A hardware code is your computer’s ID number, and can be found within the Live application; it is used when authorizing Live offline. While they look very similar, your hardware code is not the same as your Live serial number. To find the code, click “No internet on this computer” during the authorization process. The way your do this is have a custom action in your uninstaller that will revoke the activation code for the license so it will no longer be tied to that hardware ID. Conclusion In all of this, the key is to keep things as simple as possible for your customer.
Standalone Product Activation FAQs Frequently asked questions on Standalone Product Activation for SOLIDWORKS products. Question: Answer: Product activation is an anonymous, secure, and hassle free process that authenticates licensed users during the installation process. The process verifies that the serial number is legitimate, and has not been activated on more systems than allowed by the SOLIDWORKS End-User License Agreement (EULA). It does not affect the ability of licensed users to use their software the way they have always done. Question: Answer: Product activation is a series of simple steps that takes place upon first launch of your SOLIDWORKS product. Users enter their serial number, which is authenticated with the SOLIDWORKS product activation system to activate the product. The entire activation process is quick and easy, and the majority of users will experience product activation only once.
Question: Answer: You can move your software from your current computer to a new computer, open SOLIDWORKS then use the Help Transfer License feature. This feature deactivates the product on your current machine so it can be reactivated on the new machine. You then go to the new computer, install SOLIDWORKS then start it and select Help Activate to proceed with the activation process.
Question: Answer: Activation is required for all SOLIDWORKS standalone products. However, if you are floating your licenses using SolidNetWork License (SNL), you won't need to activate until the SOLIDWORKS 2010 release. Question: Answer: You must activate your product within 30 days after you first installed and launched your SOLIDWORKS product. (Users working with an evaluation license equipped with product activation will have different timing requirements for the activation step). Question: Answer: If you do not activate your product by the 30th day after you first installed and launched your SOLIDWORKS product, it will stop working until you activate it.
Question: Answer: The activation process uses minimal information about the product and system to create a request for a product license. The license request is composed of the product's serial number, name, version and language along with the operating system name, version and language. In addition, a Hardware ID and Activation ID are created.
The Hardware ID is a mathematically computed one-way hash based on your computer's hard drive geometry and CPU family, and cannot be used to identify the make or model of your computer or its components. The Hardware ID is only used as an identifier for the machine, and never sent to SOLIDWORKS. The Activation ID is a 64-bit random number which is then down sampled to reduce the size of the activation request code.
The Activation ID is only used to identify an individual activation request and contains no information about the product or hardware. The license request is sent to SOLIDWORKS either through a secure (SSL) Internet connection or by email. If the request is valid, a valid license is returned that enables the product immediately. The activation process is completely anonymous and never requests, collects, or transmits personal information. It does not scan your hard drive, and none of the information collected can be used to identify your individual hardware components. Question: Answer: In the unlikely event that the activation servers are unavailable, the customer will be asked to try back at a later time.
The customer will be given a 30-day, unrestricted grace period in order to get their product activated. During this time, the customer may use their SOLIDWORKS product without any restrictions. Question: Answer: We use the computer-specific information only to verify that your product is used within the scope allowed by the SOLIDWORKS End-User License Agreement (EULA). The information is stored in a database used only for product activation data. Question: Answer: As of SOLIDWORKS 2009 SP0, activation is included in all of our commercial products, with the exception of SOLIDWORKS Workgroup PDM Viewer and eDrawings Professional standalone. Question: Answer: Product activation is a simple way to reduce and deter unauthorized use and casual copying of SOLIDWORKS products with a minimal effect on our loyal customers. Question: Answer: Activation is a onetime process which does require that you have Internet or email access.
Once you have activated, you do not need to be online to use your software. If you wish to transfer a license, or repair your activation, you must be connected to the Internet or send request via email. Question: Answer: Activation is only used to verify a product's license the first time the product is installed. SOLIDWORKS will support the activation of products throughout their lifecycle. Question: Answer: Product activation is a simple one-time process.
Most users activate their software as soon as they install it, and never have to worry about it again. Question: Answer: No. The core technology of product activation only runs when you run your SOLIDWORKS software, and will have no noticeable effect on the overall performance of your computer. Question: Answer: Product activation is a one-time process that is typically completed immediately after installation of the software.
Internet activation typically takes 10 to 30 seconds to complete. Email activation takes about 10 minutes to complete. Question: Answer: Although most customers activate their software as soon as they install it, you have a 30-day grace period after your first launch to activate the product (evaluation and other products will have different timing requirements). The software, which is fully functional during this period, will automatically remind you to activate at regular intervals. After 30 days, the product will stop working until you activate it. Question: Answer: No, products that use product activation do not require a dongle because the activation can license all the products back to SOLIDWORKS 2006. Question: Answer: You have a 30-day grace period before activation is required.
Activating over the Internet is a quick, one-time process. If your computer is temporarily offline, you can activate the next time it's online. Once the product is activated, the activation process no longer needs to connect to the Internet.
If you are installing on a computer that will never be connected to the Internet, you can activate your license by emailing your request file directly to SOLIDWORKS. Question: Answer: No. If you upgrade or replace your computer, you can transfer your license to the new or upgraded machine at your convenience. Simply deactivate your license through the Transfer License option in the Help menu; then, after upgrading or replacing your computer, reinstall the product and reactivate it. Question: Answer: The software will successfully reactivate in most cases. If your attempt to reactivate fails, please contact your Reseller Support for help. Question: Answer: The activation technology uses a robust and proven algorithm to safely write its license data to an unused sector of the hard drive located in track zero.
This technology has been used in a variety of software installed on millions of computers worldwide, and verified to be safe by independent sources. This approach allows license data to remain safe even if the product or operating system require reinstallation. In rare cases where the algorithm determines that writing to track zero may cause a potential conflict, it uses an alternative file system based anchor for the license data. Question: Answer: To move your software to a new computer you, first need to transfer your software license. Transferring your software license will immediately deactivate the software on your original computer so that you can activate your software on a new computer.
Question: Answer: Before making any changes to your hardware or operating system you should first transfer your license from the machine. Transferring the license will deactivate the license on this machine in order for you to activate it on an upgraded or new computer at your convenience. Question: Answer: We collect the minimum information required to successfully verify the product license for each product installation, which includes: the product serial number, name, version, and language; the operating system name, version, and language; and your computer’s processor and hard-disk type. This information is combined, encrypted, and then sent to SOLIDWORKS for verification. Question: Answer: No. Activation is a secure and anonymous one-time process. After activation is complete, the license manager runs alongside the product for the sole purpose of verifying the integrity of the license file and the validity of the product license.
The activation technology in the product never contacts SOLIDWORKS except with your express knowledge and consent. We use the industry-standard Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to transmit data to product activation servers that are both physically secure and have limited employee access.
The first time you start the program you have to enter the serial number. After doing this you can access the online database. Some of the program features only work correctly if the program has access to a fast, up to date online database. The program has to be first activated on the Internet to do this. The program is registered with the command Menu File – Activation – Activate. Usually the serial number that you entered when installing the program is entered into the dialog box as default. After activating the program you are given a message about the activation status.
If you want to install the program on a new computer you must first deactivate the old registration. The reason for this is the hardware recognition. When you register the program the server stores details about your computer’s hardware configuration.
The program is deactivated with Menu File – Activation – Deactivate. This increases the remaining activation count on the server. Note: It is possible to register the program for use with a maximum of two computers with one serial number. If a serial number is not already present in the text boxes type the number that you received with the program. The serial number can be used to install the program on a maximum of two computers. If you want to install the program on a new computer, or you want to re-install your operating system, you should first deactivate the current registration online.
After entering the serial number you have to register the program on the Internet. To do this use the Menu File and click on Activate. The online activation is necessary to be able to receive things such as free.
It is only possible to use ' in the Online Analysis after activationg the program. Information about Important: If you want to install the program on a new computer you must first deactivate the previous online registration. The reason for this is the hardware recognition.
When the program is registered the server stores information about the system configuration of the user's computer. Note: If you make significant changes to your computer's system configuration you must also deactivate the program and activate it again. Manual Activation It is also possible to register the program on a computer without an Internet connection (for instance a laptop or a second computer). To do this you have to find the hardware key of the computer not connected to the Internet. Start the program and select the option „Activate Offline“ from the user menu.
After entering the serial number the program displays your computer’s hardware key. Make a note of this hardware key, and then use a computer with an Internet connection to access the web page: Enter the hardware key and the security code. The web page will then give you an activation key, which you should carefully make a note of. Enter the key and the security code (here SDGX) in the activation menu of your computer without an Internet connection and click on OK.
If you have entered the details correctly your program will be successfully activated.