I am sorry you have experienced problems but I do need to correct a few things.

As far as I am aware the website has never said you can use it on all your computers, we had a more relaxed activation policy due to the inability to deactivate machines though it did have limits which people did hit, but some customers found this annoying so we developed a new system which allowed deactivations.  In line with that the limits were set to still be flexible, but not quite as flexible as the deactivation option dealt with the reason for the added flexibility originally.  I hope you can accept that five personal computers running Windows 8 is somewhat outside the norm and the activation system is setup to handle typical scenarios which would be a desktop and a laptop at most.  The product is only $5 so allowing unlimited installs has never been our policy.

I believe you should find the EULA remains the same for number of computers licensed since 1.0 and you are welcome to compare it from your 1.0 installer.  I imagine downloads of 1.0 are on the web as the trial would be the exact same installer.  Should there be a difference in this then I would imagine the original EULA you agreed to at time of purchase would apply in terms of number of computers permitted.

There is nothing to stop you continuing to use 1.41 as you have done so and other than some small additional bug fixes and the new activation system it is 99% the same as 1.45.  I would recommend unticking the option to check for updates each week though as you will get annoyed with it telling you about updates every week!

I've deactivated it on my laptop and then reinstalled 1.41 - when I get back to the other two machines I'll do the same with them.

I also have ModernMix on two machines, only one was upgraded and I'll deactivate and revert that one too.

I admit I never read the EULA - who does? But I do remember being told it was fine to install on all my personal machines. Is 5 personal computers really so unusual in the 21st century?

I agree with GrowelTigers.  When I purchased Object Desktop Subscription (includes Start 8, Decor8, etc.) it was a very noteworthy selling point (in the FAQs as I recall)that it permitted installation and activation on all my computers.  For Stardock to alter this policy without warning is a low blow.  It's also stretches credulity that Stardock wanted the more restrictive policy to start with but couldn't "due to the inability to deactivate machines" -- the relaxed policy sold your product.  You could have simply chosen not to allow activation over 5 computers to begin and been upfront with your customers, then deactivation is not needed.  Instead, Stardock has created more than just the appearance of bait-and-switch.  I'm sure I'm not alone in believing this so-called deactivation option (huh? I wasn't given an option) is intended to generate new revenue from customers who already bought the product -- many perhaps like me, a once happy customer that shilled your brand to friends and colleagues based on great Stardock products, and it's forward thinking activation policy.  You've botched it.  Lack of communication. Dissembling and dishonest.

You've violated my property and I want it back.

Can you provide a link to this promise please as I am personally unaware of this.  What I will say is ObjectDesktop customers get more activations than standalone customers.

I should also say that having more than 5 personal computers as you seem to have would be extremely unusual and would trigger pretty much any companies anti piracy systems.

Regarding the deactivation option, you should find this on the about page in each of the updated products.  In the past you may have seen forum posts about hitting activation limits as people reinstalled PCs.  The deactivation option was designed to better handle this case as we have some customers who for reasons beyond me reinstall their OS every month!

I believe that shouldn't be a problem and the system should handle that correctly.

It is worth noting that that's the whole point of allowing deactivation for the customer vs having to mail support.

That's what I read in October 2012 when I purchased the Start8 software.  That was on Stardock's website in FAQs under Support.  You can revisit the Stardock website throughout its history and read that article by visiting the Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Now how about an apology?

That would appear to be a very old Q&A from 2005 which in fact predates activation being added to any products.  I would need to know the URL to that as clearly that's legacy.  A search on the title only shows https://esupport.stardock.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/198/0/can-i-install-my-copy-on-more-than-one-machine which seems to indicate otherwise.

However I must point out that it does say or a desktop and a laptop which adds up to two.  It is also worth pointing out that Start8 starts on bootup and thus are in use instantly.

The older EULA from say 2009 (well before Start8) says

YOU MAY:
1. Install and use one copy of the
SOFTWARE on a single computer.

2. Install a second copy of the SOFTWARE on a
second computer only if you are the main user of
this computer (home computer or laptop for
example).

As you can see it clearly talks about a SECOND computer, not a THIRD, FOURTH etc.  With the introduction of the $5 products this was changed to be just one computer in the EULA.

Also according to web.archive.org the contents of that FAQ I linked to on the 7th December 2012 (the only time it archived that page in its entire life apparently) was :

http://web.archive.org/web/20121207043033/https://esupport.stardock.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/198/0/can-i-install-my-copy-on-more-than-one-machine

"For applications developed and/or published by Stardock, you can install your software on more than one machine, with some restrictions. 

• Only one copy of the product can be used at any given time per license.
• If you want to have it on both home and work PCs, or on a laptop and a desktop, you will need a second license
• Business users must purchase another license.

For more detail, see the EULA at https://www.stardock.com/support/software_eula.aspx"

While it does talk about more than one machine, it also says you need a second license to install on both home and work pcs, or on a laptop and a desktop.  This is because clearly someone missed the top line.  But as our activation is permitting more than one install on a computer with some restrictions (as in a limit to that number) it would seem to be in compliance with it.  It also links to the EULA which is very clear indeed.

The language I quoted from the October 2012 FAQ was in place and in effect at the time I purchased the software, along with the leberal Activation Policy.  It did not instruct that a 2nd license was required.  That's how it's operated for two years.  The December 2012 language you cite is different.  Until now, I've not had a problem running Start8 according to the terms Stardock had in place when I purchased the software.  I'd not been made aware of any change, or had reason to revisit Stardock's policies, or website for that purpose.

Neil, you’re the face of Stardock and you need to empathize with customers in this situation.  I’m not alone feeling victimized when software I own is taken without notice or opportunity to prevent it.  Made worse because Start8 functions as crutches for navigating Windows 8.  To suddenly have your crutches yanked away is discombobulating and upsetting.

Stardock has done a disservice to a number of its customers, yet unrepentantly accuses its customers of being the violator.  Being a tad more humble and contrite will serve Stardock's interests much better.

You will notice he was replying to the question which asked about a laptop and a desktop.  Which again is two.  The software should be allowing you to install on both.  And yes it does appear he was unaware of the EULA terms which were in Start8.

I cannot answer the other questions from others about the specifics of how activation works as I did not write it.  Questions like that would have to be sent to support who may have the answers.

Oh grow up. The thing costs 5 bucks. Even less if you can get a combo deal. Get over it.

i'll just throw in my two cents here: i was unaware of the 'install on all of your PCs' licensing, I always assumed it was one license per machine, so I bought 3 Start8 licenses. That said, for a tech enthusiast (seems to me by far the most likely person buying your products), 5 PCs doesn't seem unreasonable. I have two PCs running Win 8.1.1, a Win7 PC, and two Macs (iMac & MBP) each running VMware Fusion with a Win 8.1.1 instance. There's 5 right there being used solely by me, assuming I ever upgraded the Win7 one. No kids, only a girlfriend who is an Apple snob and won't use Windows except at her job.

I work from home so I have a big 'cockpit' with these PCs lined up, and it makes me more productive.