Q: The hard drive I had installed Finale 2009 onto recently stopped working. How do I proceed to get my authorization back?
A: The process is the same on both Mac and Windows systems and applies if you make any major change to your computer system, such as replacing or upgrading a hard drive, replacing the computer’s motherboard, or installing a new operating system without first deauthorizing (which is difficult to do if your hard drive has a sudden meltdown). The User Authorization Codes are computer specific, and so will only work on a single installation. What you’ll need to do is contact Make Music’s Customer Service by phone, FAX, or standard mail with your current serial number and the location ID for the specific installation in question. They will clear the previous authorization from your account, thus allowing you to reinstall and authorize Finale 2009. Note: The Customer Service phone numbers and address can be found on the Finale user’s manual.