How to go back to free version?

[Sentinel]

So I had the paid version and now I am trying to go back to the free version. I uninstalled the program and did a clean install, but I backed up my ini file so I would keep all my contacts and not have to do that all over again. But now every time I open the program it asks to "activate". I click cancel and I can use the program normally without all the paid features, but it is annoying to have to pass it each time I start up.

So how do I get it to forget that I ever had the paid version so it stops asking me to activate?

[Jeff]

I think that if you try to activate it, and you get the message prompt that you need to pay the upgrade, and then close that and the Activation window, then PP won't prompt you again. Try doing that again and if it's not working as described, let me know and I'll double-check that.

[Sentinel]

Didn't work. This is what i got when I tried to activate.

[Jeff]

Ok, so error 1257 is:
ERROR_INTERNET_SECURITY_CHANNEL_ERROR - The application experienced an internal error loading the SSL libraries.

You may want to check the following:
- Open "Internet options" in Windows setting (it should be sufficient to type that into the start menu)
- Go to the "Advanced" tab
- Scroll to the very bottom and make sure that TLS 1.0, 1.1, and 1.2 are checked (1.3 is not necessary)
- Press OK and try PP again (technically it may be necessary to restart PP)

But, if that doesn't work, you can apply the flag manually:
1) You'll need to edit PP's ini file, so go to main menu: Tools / Options; select the "Storage" page and double-click on the text "Ini Location" (it opens File Explorer)
2) Exit POP Peeper
3) edit the poppeeper.ini file that you can access in File Explorer from step #1
4) Search for [POP Peeper]
5) Below that line, add:
UpgradeNoticeV5 = 0
6) Save the file and restart PP

[Sentinel]

I appreciate your help tremendously. Thank you.

But it is still doing it. I tried everything you detailed above but yet it keeps coming back. As a matter of fact I edit the ini file and then open and close PP and when I go back the same thing happens. When I view the ini file again it is back to the original ini file! My edits are not there. It seems as though it is over-writing the ini with a back up of the previous ini file. It won't accept the new ini file.

[Jeff]

Make sure that you exit POP Peeper before modifying the ini file.

[Sentinel]

Definitely. I did. I even deleted the ini, ran a cleaner program, rebooted replaced a fresh ini from another PC set up exactly the same except it is the free version (never had the pay version on it) and still it popped up that window. I compared the two ini files from the two different PCs. One running the free version then this one running the paid version, and they are almost identical.

Can this setting be coming from the registry somewhere? I am willing to completely uninstall the program and reinstall a fresh clean install but I am afraid that if I do all that work it will still come back because I won't be able to get all nooks and crannies where these files hide out, such as registry entries.

Is there a way for me to back up my email accounts, completely uninstall this version, reboot, install a clean fresh new free version, then restore all my email accounts without having to manually enter each one again?

[Jeff]

You may want to check Task Manager / Details and make sure there's not a rogue poppeeper.exe running. Otherwise, something external is going on, because PP can't modify your ini file if it's not running... In fact, I've checked the code and PP will never delete that value. It may change it (although, the only thing it would change it to is "0", ie. there's no reason to set it to anything else because if it doesn't exist, then it assumes "1"), but it doesn't delete it.

All accounts and most settings are in the ini file. There's also addrbook.inx. Personally, I'd recommend making a copy of your entire PP data folder before uninstalling so at least you're sure you have a copy of everything instead of picking and choosing before-hand.

[mjs]

In the event you have a backup ini file -- make sure you're NOT changing the settings of the backup ini (file type "BAK file") positioned next to the actual ini file.

[Sentinel]

I found the problem. I keep my data in 2 separate locations.
My ini is in:
C:\Users\ACCT\AppData\Roaming\POP Peeper\poppeeper.ini

But I keep my folders in:
C:\Stuff\MAIL

So i went there and I deleted all those files too. Started up and bingo, no more problems.

[mjs]

Good to hear your issue is resolved -- thanks for getting back to us Sentinel.