Activation error message, standalone license
This is the first blog post regarding the SOLIDWORKS activation error message.
I will briefly try to go through the four most common activation error messages when using a standalone license.
I will in a later blog post cover the activation and license errors when using SolidNetwork License (SNL)
What is standalone activation
Your computer communicates with the SOLIDWORKS Activation manager when activating and deactivating the SOLIDWORKS license.
The Activation Manager registers the computer for two reasons:
- To ensure that no one is misusing your license
- To make it easier to identify and troubleshoot if an activation issue occurs
In most cases this goes fine without a hitch. However sometimes you will receive an error message.
What does it say?
When the activation error message it is important that you take note of the error message or take a screenshot.
If you do this it becomes much easier to identify the issue, if you need to contact your SOLIDWORKS Value Added Reseller (VAR).
Four Frequent error messages
While working with SOLIDWORKS support, I have received a lot of phone calls regarding activation errors. In the below section I have listed the most common errors when deactivating or activating your SOLIDWORKS license. I have also included what you can do yourself and if you need to contact your VAR.
Activation count exceeded
This is by far the most common error message I receive when working in support. Usually the scenario is that the user has gotten a new PC and has installed SOLIDWORKS on this machine. But the license has not been deactivated on the old machine. In order to remedy this, start your SOLIDWORKS on your old machine, go to “Help”-> “Deactivate License”, and follow the onscreen instructions.
If you find yourself in a situation where you are unsure what computer the license is active on, please contact your VAR, and they should be able to help you. If your old computer has crashed, and you have no way of opening your old SOLIDWORKS, you should also contact your VAR and they will be able to help you deactivate your license. To have your VAR deactivate your license should only be done as a last resort, as you will not be able to activate the license on the computer again. This leads us to the next error message.
The Computer has been disabled
If SOLIDWORKS disabled your license manually this error message will appear.
Your VAR har usually requested this if you have not been able to deactivate it yourself.
Deactivation count exceeded
This error message means that you have exceeded the standard number of transfers of your license.
Usually this message appears when deactivating your license.
The deactivation count is, for standalone licenses, 999 as a default to ensure that the license is not misused.
If you receive this error message, please contact your VAR as they need contact SOLIDWORKS to have the number of transfers increased.
Deactivating older version
This message only appears when you try do deactivate your SOLIDWORKS License.
If you have two versions of SOLIDWORKS installed you must deactivate the newest version first.
Online License
If you switch between a laptop for travel and a desktop computer at work, you might benefit from using Online license, introduced in 2018.
You can read more about online license here and here
The main thing to remember is that online activation is not possible if you are using SOLIDWORKS below version 2018 SP 3.