Break-Once, Run-everywhere (BORE) resistant software configurations and
digital goods and content distribution methods and arrangements are
provided for use in computer systems and networks. An initial digital
good is selectively divided into at least two portions. The first portion
is provided to a destination computer, for example, via a CD ROM, floppy
disk, or pre-loaded on a hard disk drive. The second portion is
operatively modified within a source computer based on unique data
associated with the destination computer. The modified second portion is
then provided to the destination computer, for example, over a network,
along with a key that can be used to operatively modify the first portion
to be compatible with the modified second portion. The destination
computer then modifies the first portion accordingly, and combines the
modified first portion with the modified second portion to produce a
modified digital good that is operatively different in configuration, but
substantially functionally equivalent to the initial digital good. During
subsequent initialization or operation, the modified digital good
verifies that the destination computer is properly associated with the
key and/or the unique data previously associated with the destination
computer.