v-g Backpacking in Britain Blog

I can’t say I’m surprised by this. I’ve just been playing with the latest USA edition MM V5.2.5 and they have introduced an online License Management system, similar to the product registration and activation system used by Anquet but with more complications. The system will no doubt appear in the next UK edition.

After installation on a test rig, MM V5.2.5 would not display any maps at all, even my own maps that I had created and calibrated myself from images. According to the Help File the old licenses are still valid for this version but they are converted to a new format, and in all cases the licenses must be registered online via the MM Activation Server before the software will do anything.

Below is a summary from the MM Help File:-

Each software package includes several resources that need to be activated. Before you leave home, you must go to the Help — License Management… dialog, and ensure that you have activated all the maps and software features you need on your expedition.

Activation is accomplished by completing four stages:

• Create an account (Once only).
  Your account is used to manage your all your licenses. When you are installing additional maps or software, and when your are installing on a different PC or Mobile Device, you must always sign in to the same account.
• Give your computer a name.
  You may install the software and map data (depending on the publisher) on more than one computer, and onto more than one mobile phone or PDA. You may also (if the publisher allows it) move the license from one machine or device to another. To manage all these licenses, it helps if you give each computer or mobile device a name you can recognize.
• Register the serial number supplied with your purchase.You can register each serial number only once. The resources associated with your purchase are credited to your account. Most packages permit you to use the resources on at least two computers. If you want to use the package on another computer, or on a mobile device, simply sign in to the same account, where your resources are available for activation. If you have an old-syle serial number and you are using a machine that previously had a licensed copy of Memory-Map, your license resources are automatically credited to your new account.
• Activate the resources you want to use.
  Once you have signed in to your account and registered your serial number, the resources are activated automatically when they are first used. Once a resource has been activated, it is locked to that computer. However, most packages include resources for at least two computers. You have the flexibility to put resources on the computers where they are needed (for example, you can activate the GPS feature on your laptop, and the Printing feature on your home computer). When you get a new computer, you can migrate all your licenses from your old computer to the new one. Mobile Devices (PDAs, Smartphones)
  Software features and maps must be activated on your PDA or phone.

  First of all, you have to choose whether to associate the license with a specific Windows Mobile device, or with an SD Card. Putting the license on the device allows you to carry multiple sets of maps on different cards, while putting them on the SD Card allows you to easily use the software on any device the card is loaded into. In either case, you can recover the license data if it is accidentally deleted, and you can migrate license to a new card or device when you need to.

  Activation on SD Card
  When you activate a license on an SD Card, the license is locked to the card. You can insert the card into any supported mobile device and use the licenses without activating the device itself.
  Start by inserting the card into the mobile device. Install the software on the mobile device (click the Mobile Device — Install menu command in the desktop software), or (if it is already installed) launch the application on the mobile device.
  Next take the card out of the mobile device and mount it in a card slot (or attached card reader) on your Windows PC. Verify that you can access the card (under My Computer on your Start menu).
  Run Memory-Map on the PC, and click the Help — License Management menu command.
  Click the SD Card button. It should open a second License Management dialog for the card.
  Select the license resources you would like to associate with the card, and click “Activate”.

  Activation on Mobile Device
  There are two ways to activate licenses on a mobile device: by syncing to an internet-connected PC running the Memory-Map desktop software (which is the preferred method), or through a direct internet connection.

  Via PC
  Start by syncing the mobile device to the PC. Install the software on the device (click the Mobile Device — Install menu command in the desktop software).
  Run Memory-Map on the PC, and click the Help — License Management menu command.
  Click the Mobile Device button. It should open a second License Management dialog for the device.
  Select the license resources you would like to associate with the device, and click “Activate”.

  Via a direct internet connection
  If you have a WiFi or cellular internet connection, you can activate additional license resources while you are away from the PC. Just tap the “Activate” button when prompted after accessing the desired resource. Make sure you sign in to the same account you created on the PC. You can tap the Help — License… menu command to see the status of your licenses on the device.