creating a lock for an already compiled exe

[tina104291325]

i need a way of making that exe shareware or limit its hours of playing or whatever.

does ne1 have any ideas on how i could do that?

[Virus00110]

You could have the program write to a file that would be stored somewhere on the users system that would keep track of how many times the user has 1) used the program or 2) based on a date. Then each time the program is ran it will check this file and compare it to something that you could write in the code or in another file. Also I would make it that if the file would be deleted that the program wouldn't run either. Hope this gives you a better idea and helps somewhat.

[Kunchesm]

..or

..u can create a key in registry (say max. no of days) while installing ur application... and modify the key by decrementing each time the user runs your application...but make sure your application doesnt run when the key from the registry is deleted.

[tina104291325]

i have an already compiled exe file from someother person and i don't have the source for it so what are you suggesting how can be applied in my situation?