Upon automatic upgrade, Fences is now prompting for an activation key, but the key(s) I use come back invalid

from Stardock Forums

As the Title suggests, this morning I rebooted my machine and an auto-update has apparently broken my activation of Fences. I went on to stardock.com and tried the various activation keys I've had over the years and they all come back as "An invalid product key was entered."

Not sure what prompted the upgrade this morning, nor why the key that was working yesterday is no longer working today.  Is it just a trigger to pay for a new version?

Windows 11 Version 22H2 (OS Build 22621.2715)

Had Fences installed on this PC for a couple of years.  Been using Fences since 2014.

Cheers.

fences
10,014 views 10 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Perhaps you're trying to activate Fences v4 with Fences v3, maybe? Or You entered the email address incorrectly?

Thanks
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.

Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top

Well, the software auto-updated. It does look like my keys are listed as Fences 2, then Fences 3 upgrade.  Do I need a new key today all of a sudden?  Can I downgrade back to Fences 3?  Seems shady that the software upgrades to a version I need to pay extra for?

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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top


As the Title suggests, this morning I rebooted my machine and an auto-update has apparently broken my activation of Fences. I went on to stardock.com and tried the various activation keys I've had over the years and they all come back as "An invalid product key was entered."



Not sure what prompted the upgrade this morning, nor why the key that was working yesterday is no longer working today.  Is it just a trigger to pay for a new version?

Windows 11 Version 22H2 (OS Build 22621.2715)

Had Fences installed on this PC for a couple of years.  Been using Fences since 2014.

Cheers.
End of quote

Just to be clear, are you certain it was an update notice from the app itself or from a mailer?

If you uninstall Fences 4, reboot, reinstall Fences for, can you reproduce the prompt (Check for updates on the About tab)?

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top

I had the exact same issue. I have Fenses 3 and then today it updates without any prompting from me. Now it tells me that I have to buy version 5??? This seems quite shady business practice to me too. Even though I was willing to buy version 4 (if it has a permanent license). I think the permanent license for version 5 is a ripoff.

I'm not sure about OP but I have way too many Fenses on my desktop to uninstall and reinstall.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting yolandanelson2019, reply 4

I had the exact same issue. I have Fenses 3 and then today it updates without any prompting from me. Now it tells me that I have to buy version 5??? This seems quite shady business practice to me too. Even though I was willing to buy version 4 (if it has a permanent license). I think the permanent license for version 5 is a ripoff.

I'm not sure about OP but I have way too many Fenses on my desktop to uninstall and reinstall.
End of yolandanelson2019's quote

There is nothing nefarious intentionally being done here and it's still not clear if it was a 'prompt' or an email that was sent that was soliciting that you upgrade.

As I asked in my prior response, you can uninstall Fences 4, reinstall Fences 3, and activate it with the keys that you have.  If anything 'pops up' or offers you any form of update, screenshot it and post it in a reply here please.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

Was there ever a solution to this post? I have had the same thing happen now. A Fences 3.0 update and now I cannot use the program without buying a 5.0 key. I am about just to uninstall the program and walk away. It warns me every single time my laptop wakes up.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

No. I attempted to do the uninstall reinstall dance @sdrohan recommended, but I constantly got bombarded with "upgrade available" notifications. The upgrade which requires a subscription, naturally, in peak 2024 software rental shenanigans. 

I eventually found a workaround by using Task Manager when the popup was live to identify the EXE that generates the upgrade notification and deleted it. That seems to have resolved the nagging, at least so far. 

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting smullinax, reply 6

Was there ever a solution to this post? I have had the same thing happen now. A Fences 3.0 update and now I cannot use the program without buying a 5.0 key. I am about just to uninstall the program and walk away. It warns me every single time my laptop wakes up.
End of smullinax's quote

Quoting gbondy, reply 7

No. I attempted to do the uninstall reinstall dance @sdrohan recommended, but I constantly got bombarded with "upgrade available" notifications. The upgrade which requires a subscription, naturally, in peak 2024 software rental shenanigans. 

I eventually found a workaround by using Task Manager when the popup was live to identify the EXE that generates the upgrade notification and deleted it. That seems to have resolved the nagging, at least so far. 

End of gbondy's quote

Please post an image of the prompt.

Sean Drohan
Stardock Product Lifecycle Manager

Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting smullinax, reply 9

Error 2

Error 1

Again this pops up regularly on the screen since it auto-updated to Fences 5 it appears. 

 
End of smullinax's quote

Hello,
Sorry to hear you are having issues. Look like you on Fences 5, which will not be activated with your Fences 3 license key. What you can do is uninstall Fences 5, reboot, download latest Fences 3 from your account page. Install it, activate it using your Fences 3 key. Reboot. If Fences 5 upgrade offer popup appear, such click on that don't show this again check box, and it should not show up again.

Thank you.
Basj,
Stardock Community Assistant.