Autodesk Software Suddenly Not Activated

[TravisNave]

Problem:  You launched your Term Autodesk software today and got a screen to activate your software, but it does not work.  You have no way to open and use your software.

Reason:  Autodesk is experiencing technical problems today as they move to migrate to the 2019 versions of your software.  Currently many of the products that are set to migrate, including AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, 3DS MAX, and others are experiencing this problem.  Your Autodesk Account management page may show your product but will show no available assignments for those products.  Seemingly, your software has disappeared.

Work-Around:  I have found a work-around that will let you temporarily launch your software and continue to work until this problem is resolved. 

Step 1:  Traverse to the following folder location on your computer:

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\CLM\LGS\<ProductKey_ProductVersion>\

You may have multiple product folders.  Your correct product will start with your product key and end with the release year of the problematic software.  Product keys can be found here. 

Step 2:  Rename the LGS.DATA file to something else (i.e. LGS.DATA.BAK)

Step 3:  Launch your Autodesk software and choose to Start a Trial.

Step 4:  Login with your Autodesk account and use your trial for 30 days if necessary.  Note:  If you have already used your product as a trial previously before activation, then this process will not work for you.

Good Luck!

[mdavis22569]

I think it's only going to get a bit worst ....

Uninstalling / reinstalling doesn't work either

Removing LGS / ADUT / LoginState etc doesn't help either ....

For 2019, you HAVE TO BE signed in first before it'll let you get to the next stage...

[TravisNave]

Some of our products have recently started working again.  I suspect the fixes are slowly going to roll in. 

[mdavis22569]

Nothing for my 2018 Full on one / 2019 both ...

2nd PC I just uninstalled it all and going to let it sit for a bit ... sick of swearing at it ...

[rtowne72]

Dear Autodesk-

Two years ago in a One on One Session at AU I brought up this scenario regarding the subscription model and how you needed to assure that this would not happen since that was my largest fear.  You heard me but did not listen.  We discussed many options where a "trusted" (your word) relationship would allow for licensing to occur even if the licensing servers would not work.  You did not listen, why?  The Thirty day trial was the last resort we discussed.  This is why my Maintenance of perpetual products is so valuable....

[HeatherSimon · Accepted solution]

Hello, 

Thank you all very much for your patience while we resolved this issue. I appreciate the resourcefulness of Travis in sharing a workaround. 

I would like to offer sincere apologies for the inconvenience and any disruption that was caused for those who were unable to access their software today.

We believe this issue is now resolved.

Please try logging in to your software again, and let us know if you have any problems. 

Thank you! 

Heather Simon

Director, Digital Supportability and Enablement

Autodesk, Inc.

One Market Street, Suite 200

San Francisco, CA  94105-5104

www.autodesk.com

[chriscowgill7373]

Thank you Heather it does indeed appear to be working.

[mdavis22569]

thank you @HeatherSimon for the update ... 

So far 2 of my 3 PC's have their 2018 now working and their 2019 activated.

Mike

[Anonymous]

2.5 days without AutoCAD available. I just wish AutoDesk would have told us so I could have gone on vacation. Instead, I will have to work thru the weekend to make up lost time.

[RumfieldO]

I keep get this message every time I try to open AutoCAD

The application was unable to start correctly (0xc0000142). Click OK to close the application

[pendean]

I'm with you on that one...

[Mark.Lancaster]

@RumfieldO

Welcome to the Autodesk User's Community..

Review this article: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/The-ap...

AutoCAD version and your operating system?

[open-range]

This caused me a huge disruption and loss of work. In the process I became even more disappointed and now I am transitioning form that into anger.

I have had what I considered to be a subscription to 3DS max sine the very first version was released. My understanding was that I had a subscription . I paid the $600/year each year. When I logged into my AutoDesk account I was at a site called "Subscription Center".

In /November 2017 I was told I had to "change to subscription" but it would still cost the same each year. I did not understand this because I was certain I was already on subscription. No one could explain the difference between what I had and what I was supposed to be transitioning to so I assumed it was a mistake and I was already on "subscription".

Now, thru the process of having my "subscription" broken for  4 days I have determined what happened. AutoDesk has re-named what used to be called "subscription" and what I had. That is now called "perpetual with maintenance". I have been moved, against my desire" to the new "subscription" which promptly broke and caused me huge problems.

i see absolutely no benefit to the new subscription versus the old, formerly called subscription but now re-named perpetual/maintenance. No benefit, zero, none. I see only a problem in that if I ever decide to stop paying for the annual upgrade cost, in the past I wold still have a copy of 3ds max and could pen past projects and etc. Now, that I have been maneuvered under false pretense into giving this up, if I stop paying the "subscription" my software stops working and there is no way to access past projects. What possible reason would anyone have to give up the old subscription now re-named to perpetual/maintenance and switch to the new subscription?

If I could understand even 1 benefit to this I might feel better. As it is I want to switch back to the way it was and be on perpetual/maintenance like I have been for the past 20 years.

What an insanely awful and disrespectful way to treat your customers! Very angry.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@open-range

I understand you are frustrated but...

First who did you talk to that didn't know about this stuff or couldn't explain it to you?  Someone at Autodesk?  Reseller?  Friend, co-worker, who?

Subscription center is a term used to maintain your license and your account.  It could host your perpetual license with or without maintenance plan or a subscription based product.   Perpetual license of single Autodesk product stopped be sold in Jan 2016.  You didn't go from subscription to perpetual license.  But then you also say I want my perpetual license back.

You had a perpetual license with a maintenance plan in the beginning and you decided to switch without knowing all of the facts.  Autodesk may insist on your moving over to subscription but no one forced you to do it.  You could've continued as you were with your perpetual license.  Meaning it wasn't switch automatically by Autodesk.. You requested it at some point...

In the end yes there's confusing terms and I fully understand your frustrations from it..  But at the same time I would like to understand who you spoke to and why you made a decision to transition into subscription if you didn't have 100% of the facts.

[open-range]

I talked to my re-seller who denies all this. I cannot remember specific names. I received multiple, generic, confusing emails form AutoDesk announcing the pending change.

>>Autodesk may insist on your moving over to subscription but no one forced you to do it.  You could've continued as you were with your perpetual license.  Meaning it wasn't switch automatically by Autodesk.. You requested it at some point...<<

Your first sentence quoted above is confusing. AutoDesk may insist...but no one forced you" I have not suggested I was forced and I resent that mis characterization. I know I requested it and I accept that I am responsible for having switched. I did not really "decide to switch". I thought I was on subscription all along, saw no difference in what was being done and made a wrong assumption that by choosing subscription I was just continuing on as before.

I cannot say "who I spoke to" but it was handled thru my re-seller. I did not intentionally "make a decisions to transition to subscription" I thought I was just continuing what had been called subscription for the past 20 years.

You are assigning all blame and responsibility to me. Fine,. AutoDesk accepts no responsibility. Good for you.

Two questions.

1) Can I switch back to perpetual given the confusing and messed up way this was put upon me?

2)  Is there any benefit whatsoever to switching from perpetual to subscription. I see the negative consequence, Is there any positive value at all? Why would anyone choose to do so?

[Mark.Lancaster]

@open-range

First I don't work for Autodesk, I'm a user just like yourself..  If my message came across as blaming you , that wasn't my attention at all or make you more frustrated.   Yes there's 2 sides to the story and I can only go by what I read..  Your message read (from my perspective) as though you were forced to do it and perhaps did it without knowing all the facts.   But I wasn't out to blame you and say your actions was your own fault.  Sorry if it came across like that.

That's why I wanted a clarification where you got your information from or miss-leading information.  In the end I wasn't part of that conversation or what was said between you and your reseller.  I'm sorry that you are in this situation.

I know last week this issue has impacted a lot of end users and many or most of them lost days of works from it.  When things like this happen it adds to the level of frustration and you start asking why...

Sorry forgot to answer your question

1.  I was thinking there was a way (through your reseller) but I think its only within 30 days of your switch.  I could be wrong though

2.  This one is hard to answer because each way has their pros and cons.

[open-range]

Sorry, I see the Product Support specialist under your named and Assumed AutoDesk. My bad.

If I could understand 1 benefit to having switched I might felel better. That leaves the question;

Why would AutoDesk put forth a program and maneuver their existing customers into something that offers no benefit, only negative consequence, all of it couched in confusing terminology?

[matthew.d]

Hi @open-range,

I sincerely apologize for the poor experience and disruption of service. It is not our intent to cause any downtime with our subscription services. I completely understand your frustration in relation to this, as no one should ever not be able to use their services. In light of this, I have created case 14066372 and will go into more detail via email there. We definitely want you to have the best experience with us and our subscriptions.

You can find out more about the benefits of subscriptions here. There are some definite benefits you received by switching over to the subscriptions, which that page describes. Here is also another page which provides more information on the considerations for changing. I am happy to answer questions in regards to these documents or subscriptions via the case outlined.

The most important thing right now is that you are up and running properly on 3ds Max. I do not want you to experience anymore downtime, then you already have. I will follow this thread up with a personal email to you, if you reply to that, you can reach me directly.

[c.paarGX7H2]

Hello, could it be that this issue with the screening is currently also the same with the 2020 Products /Version?

[Anonymous]

I haven't had any reports. What is the issue you are faced with? Could you post a screenshot (but x out the serial number or any other sensitive info)?

[c.paarGX7H2]

Hello,
We installed the AEC Collection in August after M2S from Maintenance Plan.
Now suddenly after starting the Software (Revit) we got the message :Export screening,but strangely also the typical message with the license manager not working properly.
I heard there have been alot of problems with installing Revit in the Versions 2019/ 2020 and also with the lciense manager.
Many greetings