LaserSoft Imaging

I'm using Sliverfast Ai 5.2.0r06 with a Mac OS 9.2.2 with a Epson 1640XL and Photoshop 6.0.1

I installed only the photoshop plugin, and for a couple of months all was well. Most recently I've been prompted for the serial info, I'll be able to scan 5 times, then it prompts me again. I'll enter the info all over, and it will then let me scan 3 or 4 more scans, and then I'll be prompted again.
Then it's almost every time until I close photoshop. I'll then open everything again, then it starts all over again. I've also reinstalled SF & PS only to get the same results.
HELP!!!!
Thanks

Dear Bobby,
there must be a patched version of SilverFast 5.2 for Epson on the web by now. Please check our download sites.

Well,... I've already checked, and the version I've listed, is the most recent patch available.

I even went as far as thinking that the 'read only " statue of the SF plugin could be the problem. So When I reinstalled the SF software, I made sure to reinstall the plugin and the stand alone version thinking the stand alone version would correctly store the info.
This did not help either.
Any other ideas would be helpful.