GMS 1.4 was designed for Windows 7 and 8. It often struggles with modern Windows 10/11 permissions and display scaling.
Using "activated" software means you don't own a license. This might not matter for a hobby project in your bedroom, but if you ever want to , you will hit a wall. Stores like Steam and itch.io require proof of license for the tools used. Starting your career on pirated software creates a legal liability that could haunt your first successful launch. 4. A Better Way: GameMaker is Now Free game-maker-studio-pro-1-4-full-activated
The Ghost in the Machine: Looking into GameMaker Studio 1.4 "Full Activated" This might not matter for a hobby project
A massive community and official documentation that actually matches the current software. Final Verdict but if you ever want to
Are you looking to into the new engine, or are you starting a fresh project from scratch?