3ds Max Student license expiring - But Newer versions unsupported!

[Anonymous]

Hello,

At the risk of being the laughing stock (you'll know when), I ask this question:

Over 10 years ago I was in school for multimedia and I learned Max and became very familiar with it.  It was a really old version, though, I don't remember which it was, and I only had access to it on the school lab computers.  After that school, after finding NO multimedia work in my area, I went back to school in 2010.  During that time, I received a student license for Max 2012.  I used Max even more.  And this time, because of the license, I had Max on my personal computer.  Also, if memory serves, I renewed my license once while going to that (2nd) school.  (I was in that school for over 3 yrs.)

(I'm mentioning both these schools to emphasize that I've had years and years of practice with Max and am very familiar with it.)

After the 2nd school, I found (related) work!  At work, I used some other version of Max (2014?), while my 2012 Student version, at home, sat there, untouched and un-used.  (I didn't need to use Max at home anymore anymore, because I was working).  However, after working there for nearly two years, the company dissolved.  I found no more (field-related) work for a year.

Back to school for me.  The thing is, I need to keep using Max at home and work on a portfolio.  My student license is expiring in a little over a week.  It says that it is a license type of "Extendable" but when I re-enter my information, it says ACCEPTED, but then it just pops up the countdown the next time I restart Max again!  I asked on Help chat here, and they say it's because my student license lasts for 3 years and the time is nearly up.

But when I ask about renewing the license, I'm told 2012 is too old (too old?  works fine for me...), and once it expires, it's gone, and I need to download a NEWER version and then request a student license for that one, or something.

That would be all fine and dandy if the SYS REQUIREMENTS did not change from version to version, but they do.  2012 is the last version of Max that supports Win XP.  Yep.  I use Win XP 64-bit Pro.  I don't have Win7 or above and I already have tons of loans I need to pay off and I don't have the money to be buying new computers and Win7 or Win10 etc, and honestly -- I'd prefer not to, anyways.  I prefer lightweight programs anyways so my not-very-impressive computer doesn't struggle with loading them up.

So to recap:  I have Max 2012 and I can use it right this moment.  I'm totally able to open up the program and do stuff.  But it's telling me my license is going to expire.  Acknowledging that message, and renewing the license does nothing -- it just pops up again the next time I open Max.  Asking how do I renew the license for an old version, gets me the response "We don't support that version anymore"  The thing is, I'm not asking to download a brand new copy of 2012.  I already have it!  I was a smart person and I kept the Install, and I have all my license details.  The only thing that's going to stop me from using it is the countdown timer asking me to renew.  But I CAN'T renew because they tell me I'm not allowed because it's too old and I should get a newer version, but I CAN'T run a newer version of Max because then I'd need a whole new computer because it doesn't support XP.  Hopefully you can see why this situation feels unfair.  Yes I know XP is rare nowadays so it might be easy to say "You can't expect programs to work forever on XP!" and I agree -- but *THIS* one (2012) DOES work -- Right now!

I don't appreciate the notion of being forced to upgrade when it already works! 😞

And I would really prefer not to have to learn an entirely different modeling program because of how many years and schooling I've had to learn Max (that was why I went into detail about the past schools)

I would be willing to purchase a commercial license for 2012, if that would be cheaper than the the price of a brand new computer + Win7 (or Win10), but I don't think it's even POSSIBLE to purchase a license for 2012, even though I'm willing to!

So am I just out of luck then?  Thanks.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous

Student license is only good for 3 years..  Your license for 2012 should've expired back in 2015/2016...  Anyhow to receive a free version of Autodesk license as a student you can only get the latest release (which is 2018) and up to 3 legacy versions (2015-2017).   In addition the 2012 version has been retired by Autodesk and you can't purchase it or receive it free as a student.

I don't appreciate the notion of being forced to upgrade when it already works! 😞  Well I can say you should feel lucky that you got the original license free of charge. 

[natasha.l · Accepted solution]

Hello @Anonymous,

Well, the bad news is that you will need to upgrade the version as mentioned earlier in addition to meeting the system requirements for the software. 

The good news is you may qualify for a brand new educational community account allowing you to use the 2018-2015 versions of free educational software.

Make sure you are eligible first, then create an educational account the steps on how to do this are included below: 

Who is Eligible for Free Educational Licenses?

Steps for Setting-Up Student Software

Thank you for posting. 

Please "Accept As Solution" if a reply has helped resolved the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[Anonymous]

I feel I'm not getting through.

It is still technically possible for someone to be in a situation where they use 2012 because they bought the commercial license in the past -- right now.  As in, somebody, right now in the world at this very second, owns Max 2012, and they can still use it (because they bought the comm.license), because they either simply prefer the older version and/or because their computer doesn't allow them to get a newer version.  I would love that option if it's cheaper than buying a whole new computer and new OS, but I believe I can't even purchase an old 2012 commercial license -- even if I am saying hey, "take my money, I want to buy this from you".  Right?

"Well I can say you should feel lucky that you got the original license free of charge.  "

Why the sass?  My tuition costed over 75,000$ not including living expenses and I'll probably be in debt for another 25 years.  Is that "free of charge"?  That's ONLY the 2nd school.

I tried to explain that buying a whole new computer + new OS isn't an option for me.  I feel that there should be some option left for me considering that the app still works currently in its present state - it is not limited by sys requirements currently in its present state.  I am being recommended to upgrade into a version that I cannot use.  And I am saying that I am willing to "suffer" through using an older and outdated version of the program, even if it's is inferior to the new one.  I'm OK with that!

So am I just out of luck and I should learn another modeler?

[Mark.Lancaster · Accepted solution]

@Anonymous

Yes if someone purchased a commercial/perpetual license of 2012 without a maintenance agreement they can be in that situation.  But its not longer supported by Autodesk..  No development and most likely will not assist you if you run into an issue.

In the US its not allowed to purchase legacy versions so if you live in the states you can't do this or legal action can be taking against you..  Overseas the ruling is not as strict but it doesn't mean if you get a copy of this version Autodesk has to honor its activation.  So you would be out of your money.

When did the cost of your school expense come into play?   You commented you didn't like the push of being forced to upgrade..  I was merely pointed out you should feel lucky you got your license for free in the first place and not have to pay for it and add the cost to your already educational expense.  

In the end you don't have options unless you are willing to upgrade your machine and operating system.  That's your path and its the same for everybody..  Yes it sounds like you can't go that route but no one is going to make a special deal with you so you can continue as is.

[Anonymous]

"When did the cost of your school expense come into play?"

Well it came into play when you asserted both that I'm lucky to get a student license and that it was free.  I take issue with both assertions:

- I'm not lucky at all (or fortunate, or any other variation) to receive a student license for a tool which I am taking classes for -- that's very standard and non-special.  If you were to also claim that all students who acquire student licenses for Max are lucky  (and from what I can tell, you would make that claim) then best case scenario it's an innocent misuse of the word, but it's more likely that you personally aren't a fan of the student license system and you believe that everyone should have to buy the comm license, period. (You know, like: "Hey, you're lucky. I had to pay for it myself!"

- It's not free because you cannot legally acquire a student license unless you are a student, as far as I understand.  If you can find me a school that teaches Max, that has a free tuition, then I would concede that those students of that school are lucky to have the privilege of getting a student license for Max completely for free.  I did not go to a free school, I went to a very expensive one, which is why I let you know that, to give you context why the "free Max" wasn't accurate.

Either way, it doesn't matter, I was shocked at first because I thought you were an Autodesk employee telling me I was lucky to use their software!  I was like whaaaat?  Now I realize you're only a normal user - whew!

BTW:  "no one is going to make a special deal with you"

I also was not requesting for some personal "special deal" as you put it.  I was looking for a solution available to anybody in the situation where they need to renew, but are unable to use the later versions.  Simple yeah?

Anyways, I'll just use different modelling program at home.  Have a good one! 😉

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

  I did not go to a free school, I went to a very expensive one, which is why I let you know that, to give you context why the "free Max" wasn't accurate.

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not really getting this comment

No one forced to go this expensive school you could have gone to a cheaper school where costs would have been cheaper for you

Autodesk is not charging students to use their software yes there are costs for being a student but that has nothing to do with Autodesk

[dgorsman]

Licenses have to be renewed, obsolete hardware has to be updated.  It's all part and parcel of being in an industry heavily dependent on computers.  Older versions are no longer supported, and upgrading may force additional purchases of hardware and/or software.  Management understands these are on-going rather than one-time costs, and although I'm on the technical side I still work to keep them reasonable.  When you're on your own that makes you IT, accountant, and management all rolled up in one.  To be in the business you need to have a handle on all these aspects.

As for me, I *do* consider students lucky to have free access to software licenses for personal learning use.  And I'm also a fan of the EDU license system.  The positions are not contradictory.