Search code examples
windowstrial

Does Windows provide a unique identifier I could use to enforce a free trial?

Does the Windows operating system contains any unique computer/OS id?

This is for my own software. I want to create 30 day trial/demo version.

Here is what I want to do:

  1. When someone installs a trial I grab the unique ID, send it to server.
  2. After the 30 day trial, if software is reinstalled, the server blocks the trial version.

So the real question is: Does Windows contains any unique IDs I could rely on?

I think that IP address is not a reliable option.

Solution

  • Windows has a DigitalProductId. You can access its value in registry at the following location:

    LocalMachine\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId