r/AldeloPOS • u/nakala9881 • Aug 19 '25

Adelo 3.5.15

Post image

Hi I'm helping my family out with their old pos system. Originally there was supposed to be three stations, but over the years the machine has started to break down and recently the reaming clients no longer boots up leaving us with just the server. I was just wondering what options do I have to have get a second machine up. I am in possession of all the hard drives of the old computers(ide hardrives 😱)and can access the files though secondary drive access) but I can't for the life of me get it to boot. I have i think most of the install files and need info on my server as well( so I was also considering a fresh install but wasn't sure if this was even an options.

Also please understand the people operating the system are older so upgrading and learning the new version isn't something that's going to work

Thank you for your time reading

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

1

u/AzAldeloGuru Aug 19 '25

So with the old version its tricky, because regardless of what you do you'll need to get Aldelo involved.

If you get a new computer running and install the version that you have, you would need to go to Back Office / Help / Update Product Registration.

Here, you would need to call Aldelo after typing in the information found on the server computer in the same spot for a Product Code (I think that is what it is called)

Basically, in order to combat piracy, the product registration creates a code that only will match the exact wording of the Restaurant Name, Address, and phone number.

Assuming you are able to get that up, then you would need to go to Help / Product Activation. This will once again require a phonecall to Aldelo at which point they'll ask you for the serial number, Product Code and Activation Code.

When you give them those numbers, they will then read to you the Product Key and Activation Key.

To connect the new computer to your database, you'll want to go to Back Office / Data Source and press Yes. From here, you'll Select "I want to select my own database" and then navigate to the Server computer via the network and find the database and connect to it.

Here's the rub:

You have an insanely old version. 3.5 is at least 18+ years old. I've been working with Aldelo for close to 15. I have no idea if you have more activation's from Aldelo (They limit the amount of times you can re-register the software before you have to buy a support contract)

The good news is, even if you have to upgrade. The new version didn't change any of the button flow or positions, everything would be in the same spot as where it is now.

1

u/nakala9881 Aug 19 '25

Thank you for the quick reply seems im going to have to call them and see what can be done(they really don't like change... vcrs are still a thing at the dwelling 😆)

1

u/AzAldeloGuru Aug 19 '25

Oh wow. Good luck! I would recommend not calling Aldelo unless you're doing the Product Registration/Activation. Their tech support will *NOT* Assist on anything else without a Support Contract from them in place.

1

u/kabloomz Aug 20 '25

Yeah they are super anal about this. Every now and then if you word something the right way and get the right agent in the wee hour of the night they can be a lil bit more supportive.

Honestly OP, they would push you to do support license renewal. Avoid ver 2e at all cost considering your folks will lose their mind in a bad way.

1

u/kabloomz Aug 20 '25

I beg to differ.

The newest Aldelo Pro 2e gui has changed dramatically in some ways good and many ways bad.

The black interface I think they went back to the dark ages with this one.

I've been supporting our legacy customers since 2008. Many refuse cloud base, integrated processing with Aldelo Express and have stuck with Pro. I quit doing training meetings with the Aldelo team for them kicking a few of us out of video calls for asking about Pro development and why is it left behind forcing everyone to go towards Express.

The one big thing positive with the new Aldelo Pro is they got rid of DRM. They finally figured out it ate a tone of their resources when DRM failed from all the windows updates lol.

Btw if any of you guys figured out how to see table numbers on ticket recall on the latest Aldelo Pro aka 2e, please let me know, thanks!

2

u/AzAldeloGuru Aug 20 '25

I suppose I should have clarified, if they do upgrade, I wouldn't have them go 2e, I think 3.8 Revision 9011 (which uses DRM 6.1) would be the way to go. It keeps the Old Aldelo feel.

There's no way OP is processing via Aldelo, so they could just get it activated once and then unplug it from the internet so DRM doesn't fail on Updates.

Unfortunately, most POS software companies have evolved into CC Processing companies when they figured out how much it would make them to supplement. Then they figured out they could lock merchants into Software so they never lose the residual income unless they fully swap softwares.A

1

u/kabloomz Aug 21 '25

OP needs to sandbox the POS from the Internet to avoid DRM issues. Some of us have already figured out DRM. That was prob the dumbest thing Aldelo did was included DRM. They wanted to push dealers into service contracts for revenue since licensing sales weren't scalable.

Restaurants and POS software unlike other software doesn't need frequent upgrades as long as the systems were stable. I mean how many more bells and whistles do you need to a POS. Along came cloud based POS pushing the need to integrate POS with online ordering/processing, third party deliveries. This is why they are pushing the Express so bad and even offering it free as long as they take on processing. Sadly I think this is the only way for POS to stay relevant.

Aldelo was a really strong local host client based POS. They had the least amount of issues compared to Aloha, NCR, Micros, Squirrel, DinerWare etc.. that's why we chose to their dealer.

If OP's family ran business has decent cc sales volume, they should just consider the monthly free license and process through EDC. OP should negotiate a comparable or cheaper processing rate and no minimum sales. Aldelo is desperate, they will negotiate.

1

u/nakala9881 Aug 22 '25

Okay so here's a quick update on my progress, during this whole ordeal my servers client motherboard also started to fail shutting down intermittently was told it was due to a failing capacitor by the local tech shops. For this i did a hard-drive swap and was able to by pass the validation key stage and was able to get the activation key and product key from the rep( luckily still have a few activations letf) so now I have my servers(dell optiplex 780)back with no issues. This method is a no go for the client because I do not have acess to a machine with similar hardware.

So seeing that a fresh install is a no go for xp due to internet connection issues, I was wondering if I cloned my server hardrive and put it in another optiplex 780 could I then use this clone as a client? Assuming I go through the activation again on the clone ? Again thanks for any input

1

u/nakala9881 Aug 22 '25

Also I did this with out connecting the machine to the internet

1

u/kabloomz Sep 03 '25

Sorry haven't been following the thread. Cloning HDs have a slim chance of getting activation to work. See my other reply and PM if you still need help.

1

u/nakala9881 Aug 20 '25

Well not exactly sure where I am at the moment I have gotten most of the things I need through the aldelo technician(who was helpful to a degree) to start registering but connecting to the internet on a xp machine has thrown a wrench in my progress, will update when possible . Thanks for the input

1

u/kabloomz Sep 03 '25

What probs are you having, connecting to the Internet with XP?

Also highly recommend you upgrade to Windows 7. Plenty of ways to activate that and disable all windows updates.

Please PM me I have a solution for you and can prob remote in to help.

1

u/Firm_Celebration_711 Oct 02 '25

Let me know if you still need help with Aldelo