2015 definitely works fine on window 11. But how?

[mccathren]

Win 7 desktop replaced with new Win 11 and, not knowing 2015 "wont' work" on Win 11, I ran the AutoCAD_2015_english_Win_64bit_R1_ldm.sfx.exe from the purchase of the license in 2015.  All installed and runs normally without any installation effort.  It's been running for a few months without a hitch.  Now, I replace a Win 7 laptop with a new Win 11 laptop and run the same .exe file but get installation error and error when loading.  Compatibility and admin mode don't help.  

How do we find out what's different on the laptop that is messing things up?

Desktop system info:

Laptop system info:

Laptop install error:

Laptop run error:

Thanks so much for considering this!

[RobDraw]

IMVHO opinion, it's not worth chasing. There will inevitably be issues.

[Patchy]

How did you activate your 2015 license for your desktop?

[mccathren]

It's worth chasing because 2015 is the last perpetual license.

[mccathren]

Setup asks for serial and key normally and the serial and key that came with the software are input and accepted.

[RobDraw]

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@mccathren wrote:
It's worth chasing because 2015 is the last perpetual license.

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Only if it's on the OS it was designed for. Anything beyond that is a crapshoot and odds are it will eventually break.

[vladimir_michl]

If you decide to keep an old version of your CAD software (with all the limitations, risks and security issues), you need to use an old version of Windows it was designed for (with all the limitations, risks and security issues).

Vladimir Michl, www.arkance-systems.cz  -  www.cadforum.cz

[pendean]

@mccathren A reality check if I may...

1) Take the advice of the folks trying to help you out here, we've all seen situations like your fail miserably.

2) Win10 is still very valid, and I bet your Win11 license allows for a Win10 downgrade without much hassle. If not, it is a low cost to do so.

3) Decide what is more important, a shiny new OS that honestly does nothing for you in the end (it's just an OS), or hanging on to your free perpetual software for as long as possible?

4) Almost every single old-version perpetual AutoCAD user who has jumped into a newer OS that was not supported ended up here, in your case moments after install, sometimes days afterwards, sometimes years afterwards, crying real tears because an OS update boke their old software, then they start ranting and raving about how "...Autodesk stole their money blah blah blah... " . Here is a forum of perpetual users full of such posts and unlucky folks https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/previous-version-support/bd-p/6051

5) How would you like to proceed? you choice always, but sadly, the outcome is not going to change in the end, "the house always wins" aka Autodesk.

Good luck with your choices: remember, all of us in here are end users just like you trying to help, an trying to save you from a big mistake we've seen over and over and over again almost every day around here.

[paullimapa]

why don't you give us the same system info screen shot for both computers so we can compare apples with apples. From what you've posted, they may both have the same build 22621 but the new has .1265. How's about the old? The new has the feature experience pack. But does the old?

[mccathren]

Thank you Paul!  You are understanding the issue.    I'm quite familiar with matching Release to OS.  I started with Release 1 in 1983.  The point of the question, as you know, is why 2015 works on some Win11 machines and not others.  If we can find the difference, a lot of users, not just me, might find that info very valuable.  Laptop sys info below.  Same Win11 build as the Desktop.  Different processor and BIOS but I'm stumped as to what the  laptop is doing that the desktop is not.  Thanks for you help!

[paullimapa]

Could you show screen capture of desktop matching the screen capture that you initially posted of laptop that shows the complete OS build with numbers after the decimal as well as the “Experience” installed?

[mccathren]

Here you go, Paul.

[paullimapa]

so now you're showing apples compared to apples.

but the curious item is the desktop shows the OS was installed a day after 2/8/2023 compared to laptop 2/7/2023

I thought you posted this about your desktop:

"All installed and runs normally without any installation effort.  It's been running for a few months without a hitch"

So please explain how you just installed it this month but it's been running for a few months without a hitch.

[mccathren]

That may be something.  Laptop arrived in Feb with Win11 installed.  Desktop arrived about 6 months ago with Win10 and upgrade option to Win11.  The 2/8 date would then be the date of desktop upgrade from 10 to 11.  2015 would have then been installed on Win10, worked fine, and also survived the upgrade to 11 and still no problems.  The question may then be why it installs on 10 and runs on 11 but won't install on 11.  

[paullimapa · Accepted solution]

you've finally got your answer. win10 is a different animal than win11 which is why lots of older hardware and including older software will not work / or successfully install on win11. So if there's an option in your laptop's win11 os to downgrade to win10, I would do that and then you should be able to successfully install acad 2015 and then like you did on your desktop upgrade your laptop from win10 to win11 and then acad 2015 should continue to run smoothly.

but if you don't have the downgrade option, then you're stuck with not being able to use your acad 2015 seat.

[mccathren]

Thanks Paul!

[paullimapa]

glad to have helped...cheers!!!