Hello, i'm completely new in this area but i have an rather disturbing problem. I client of mine has an application with a topspeed database secured with a password. The application needs to be replaced so the data needs to be converted from topspeed to msaccess. However, the application is under license and while the license is paid until 1-1-2008, the supplier refuses to give the password and refuses to provide the data from the topspeed database. Is there a way to go around this? My client is a rather small firm and don't have the clarion tool. I do have topscan and a topspeed odbc driver. But in both cases, the password stops my efforts. Can someone please help me?
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password recovery 1
- Thread starter quicky100
- Start date
Hi Quicky100
Sounds like your client has 1 of 2 problems.
1. Is the password your client is trying to get from the supplier a 'license key code' password to enable the software to work.
If so there may be legal issues. If your client really has a paid license aggreement through 1/1/2008, the supplier should have the end user's information and should give it freely in my opinion. If this is the case it sounds like the supplier is mad because the end user wishs to no longer use his program or thinks the client is not the orginal purchaser of the product.
2. If the client is ask the supplier to give up his source code for an area of the program, then I don't blame the supplier for not wanting to do this.
Benny4129
Sounds like your client has 1 of 2 problems.
1. Is the password your client is trying to get from the supplier a 'license key code' password to enable the software to work.
If so there may be legal issues. If your client really has a paid license aggreement through 1/1/2008, the supplier should have the end user's information and should give it freely in my opinion. If this is the case it sounds like the supplier is mad because the end user wishs to no longer use his program or thinks the client is not the orginal purchaser of the product.
2. If the client is ask the supplier to give up his source code for an area of the program, then I don't blame the supplier for not wanting to do this.
Benny4129
ShankarJ
Programmer
- Aug 9, 2003
- 856
Hi!
Topspeed file encryption and security is not totally fool-proof but the only way you can find it is either from the developer OR by writing a Clarion program and use a Brute Force Trial & Error method to get the right combination. You could always ask the developer to write an export program for the data and pay him for that. Developers do not normally give you the passwords for products that may be installed in multiple sites. You could also try to scan the EXE file of the application and see if you can identify the password string text in it.
Regards
Topspeed file encryption and security is not totally fool-proof but the only way you can find it is either from the developer OR by writing a Clarion program and use a Brute Force Trial & Error method to get the right combination. You could always ask the developer to write an export program for the data and pay him for that. Developers do not normally give you the passwords for products that may be installed in multiple sites. You could also try to scan the EXE file of the application and see if you can identify the password string text in it.
Regards
- Thread starter
- #4
The case is, the password is for the topspeed-database. It contains an huge amount of data from my client and in my opinion that data should be made available to my client. I'm not interested in the application itself. Its gonna be replaced anyway. Thats probably why the supplier won't give the password for the database. And i really asked him in a nice way. So, i dont need any password for the clarion application but i do need the password for the topspeed database (.tps). If i could only open the topspeed database with TOPSCAN, then its allright.
- Thread starter
- #6
My client already tried to communicate with the supplier but, unless some 5000,- euro !!!! is payed, het won't do anything. On top of that, he misleaded my client by assuring them that the application provides ways to export the data but it doesn't.
The data in the database is my clients property so its completely illegal that the supplier won't provide the password so we can extract the data from the topspeed database. While legal actions will take to much time, effort and money, i'm trying to find a way to work around this. My client only wants his own data, nothing more, nothing less.
The data in the database is my clients property so its completely illegal that the supplier won't provide the password so we can extract the data from the topspeed database. While legal actions will take to much time, effort and money, i'm trying to find a way to work around this. My client only wants his own data, nothing more, nothing less.
ShankarJ
Programmer
- Aug 9, 2003
- 856
Hi!
If he has not encrypted the Owner Id or used a variable, it is fairly easy to find it in the application's EXE file. Load the EXE file into a HEX editor and search for TableName where TableName.TPS is the file name. The word following the name could be the password. If the word relates to the supplier or the application, it most likely is.
Regards
If he has not encrypted the Owner Id or used a variable, it is fairly easy to find it in the application's EXE file. Load the EXE file into a HEX editor and search for TableName where TableName.TPS is the file name. The word following the name could be the password. If the word relates to the supplier or the application, it most likely is.
Regards
- Thread starter
- #8
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1
- Thread starter
- #9
Hello ShankarJ, you made my and my clients day (or week/month/year). I found the password the way you suggested. Absolutely fantastic. Now i can export the data and import it in my access-database. Super. Thank you very much. And of course all the best wishes for 2008.
Mark Mestrom
Mark Mestrom
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