Help with paid for application...
 

What can I do if I have a paid-for application like ARES Commander? I was given only 5 times to be able to install and use this app. I am using Linux Mint and if I follow the - every 6 months new version - idea, I will soon enough get in the position that I will not be able to install my ARES again. Is there a way around this? Is there a way that I can install it using my previous credentials? The problem is that every time I have to get an online "go ahead" to do it...
Any suggestions?
Thanks.

the answer really lies with those who sell the software.
since it is available for linux, they should be sympathetic to your issue.
anyhow i don't think you have to re-install linux mint every 6 months. no. definitely not.

Thank you ondoho. I don't have to re-install linux mint every 6 months but if I wanted to do so I will run out of available reinstalls of ARES.
They were sympathetic and they gave me one more time to do it - I am sure that next time they will not allow it.
So, I guess there is no way around that.
Thanks,
Neb

If you wish to use non-free software (free as in beer/speech) then you really need to accept the conditions or head into territory of questionable legality which may violate the LQ rules You might let us know what features of Ares Commander you are looking for and you would then get suggestions about free software that wouldn't have the limitations you mention in your first post. So what are these features?
jdk

Have you considered using MINT's package upgrade versus a fresh upgrade?

http://community.linuxmint.com/tutorial/view/2 that link actually chooses the fresh upgrade method.

I realize that they're saying that the package upgrade may be a situation where it might not work. But my thinking is that if you do the fresh install, what you do to prepare for that is to save your data and any configuration files, etc because they would be over-written by a fresh install. Well, you'd do those same measures for the package upgrade, if it works which it is intended to do, it may then not invalidate your licensed software installation. If the package upgrade doesn't work, then sorry you wasted time giving that a chance and then you perform the fresh upgrade anyways; having already saved data you needed to save.