PlanetsCentral

However, it was annoying me a little, so I was going through the forum of good ol´ rcworld to finally get a 32 version that is supposed to run on Win7. I downloaded the latest one that was provided there, this is the link from Eriond: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15143666/setup.exe

Thanks for this link. I have tried this version, and this totally explains what happened.

This version comes with a registration key preloaded. Probably Hauke's key (the programmer who prepared the version).

You said, "After installing I entered my reg key". You probably just answered the program's prompt for Name/Address/Activation Code. Those have no significance to the host. What is significant is the serial number which is displayed on the green screen upon exiting.

Therefore, here's a big fat warning: do not use the Winplan version from the above link.

Or, if you do, you must replace the files reg.key and scram32.ole with your versions. You can copy them out of your original Winplan installation running in Windows XP mode. Preferably, do so between turns or in a fresh installation (Winplan doesn't like its key to change within a turn), and then make sure that the serial number displayed on the green screen is yours.

The Winplan32 version from http://vgap.innernet.co.za/winplan/ does not come with a preloaded key, and also claims to be newer, so maybe you prefer that.

Executive summary: It was not an Abyss hiccup. It was not caused by the server's "vacation replacement" feature. Neither Snouka, nor Cherek, nor Knut are evil software pirates or cheaters. The problem was caused by suboptimally-packaged software (and nobody can expect a non-programmer to figure that out).

--Stefan