This sounds like excellent advice. I happen to have a licensed version of BeyondCompare that I can install and do Hex compare. I appreciate the guidelines to follow and I agree with you on the “pre-cracked” options. I would always install from the developer’s site first and then use the patch if I use it at all. Unfortunately, this software mush have a “phone-home” features and has a “hosts file” change as well. As with the previous response, I would appreciate your input on whether you would try it or not.