The above error is common these days. And, it isn't you that is to blame (or us, for that matter). Who do we blame? Why, the Big A of course...
Autodesk is in the process of switching from serial number driven activation to user account (email) driven activation. The problem is that they still have their feet in two places (one in the boat and one on the shore), and they can't quite get either into the boat or out of it. This is causing many longtime AutoCAD users to run into the above problem. Users who are buying their first Autodesk product generally don't have the same problem, but may still run into a variation of it. Furthermore, some bad habits the long time users began years ago are finally coming home to roost.
Before I explain the background and the long solution, I am going to start with the simple fix. If that doesn't work, then try the
First Solution:
A. Cancel the activation
B. When you get back to the AutoCAD activation screen, pick Run (if necessary, reopen AutoCAD) to get into the software
C. Once in AutoCAD, locate your user account in the upper right. Pick Manage License
D. Pick Activate. Pick Single User. Your activation should now be completed and you will be allowed into AutoCAD. To test, close AutoCAD and re-enter it
Second Solution
Here is some background and how to 'fix' it:
Background - many companies with more than one user of Autodesk actually have only one person registered to use the software, and all others log in as that user to access Autodesk. This is what is causing the failure when an additional license is added. This situation must be corrected before proceeding. While this generally worked when AutoCAD used perpetual licenses,, it does not work with the current subscription scheme. Note: it also could send up a flag to Autodesk, resulting in an audit!
Some unbreakable rules:
- Each user must have their own Autodesk Account set up
- The contract administrator account (this is the email address on the license certificate) must be used to create these individual users
- Each user must be given rights to use the software
- AutoCAD (or whatever Autodesk product) must be activated on each registered users' machine
Here are the steps to address the problem:
1. Log into Autodesk Account using the email and password of the contract administrator. If this person should not be the admin, or no longer works there, or has changed their email address, contact us and we can change the administrator to whom you designate
2. Create a user account for each user that needs access by picking Manage Products and Downloads
3. Pick User Management from the left
4. Add a User from the options found. There are two variations of this screen. One has a list of users already there and one has small panels, one for each user. One has an entry field where you type in the email address of the user followed by a comma, firstname, lastname ([email protected],John,Doe). Multiple users can be created by this method. The other method is below. It has a line for each entry. Do not check the I'd like to assign products to the user(s) now option for this example
5. Locate the user just created. Pick Edit Access or Assign Products. Note that this user in the beginning does not have any products assigned to them
6. Check the products to Assign to this user. If no seats are available, you may have to click on one of the other users and release a seat. The other users may be company officers or purchasers or the contract administrator that do not require Autodesk software anyway
After you check the products, pick Save. The new user now has access. But their software is not yet registered
7. Close any Autodesk products you might have open
8. Locate the Autodesk Desktop App. You may have a shortcut on your desktop ad/or it might be in the Start menu. It also might already be active in the active programs panel accessed in the lower right of your screen
9. Once the app is open, pick the account name at upper right. This is probably not your user account, but the person who installed it earlier or your contract administrator. Pick Sign Out
10. Pick the same location on the dialog and pick Sign In. Enter your user credentials
This gives your access to those products to which you have been assigned. The problem is that your software doesn't yet know it. This is where things get a little crazy.
11. Open AutoCAD. You will get a splash screen asking you to use the software for 30 days (or whatever is left of your trial, unregistered version) or Activate. Pick Activate
The activation will most likely fail. You will then be asked to enter a serial number. When you do, you will be told Invalid Serial Number entered. Even though your were given this serial number by Autodesk itself. Yep. This is why we had to create this blog post...
Two previous blog posts discussed Giving Users Rights and Navigating Autodesk Account. Read these for further information.
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