Educational version of AutoCAD 2010

[Anonymous]

My educational license for AutoCAD 2010 expired, so I applied for a renewal of the same version. The only options offered were 2014, 2015, or 2016 - none of which will load on my computer because it doesn't have the necessary operating system (Vista at 32 bits). How do I get a new Product Key and Serial Number for AutoCAD 2010? I already have a request code, but do I need a new one? Thank you for your help.  Jeri

[DarrenP]

you don't

Autodesk doesn't offer 2010 under the student license

which ever versions are on the student website is all you get

[Anonymous]

Is there any way to get the drawings that were done in the 2010 version, or have I lost access to them? Jeri

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:
... it doesn't have the necessary operating system (Vista at 32 bits). ....

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Simply download any 32-bit version and you are good to go.

And no, you won't loose any previous work - the files will open just fine.

Actually, it is unclear to me whether you are implying that your OS is Vista 32-bit or the software is 32-bit.

[Anonymous]

Sorry I wasn't clear about my OS. I currently have Windows Vista 32-bit. The newest version of AutoCAD with that OS is version 2012. However, even though the older versions are listed on the Requirements page under the Education Downloads section, no version older than 2014 was an option when I tried to renew my license. 

The Product Key and Serial Number that was e-mailed to me was for version 2014 and when I tried to activate them (again through an e-mail link), the result was an error message that my OS would not support that version. Hence, my search for a "live chat" option that could help me.

As of now, I cannot access any of my designs (except the few I saved as PDF files) because my license expired. Unless you have a magic solution for me, it looks like I have to get a new computer, or try to update Vista to Windows 8. And even then, I don''t know if my 2010 drawings will convert to the newer OS. I appreciate your help with this matter.   Jeri

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

... And even then, I don''t know if my 2010 drawings will convert to the newer OS. 

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You will not loose any work  - the *.dwg format does not have anything to do with the OS the software was running on.

Are you sure you are installing a 32-bit version of AutoCAD and not a 64-bit version?  Can you post screen shots of the error messages.  Only installation should be OS dependent - not activation.

[pendean · Accepted solution]

Vista is not supported. You need Win7 as a minimum. No fix.
http://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Windows...

[Anonymous]

You are correct; it was the attempt to install the new 2014 version that was sent via e-mail. Whether is was 32-bit or 64-bit, my OS is Vista, which I now learn is no longer supported. I thank you for your help with my dilemma. I think my next step is to get a new computer to run the newer versions of AutoCAD.  Jeri

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thank you for your reply. It has confirmed my suspicions regarding Vista and the versions of AutoCAD available for educational situations. My next step is to procure a new computer that will run the newer versions of CAD.  Jeri

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

.... Whether is was 32-bit or 64-bit, my OS is Vista, which I now learn is no longer supported. ...

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Not supported by Autodesk doesn't mean the same thing as "can't be done".  On the other hand, it is critical to install the correct version 32-bit or 64-bit.  My memory gets foggy going back that far, but I seem to recall that I was running AutoCAD on a 32-bit Vista machine in 2013.