Thank you for that info. Turns out I have .833a installed, just hadn't allowed it to check for updates in a while. Downloaded the beta for when the authentication server comes back online.
"There was an error contacting the server" Msg at launch.
- Thread starter DrDon
- Start date
Hopefully the authentication server does come back on line
Hello,
I think the last beta is much better than the last stable version. I hope we can use it in future as well.
I fear that VRD has probably come to an end. I find this very sad as I have really come to love this software and use it frequently after years of searching. My personal opinion on this is that the software was obviously too good and not widely enough used for the consumer sector. In this area, the only other purchase software is actually something that often requires paid upgrades or can only be used with a subscription, which seems to be the latest global trend. Something like VRD, where there were only a few really new versions with really new features and very customer-oriented, very competent support, seems to have fallen out of time. This could only work economically if there would be constantly new customers. But that's just my personal opinion. VRD is one of the very few software programs that I would even be willing to pay for a subscription too. It simply stands out with the variety of functions and the possibilities to customize the specifications in this price segment. I hope it will continue in some way, whatever it might be. Because I currently don't even know what alternatives (also more expensive) there would be (suggestions?).
Sorry for my bad English.
Regards
Frank
I would agree that VRD, which I use almost daily, is one of the few pieces of software that I would subscribe to rather than buy outright. (I use Office 2010 which I bought at an excellent price and cannot envisage subscribing to Office 365).
VRD seems to fall between two stools. It is not cheap so ocassional users won't buy it but it offers excelleny value for those who want efficient video editting without the "baggage" of authoring tools that the way more expensive offerings give you.
My concern now is that whilst VRD might survive it could well be ultimately too damaged.
I would pay a subscription because of the support that is offered and the confidence that if bugs are found or enhancements are possible that you will get them. If I was not confident that the persons who ran the company could or would continue this approach I would rather stick with the working, paid for version that I do have until such a point that changing broadcast standards make it untenable. (I'm thinking of AC4 or H266). Perhaps fortunately, the UK tends to lag behind in such developments so I could be OK for a while.
I'm currently running beta 833 but have a download of 836 that I don't think that I can safely try to install.
VRD seems to fall between two stools. It is not cheap so ocassional users won't buy it but it offers excelleny value for those who want efficient video editting without the "baggage" of authoring tools that the way more expensive offerings give you.
My concern now is that whilst VRD might survive it could well be ultimately too damaged.
I would pay a subscription because of the support that is offered and the confidence that if bugs are found or enhancements are possible that you will get them. If I was not confident that the persons who ran the company could or would continue this approach I would rather stick with the working, paid for version that I do have until such a point that changing broadcast standards make it untenable. (I'm thinking of AC4 or H266). Perhaps fortunately, the UK tends to lag behind in such developments so I could be OK for a while.
I'm currently running beta 833 but have a download of 836 that I don't think that I can safely try to install.
mayorville
Member
This is what I was able to find for a contact number, but this is from Dec 2013. VideoReDo MPEG Video Editing Software (archive.org) I've been using this since prior to TV Suite, and looks like V4 will activate with just the purchased serial number. I know this doesn't help people who purchased since V5 or later, but it's something.
jmc
Well-known member
I don't expect that to happen in "consumer" VRD. You can turn off the "version update check".
If you have "Pro" then that is another whole ball of wax...it is very protected.
Could not even change my computer's name with out it going into a whole license thing.
Hmm, now I'm wondering if VRD-Pro has it own functioning server. No uproar here about Pro.
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retiredqwest
New member
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
I'm sorry guys but DanR is currently very ill and I can't get access to the server, so there is no way for me to fix this.
I do have some workarounds though....
First off to get rid of the error and lag at startup go to Tools->Options->Startup and check the box that says "Request permission before accessing the internet". This will still prompt you every few days, but you can just click cancel and there won't be any lag.
Secondly I did have recent release builds for most versions on my personal system so I uploaded them to the forum server instead. You can download them here...
Reinstalling on an existing PC should work with your key, however installing on a new PC is going to fail because the backend service that deals with activation is hosted on videoredo.com and there is no way for me to work around that as it's hard coded into the build.
I am trying to contact the hosting company to see if they will give me access to the server account so I can fix this, but so far they're asking for verification information I simply don't have and DanR is unavailable to provide. So I have no idea when/if this is going to happen.
I will keep you posted if anything arises.
I do have some workarounds though....
First off to get rid of the error and lag at startup go to Tools->Options->Startup and check the box that says "Request permission before accessing the internet". This will still prompt you every few days, but you can just click cancel and there won't be any lag.
Secondly I did have recent release builds for most versions on my personal system so I uploaded them to the forum server instead. You can download them here...
Reinstalling on an existing PC should work with your key, however installing on a new PC is going to fail because the backend service that deals with activation is hosted on videoredo.com and there is no way for me to work around that as it's hard coded into the build.
I am trying to contact the hosting company to see if they will give me access to the server account so I can fix this, but so far they're asking for verification information I simply don't have and DanR is unavailable to provide. So I have no idea when/if this is going to happen.
I will keep you posted if anything arises.
So sorry to hear this. DanR will be in my thoughts and prayers. Please convey my personal best wishes.
Thanks for the update. Look after yourself Dan.
Sincerely,
TobyW
Thank you so very much for this update.
I appreciate you keeping us informed and helping, despite everything that's going on.
I love VideoRedo! Used it for years, ever since I got my Topfield TF5800 in something like 2004!
I used it to losslessly edit video, from VHS rips, to MiniDV, through to iPhone 13 Pro video, plus HD TV rips, and even to author DVDs for my parents who still aren't online and only have a DVD player.
I seriously hope I can continue using it in the future. I just checked, and am currently running 6.62.6.833, but I'm due to upgrade my workstation soon.
If the software can be reinstalled on the same PC, does this mean there's a registry key saved that tells VideoRedo that it's activated? In that case would it be possible to export this registry key, to be imported on a fresh install? I do have a legit key, etc. Just no way to activate at present.
Or if VideoRedo is no longer going to be worked on, would it be possible to put up an installer with activation requirements removed? If it can no longer be purchased, then I guess there's no harm in releasing an activation free version?
Or, I hope you are successful in taking control of videoredo.com and allowing activations to continue.
I guess you don't have any access to the activation server or software? I just wondered if it would be possible for you to host it elsewhere, and as a workaround maybe an edited hosts file could be made to redirect requests to videoredo.com to somewhere else.
Just thinking out loud here.
This is the issue with these online checks. I've recently found that some games I purchased on Steam in a sale, but never got around to playing, no longer work because of online activation and servers being taken offline. Such a shame.
I will seriously keep my fingers crossed that a workaround can be found for this. I'd be seriously lost without VideoRedo. I'd rather not scour the net to find cracks, because I don't really trust them to be clean. But if a final version of the program could be made available with online checks removed, that would be great... or temporarily hosting the activation service elsewhere. Hell, I'd run it here on a Raspberry Pi if I could!
Best of luck to all involved.
Thank you Dan for taking the time to post.
If you think of any ways for us to run this software in the future as fresh installs, please do let us know.
Warm regards.
jmc
Well-known member
Thanks Dan203!
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I know that I can image my current pc and turn that image into a VM.
What I don't know is if VRD will still function in that "VRD activated old pc" VM.
Guess I'll find out when I am FORCED to change to W11 in a couple years.
Don't want to lose VRD!
I was worried that there was a serious problem when I noticed that DanR had not been on here since early June.
Sure wish the best for him!
-------------------
I know that I can image my current pc and turn that image into a VM.
What I don't know is if VRD will still function in that "VRD activated old pc" VM.
Guess I'll find out when I am FORCED to change to W11 in a couple years.
Don't want to lose VRD!
I was worried that there was a serious problem when I noticed that DanR had not been on here since early June.
Sure wish the best for him!
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
I'm looking at the possibility of moving the upgrade wizard and the manual activation wizard over to the videoredo.net server right now. Luckily the actual code for those is stored on a different server so I think it will be possible.
I'm also still trying to get access to the host account so I can fix the videoredo.com server, but that's been tricky as they're understandably stringent about security and I have never actually been associated with the account.
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
I have successfully moved the manual activation page and the upgrade wizard to the videoredo.net server so that you guys can at least get the copies you've already bought and paid for up and running.
This is the best I can do for now.
This is the best I can do for now.
mayorville
Member
Dan, Thank you so much for doing this. I did have one question, I noticed in another thread that it mentioned .com domain expires in a couple of months and .net expires next February or March. What is the probability of keeping .net (at least) up and running past that point? I will say that out of all software that I purchased, this is probably the one that I've used the longest and most frequent. I don't know if the server is "in house" or in a data center somewhere, but I would be willing to contribute to help keep at least .net up and running.
One more question, can pro be activated thru the activation that you added on here, or no?
Thanks again!
One more question, can pro be activated thru the activation that you added on here, or no?
Thanks again!
You're amazing, Dan! Thanks for all your efforts. They are greatly appreciated.
Dan203
Ex-Senior Developer
The domains are out of my hands. Hopefully they wont expire, but if they do I will attempt to purchase them myself.
I looked into it and apparently Pro uses a different server for activation, so that should actually work.
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