks like there will not going to be any future upgrades and also user support. The freeware version is good enough. This tool is dated year 1998 but it still works! I can say that it works for “some” sharewares but definitely not all.
Never Expire is quite easy to use. Here are the steps to extend a shareware’s evaluation period using Never Expire.
1. Run noexpire.exe
2. Select Program 2 from the list and click Edit Item.
3. Enter the program name in Title For Item.
4. Click the … button to browse for the .exe that you want to extend.
5. Working directory should be automatically filled.
6. If the program requires to run with extra parameters, you can enter it at Parameters.
7. Set the date back to the day you installed the shareware.
8. Click okay button and when you’re on the Never Expire main screen, select Program 2 and click Run Item button.
I notice that there is a small bug on Program 1. When you try to browse for the program, you’ll get the message “Invalid filename”. Try editing program 2 item and it should work fine. Never Expire technique of extending trial period is different from Trial Reset.
IMPORTANT: Never Expire is not an aid for software pirates. This program is intended to extend the evaluation period of your programs, nothing more. After you have evaluated a program for a reasonable time, you must register or purchase a valid license to continue using the software.