Enigma Protector

HI i need assistance with a problem that i am facing .. I have an GUI .exe File . The exe file size is about 940mb and is an installation file for the software that we have. We were looking for an protector for this file . The features we were looking for are that the file should expire after the specified date and should not be allowed to copy the file . and they cannot reverse the date and time and still use it .

I was looking at your software and was interested to check it out . I used the exe file in the input and use the options available to protect it . After i chose the options and clicked protect it gave me an error message " Unexpected Error : unexpected error in PE file.

Hi Ashwath,

There may be problems with packing such big files, but this is not the main problem.

Your conception of protection is invalid. Each installation file (usually) is a small exe file + big overlay data that contains installation data. Almost all protection system for Windows (including Enigma Protector) protect only exe part in this installer, but keeps overlay as it. So protected install can be enough easy extracted even without touching of protection.

There is a way for protecting of installer files using Virtual Box feature, I could explain how to do that, but anyway, 900 MBytes file is too big.

I think you should focus on protection of main executable of your application, but not installation file.

Well The thing is I am gonna put the exe setup file in the CD and supply it the students . And After they install the software , It should be working only for 30days and they should not be allowed to copy the exe file either . And this software should work only 1 single system . Meaning that CD should work only on that particular system which contains these softwares . Can You please provide me a soultion to it ? I mean After you install the software it should be protected. Please help me this is kinda really important and is worth a lot of money .

BTW It is Unexpected error : Unexpected Value in PE header . There has to be a way to solve this thing . COme On and plz reply to my previous post too

Hi Ashwath,

You may get this error by a numerous of reasons. For example, you are using x64 version of Enigma Protector for protecting of 32bit executable files. Or, maybe the file you entered in Input panel is not executable.

So, correct way to make the scheme you are looking for is following (I hope you are developer of the setup package you distribute and have an ability to recompile it?):
1. you take main executable of your program. Note, this is not a setup exe! And enter this exe inti Input panel of Enigma Protector.
2. go to Registration Features - Common panel and check all options there (3 checkboxed)
3. go to Registration Features - Registration Dialog and enable it.
4. protect executable
5. compile setup with this protected executable, burn it to CD and distribute to your users.

Once your user installs this program and run, the registration dialog will appear. Registration dialog will ask for a license. Until you prove a license, user will not be able to use protected program. Apart license information, registration dialog will contain hardware id field, user will have to provide it to you. Hardware ID is the unique computer identifier, it is used to lock license to particular PC.

Your steps to generate a license:
1. you get a request from user to issue a license, user also sent you a hardware id.
2. you open project file in Enigma Protector, go to main menu - Tools - Keys Generator.
3. enter there Registration Information (say, user name), enter Hardware ID (to lock license to particular PC), and Expiration Date (the date you would like to expire the license so user will not be able to use it), check at least one decrypt section (this is important) and click Generate button to generate a key.
4. Provide user with the Registration Info you entered and Registration Key.

If you need our help - please write me back.

I have encounter this problem too, what should I do ?

this is the Logs

[7:54:27 PM] Loading project settings...
[7:54:27 PM] Loading main information
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Registration Features - Registration Data Storage
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Registration Features - Common
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Registration Features - Registration Dialog
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Registration Features - Key Expiration Reminder
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Anti Debugger
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Control Sum
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Startup Password
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - File Name
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Disk Drive
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Executed Copies
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - User Language
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - External Files
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Executed Processes
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Loaded Drivers
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Installed Services
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Windows Version
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Virtualization Tools
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Checkup - Privileges
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Protection
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Protection - Protected Strings
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Protection - Resources Protection
[7:54:27 PM] Loading VirtualBox
[7:54:27 PM] Loading VirtualBox - Files
[7:54:27 PM] Loading VirtualBox - Registry
[7:54:27 PM] Loading VirtualBox - Packaging
[7:54:27 PM] Loading VirtualBox - Options
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Virtual Machine
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Miscellaneous
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Miscellaneous - Splash Screen
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Miscellaneous - Watermark
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Miscellaneous - Plugins
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Miscellaneous - Custom VERSION Resource
[7:54:27 PM] Loading Miscellaneous - Custom MANIFEST Resource
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Miscellaneous - Command Line
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Protection - Environment Variables
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Miscellaneous - Other
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Common
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Protection - Trial Data Storing
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Lock Trial to User Language
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Limitation by Executions Count
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Limitation by Days Count
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Limitation by Expiration Date
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Limitation from Date till Date
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Limitation of Execution Time
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Reminder
[7:54:28 PM] Loading Trial Control - Time Control
[7:54:28 PM] Protect file: c:\users\jyg printing\desktop\epson_l1800\adjprog_l1800.exe
[7:54:28 PM] ERROR: Unexpected exception: Unexpected value in PE header

You are using wrong version of Enigma Protector.

Your file is 32 bit file, but you are using Enigma Protector x64, or vice versa.

Download necessary version of Enigma Protector and try it.