The ProtectKit uses a system driver called PCID32(64) to retrieve information about the hardware configuration of the PC where your application runs. The ProtectKit takes this hardware configuration information, combines it with your protection settings and a secret "lockword", and creates the password protected application.
Note that we use the terms "ProtectKit system driver" and PCID32(64) system driver interchangably. They both refer to the same system driver.
What is the DdScm.exe?
The DdScm.exe is a program that installs the pcid32(64) system driver. The pcid32(64) system driver enables the ProtectKit core functionality, it retrieves information about the PC's hardware configuration that lets the ProtectKit uniquely identify that machine.
What does the PCID32(64) System Driver do?
This is a ProtectKit system driver installed by the ProtectKit3.5 that enables the protectkit on the PC. This driver is installed by the DdScm.exe program. The PCID32(64) driver retrieves information about that PC's hardware. The PCID32(64) writes protection information to the registry if random identifiers are used and/or if a type of protection "number of uses", "number of days" or "number of months" protection is used. The PCID32(64) writes protection information to file if random identifiers are used.
Installing your protected application:
When installing an application that includes password protection, you must install the PCID32(64) system driver on that PC. Do that by executing either of the following commands:
DdScm.exe /i
DdScm.exe /a
These commands can be executed by your application's installation program or the commands can be executed from the command line after your application is installed. Once installed, you can find the PCID32(64) device driver following these steps:
1. From the
StartMenu, choose Run.
2. In the Run Dialog enter the
command: msinfo32
3. This will open the System
Information dialog.
4. In the left pane, under Software
Environment, select System Drivers
5. Find the pcid32(64) device driver
in the list in the right pane.
Uninstalling your protected application:
When uninstalling an application that includes the password protection, you should first uninstall the PCID32(64) system driver. Do that by executing the following command:
DdScm.exe /r
On Windows 32 bit / 64 bit architecture:
Regardless of whether your application is a 32 bit application or a 64 bit application, on Windows 32bit operating systems, use the DdScm32.exe and on Windows 64bit operating systems, use DdScm64.exe. Executing the DdScm.exe, will automatically run the DdScm32.exe on a 32bit Windows OS and will run the DdScm64.exe on a 64bit Windows OS.
When deploying your protected application, it is recommended that you deploy all three DdScm files: DdScm.exe, DdScm32.exe, and DdScm64.exe. However, if your application is a 64 bit application, it will only run in 64bit architecture and therefore only the DdScm64.exe is required.
For details about installing and uninstalling the PCID32(64)device driver, please refer to Options For DdScm.exe, DdScm32.exe, DdScm64.exe.