I think that both methods have their merits: 1) preserving the software with protection 2) preserving the software without protection (cracked or otherwise) Keeping the protection preserves the copy protection methods. Removing the protection can be easier on the disk drives as some protection methods are aggressive and throw drives out of alignment. In any case, the important thing is to have the software preserved before it goes into the bit bucket, never to return again ......... On Thu, Mar 29, 2018 at 5:07 PM, Herb Johnson via vcf-midatlantic < vcf-midatlantic@lists.vintagecomputerfederation.org> wrote:
"Cracking" software to preserve it is akin to taking a picture of artwork
and letting the original rot away in my opinion.
Sure, some of the original bit patterns are intact, but it's not close to an original in any sense of the word.
I don't see the need to trash-talk, people who are working hard to recover programs and files from digital media.
I"ve worked with a number of people who recover files from diskettes and audio cassettes. I'm doing so today. Some work with the physical media, some work with decoding the "flux changes", some with emulators and some with vintage or modern-replica hardware. Some even resurrect hardware unavailable, or never available. They all, are collectively preserving programs and vintage computers, and making the experience of operating those programs available again. They are getting results. Results matter.
I'm in no position to judge the merits of the product and services he's described. He's welcome to be enthusiastic, have particular interests, want to preserve certain things. I just don't care that he calls out other people's good work in the way he has.
If we don't defend the good work of others, then maybe they won't work so hard to do more. Or get started at all. There's reasons to keep discussions "of good will". This is a discussion group, not an advertising platform. Perhaps in Mr. Courbis' enthusiasm for a product release, he wasn't clear about that concept.
herb johnson retrotechnology.com
-- Herbert R. Johnson, New Jersey in the USA http://www.retrotechnology.com OR .net preserve, recover, restore 1970's computing email: hjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT com or try later herbjohnson AT retrotechnology DOT info