INFO: Reasons for "Unauthorized Copy of Visual C++" Message

• Microsoft Visual C++ for Windows, versions 1.0 and 1.5
• Microsoft Visual C++ 32-bit Edition, versions 1.0, 2.0, 2.1, 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0

SYMPTOMS

Under some circumstances, the Visual C++ copyright logo displays the string "Unauthorized copy of Microsoft Visual C++" where the registered owner's name belongs. This message may occur when the user manually copies the executable files from the distribution disks and does not install them with the Setup program or when virus protection software is running during installation.

MORE INFORMATION

When you install 16 bit edition of Visual C++, it modifies the following four files to reflect the name entered on the registration screen: APSTUDIO.EXE, MSVC.EXE, MFCAPPWZ.EXE, and MFCCLSWZ.DLL. If these files are not updated, the "unauthorized copy" message appears. To correct this situation, run Setup and install the affected component(s). To reinstall only the files the Visual C++ Setup program modifies, select the following from the Installation Options dialog box:

   Microsoft Visual Workbench
   Microsoft Foundation Classes
   Microsoft App Studio: Resource Editor

In Visual C++ 5.0, a large number of files will be modified due to executable binding that occurs during setup. The file that contains the authorization information is MSDEV.EXE.

For Visual C++ 2.x, 4.x, and 5.0 another solution is to run setup with the /f switch (for example, "setup /f" without the quotes). It is important that you run the setup.exe in the Visual C++ subdirectory on the CD. For Visual C++ 4.x it is in X:\MSDEV where X: is the letter designation of your CDROM drive. For Visual C++ 5.0, it is in X:\DEVSTUDIO.

The "unauthorized copy" message can also appear when VSAFE or other memory- resident virus protection software is loaded by AUTOEXEC.BAT. VSAFE is a virus protection utility included with MS-DOS version 6.0. By default, the utility detects modifications made to executable files. If VSAFE is loaded and the VSafe Manager for Windows is running with executable checking enabled, the VSafe Manager displays a dialog box when Setup attempts to update the executable files.

If VSAFE is loaded, but the VSafe Manager for Windows is not running, the computer beeps when Setup attempts to update the executable files and Setup does not update the files with registration information. When Visual Workbench starts, the logo screen indicates an unauthorized version.

To resolve this situation, edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file to comment out or remove the command that starts VSAFE or the other memory-resident virus protection software. The Visual C++ README.TXT file recommends against running VSAFE with Visual C++. The Visual Workbench may appear to hang with VSAFE detects that an executable file is changing during the linking process. Once you remove VSAFE or other memory-resident virus protection software, run Setup to reinstall the affected component(s).