I too have tried to track down this reg thing, and I know one thing that is currently awaiting a reply from TGT Soft. It is tied into your PC's component configuration similarly to Windows activation. It sees your config, generates a number and the code only works for that number, preventing you from installing on a different, OR EVEN UPGRADED PC. That said, I do have a few suggestions. 1st, Use a utility to monitor the install of all things, like the one in Norton SystemWorks 2004. 2nd, You could copy all the files in the install directory to somewhere else prior to registering, then register StyleXP and compare files and/or modified dates of files. 3rd search the registry for your actual code, not StyleXP, since it may be under an unusual name. It actually seems that TGT has taken all necessary precautions to prevent piracy by engineering their stuff to make it impossible, unlike some of the lame-a** game developers these days that don't want to spend the money to develope anti-piracy technology, and I applaud them. (Hmm, Electronic Arts good job, PainKiller guys, get a clue!!) Reaper out!