I just bought through Amazon a "barely used" Avid DV Xpress.  It contained all the original disks, serial code numbers, manual and keyboard stickers.  Upon launching the software, it says on the opening splash screen that it is unregistered.

The question is, does it also need a dongle?

There was no dongle included in the box.  There is a green piece of paper saying I must use the dongle, so I am assuming it should have one.  Also, it seems as if I am cutting on it and so far it hasn't asked for a dongle.  In addition, according to this site about upgrading a DV Xpress to a Media Composer, there is a section that is headed with "Avid DV Xpress Not Dongle Based".

Could it be that I have a version that does not require a dongle?  And if so, how can I verfiy that I have that version?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Paul

If you can launch the software, it doesn't require a dongle. 

And yes, there were version of XDV that did not require one. The registration info goes away the second time you launch the software. Just choose "Yes and Don't show again", enter your info and you are off and running.

Hope that software was cheap....

Thank you for the quick response.

I have launched Avid DV Xpress now at least five times and I keep getting the "Product Registration box" with the only options being "Enter Key", "Register Later" and "Register Now."  There is no "Don't Show This Again" option.  So does it sound like I have XDV?  How can I tell?  Is it on the box somewhere?

I think I may be returning this as it is pointing to needing a dongle.... By the way,  I paid $250 for it.

No, it doesn't need a dongle. It requires that "serial code numbers" that you said you received.

You definitely got XDV.

Thank you again.  I am registering it right now.  

Last question.

How badly did I get ripped off?

BLKDOG, did the dongle-less versions require the user to enter a license key, in place of the dongle?  Perhaps that is what it is actually requesting.

Greekxyz ... do you have anything that looks like a Registration Key number?  What exactly are teh "serial code numbers" that you say were included?

"How badly did I get ripped off?"

You didn't necessarily get "ripped off".  If you got the Registration Key, and the product works, what's the problem?  Then again, it depends on how much you paid too ... :)

Yes. See my reply above.

Greekxyz:

Last question.

How badly did I get ripped off?

As long as that serial code works, you didn't. $250 is a fair price for that software.

Yeah .... too bad we can't see late-breaking posts, while we're typing ... :)

Randall:

My version has the Avid Xpress DV System ID number ID-XX-XXXX-XXXX attached to a yellow piece of paper.  There is no key number as I understand I will get that after I register with Avid.

Thank you and to all who helped.  A real asset this site and you guys.  

On to cutting!

Greekxyz:

There is no key number as I understand I will get that after I register with Avid.

Um...nope. That's not how it works. If you purchase a used XDV system, the seller was supposed to give you the key they got when they registered.

I don't believe the software is transferrable.