Am I alone with this Waves problem?

[Jules]

I purchased Waves Native Renaissance collection 3.0 about a month ago and still cannot load the software or rather the software loads but when the Pace anti piracy challange/response window should appear at 90% of installation, my PC is shut down.

This is on Windows 98

I have spent many hours on the phone with Waves tech support and they cannot solve it,
and they have tried hard.

I have contacted Pace and their best guess was that its a Waves problem.

As of now a complete report of my case and my OS configuration has been sent from Waves in Knoxville to the programmers in Israel.

And so I wait....but not for long, I have already purchase TLAudio EQ1 to replace the Ren eq, Im about to buy Sonic Timeworks compressor X, and Im still looking for a good non-bundled verb.

Am I alone with this problem?

[PKemper]

Jules,

You're not alone!
I just got my 3.0 upgrade and have the SAME problem!

I was, however, able to load the software (after many reboots and tries).

Now, when I try to add a waves plugin to my project (or even try to select waves from my start menu)my system shuts down and reboots.

If you get a solution to this PLEASE let me know.

I've been on hold with waves forever and can't get through for help.

thanks,

Paul

[Jules]

Hello Paul,

Sorry to hear that, I was hoping that I was alone, obviously not wishing to really share this problem.

After many calles to waves tech support....

(best to try them 9.00am US eastcost time when they open)

they were unable to solve this, other than a complete reformatting of my system, something Im not preparred to do, and still not a certain fix.

Waves have however come through with a special package issued on the old wavekey system as my problem seems to be related to the new Pace challange/response.

When you get through to waves speak to Jay, he is Waves main PC tech.

I cant offer much info as my problem still remains a mystery

Hope you get it resolved.

Jules

[PKemper]

Jules,

Great news,

My issue has been resolved.

Aside from re-coring your system completely (which I did last night, and WILL work), your problem should be linked to the version of Windows 98 your system is running.

I was running the original Windows98 WITHOUT critical updates applied. Once I updated my OS with the necessary Win98 critical updates I ran fine.

One other thing to consider...
If you're running on a PC that has been "around the block" in the sense of software installs etc... do yourself a favor and re-core your machine. After my recore, I went to the MS update website (you can get there from your "Start" menu and select Windows update) reapplied the critical updates and my system works great AND faster because it's cleaner.

The "Windows UPdate" option on your start menu will link you to Microsoft and even evaluate your OS to determine whether you need any updates. Give it a try.

Let me know if this resolves your problem.

The only downside about a re-core is the re-authorization required (which I have pending) and time (obviously). It took me three hours to be back up.

Good Luck,
Paul

[PKemper]

Jules,

Scratch my earlier response.

My problem has returned.

Let's hope this doesn't go on for months.

[Jules]

Sorry to hear it didnt work Paul, seemed like a good idea....re-coring for me is a dreaded nightmare, I have tweek my system to just where I want it.

Waves special bundle with the dongle contained Ren EQ, Ren Comp and Trueverb from the NNP1 bundle. Whether Ren Reverb is better than Trueverb....I will never know.

And now that Im the proud owner of a Waves dongle....I cant see what all the fuss was about

Hope you resolve your problem soon....I know what your going through. Keep me post if you like.

Jules

[PKemper]

Jules,

I spent 45 minutes at my PC with Jay @ waves and coud not remedy the situation.

Workaround: Jay sent me an overnight package with a new Native Gold dongle for 2.8 and the software. I'll be running 2.8 instead of 3.0, but it beats 2.3 native power pack only (which I previously had).

Jay put me on a list and said when the fixes are complete they will notify me and then my 3.0 version will work dongle-free.

Evidently, Waves is having a 3.0 install issue with computers that have had a previous version of their 2.x software on them (according to Jay). Let's hope they resolve it soon.

Paul

[jimkloss]

I am having trouble with Waves DX Gold Bundle 3.0 (Windows) and Antares Auto-Tune and Mic Modeler all fighting it out. Installing Antares (who also use Pace) makes Waves plugins unavailable - grey box only with no user interface.

I've got emails going to both Waves and Pace --- if (hopefully when) it's fixed I'll post a notice of what was done.

Annoying isn't it? When you pay for products (and pay top $$$) it's a real pain when you can't use the software simply because it's trying to protect itself from piracy...

[mflorio]

jimkloss, you got me worried...

I just purchased Waves NPP 3.0 and Antares Auto-Tune for a new DAW running Win ME. Havn't installed them yet and now I'm afraid to !

[StevenBell]

I've just installed Win2000 from scratch for the fourth time. I finally tracked down the problem. The PACE challenge/response system.

Both AutoTune and Waves wreck the O/S such that it gets a "STOP" error while trying to re-boot.

Steven

[Gerald Arend]

After I read about all the pain that the "Pace"-anti-piracy-stuff is causing, the only thing I can recommend to all of you is to simply kick it off your system. Try to get your hands on a cracked version - at least I did...

Although I am a registered user of the v3 Gold-Bundle (Windows native version), I am actually using a cracked version. I've got my reasons: When I really needed the software most (at the beginning of January, right after my hard-disk had crashed), I asked Waves for quick re-authorization - and had to wait for nearly a week for an answer... :-(

Please don't get me wrong: I really see the need for effective copy-protection. But I simply don't want a protection that wastes my precious time (and - see above - may as well crash my system). I really, really wish that Waves could return to the good old HASP-dongles that were used in versions up to 2.8...


Rgds


Gerald

[DrMathProg]

It could be worse. You could have, say.:
1. Bought Renaissance Vox,
2. attempted to install it on your Win2000 machine,
3. have it fail,
4. attempt to install it on your old Win98 machine
5. have Waves tell you 'Sorry, you only get one installation authorization. We know of no current problems with Pace, so you'll just to have to live with the one (unsuccessful) Win2000 machine.'

Oh well, $200 down the Waves drain.

[Gilad]

Dear All,

We apologize to anyone who has experienced this problem. This problem shows up in very few cases and we are able to rectify this in almost all of them.

If you have experienced this problem and have not been able to solve this, please send an email to info@waves.com , subject Win2K problem, please include your computer configuration and contact information so we may contact you to resolve this issue.

Please note that Waves is fully responsible for this problem and will do our utmost to rectify this.

Best Wishes,

Gilad

[stevepow]

I had this as well and found a solution:

1) get rid of any tpkd*.* files on your system - look in winnt\system32 and winnt\system32\drivers
2) run regedit and search for tpkd and delete any REG KEY entries that it will let you.
3) reboot
4) install the new PACE Interlock driver from the Waves Support/Updates area.

this seems to be working for me for now.


Still working fine and BTW, if you install any TC Works stuff, you should repeat the above process as soon as the install is completed - it puts old PACE stuff back on for some reason (could happen with other PACE protected software as well like some of the Steinberg Plugins).

[This message has been edited by stevepow (edited 04-07-2001).]

[Erickson]

I had the same problems and it turned out that I had the W95.cih virus on my computer. Once I removed that, waves installed perfectly.

[John Rendell]

I have the same problem with STOPS on Win2k. It stops on boot with a problem in Evian.sys.

I have sent a message to info@waves.com.

It is a Pace problem - I have the same problem with OBTune.

Out of curiosity, what Motherboard/processor are those with the problem using?

[John Rendell]

I might have a fix:

If you are using a Asus A7V133, and are using the onboard raid, you will end up with an unbootable system after authorizing. (Error with evian.sys)

Here is what you need to do to get it working:
1) Disable raid (use the jumpers)
2) Boot with the NT install disk
3) Choose Repair
4) Choose the Manual option and use the console
5) Rename c:\winnt\system32\evian.sys to something else (you can not delete it)
6) exit
7) Install the Pace TPKD fix from the Pace site (You can get there from the Waves site)
8) Reboot
9) Things should now work

If you do not install the TPKD fix after ANY pace authorization, you will get a spontaneous reboot.

I would have preferred to stick with a dongle at this point - I'm not sure if I'll ever purchase another Pace protected product...

You might have to install the drivers for the ATA conroller (get them from asus), but you will not be able to use Raid.

[oddih]

Man, spent two and a half hours on hold with waves the last two days before I came upon this board, didn't know others were having the exact same problem.

Whatever causes this does not seem to be OS related as I'm running NT4 and have the exact same problem as you guys. You'd have thought that when they make you wait almost three hours on hold they can offer you some worthwhile help, but no such luck. I have a paid mixing session coming up tomorrow were I need to use my Renaissance Collection V3, but I was just told there was nothing they could do. I wasn't even offered my money back or an exchange for version 2.8 like some of you were.

Went online and in 5 minutes found a cracked version of the entire Gold Bundle. I'll be using this with a clean consciousness in my studio from now on, and I strongly encourage everyone else to do the same. Buggy software is inevitable and I can work around that, but if the software won't even INSTALL then my patience run our very quickly.

This crap just won't do.

Odie Hestnes

[Gerald Arend]

I simply cannot understand why Waves continue to integrate this "Pace Interlok"-crap into their otherwise brillant software. Pace has crashed the systems of probably dozens of customers by now, does not install on many machines and is not compatible with software from some other manufacturers (Oil Change, Antares etc.). Waves' slow reaction on "need-new-response-code"-requests makes the software somehow become a risk for professionel users: If your authorized HD should crash, you won't get your Waves plugins reinstalled for at least some days...

In my opinion, the only way to use Waves' stuff without trouble and headache is to use cracked versions (but once again, only when you're a paying customer - I'm not talking about pirated software!!!!). Isn't it ironic how a "copy protection" can somehow force fair customers to look for cracked versions?

And to the address of Waves: I still have my dongle from the 2.8-versions. As far as I can remember, it contains a programmable EPROM - so why not program a new dongle-based v3 for all the people out there who still have those HASP-dongles?


Gerald

[yotam]

Hello all
My name is Yotan Agam , i am the PC beta coordinator of Waves plug-ins in Israel.
I am very sorry for any incovinience you have got with Waves/Pace Issues.
I do believe That a solution can be found to any problem!
feel free to contact me on any subject that is still bothering you and i will do my best to try and help you out.
Yotam@kswaves.com

[James Peters]

I totally agree about the Pace copy protection crap. The 2.8 dongle worked fine and now if I want to upgrade, I have to buy software I can never really own or transfer from one computer to another (since 3.0 is now using challenge/response). I say heartily that is bull****.

So is the response I got from Waves when I emailed them asking if they would make the dongles compatible with 3.0. I was basically told that my opinion of challenge/response was not important, and either I should keep using 2.8 or deal with the 3.0 being challenge/response.

Instead, I went to a competitor and bought their software.

Until Waves admits that the challenge/response copy protection scheme is just a hassle for the legitamate users, and either drops copy protection altogether or goes back to the dongle, I strongly urge others to avoid buying Waves products. (This also goes for Sonic Foundry, who uses challenge/response exclusively.)

I mean honestly, the illegitamate version of Waves NGB 3.0 for PC was on the internet two days after it was released for sale by Waves! A lot of good the challenge/response copy protection really does!

[stevepow]

I agree with the "cracked copy" guys. I need to re-org my drive layout and I'm stuck with no way to re-auth over the weekend. It sucks to have to wait with shackles on for being "legal" with my purchase just because the Waves people shut down over the weekend.

Unfortunately their products are much better than any competition on DirectX I have tried, so I need to find a way to live with it. Cracked seems like the ideal alternative.

Anyone know where a good loication for Cracked Gold 3.0 is?

Thanks.

[James Peters]

BTW: my intent was not to get people to try to d/l an illegitamate version of any software; like I said, I went to a competitor for software when Waves went to challenge/response.

I would be happy to pay for a 3.0 update to my 2.8 if Waves got off their challenge/response kick--that's my main goal here, to make them realise they have to cut out the 'big brother' copy protection scheme.