Architecture 2011 64bit trial - unable to get past activation screen

[archieg]

I have downloaded and installed AutoCAD Architecture 2011, but when I attempt to start the program, it halts at the Product License Activation Screen with License status [2.10.0].  There is an "Activate" button and a grayed out "Run" button.

Any suggestions?

[TravisNave]

The trial is expired and expects you to activate it. 

[archieg]

Well...  I've just installed it and this is the first time I've tried to use it.

A little background information.  This is a Windows 7 computer.  It was first set up two weeks ago as a 32bit machine and the 32bit trial version of Architecture was installed and working.  There was a problem with the hard drive and some hardware compatibility issues and we ended up reformatting the drive and installing 64bit Windows 7.  Now I've downloaded the 64bit trial version of Architecture and installed it and am stuck at the Activation screen.

It has been less than thirty days since I first downloaded the 32bit version and one day since I downloaded the 64bit version - and the hard drive was reformatted in the interim.  It seems like AutoCAD might not like that I've downloaded two different versions on the same machine, but isn't that the purpose of trials, to see what works?

Since the hard drive was reformatted, AutoCAD must have be tracking through MAC address or IP address or some such.  One would think there would be a way to run this trial.  I am after all, only interested in verifying that the software is going to work as expected on this computer.  If it does, I'll be buying it.  If not, I don't want to make a (very) expensive mistake.

[TravisNave]

The trial information is written to the MBR on the hard drive.  Formatting the hard drive will not remove the fact that a trial has already been installed.  The only way to use the trial now is to install it on another computer or replace your hard drive with a new one.