How to reset Autodesk 2020 Licensing

[TravisNave]

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEW VERSION!

Problem:  You have Autodesk 2020 software installed, but are now unable to simply change the licensing from Single User to Multi-User, Networked Licensed, or Trial version. 

Reason:  Autodesk has changed how the Autodesk 2020 products are licensed and apparently there is no simple way to do this from Help > About to Manage Licenses, or by deleting LGS file information as in previous versions. 

Solution:  With the introduction of the Autodesk 2020 software release, changing the licensing now requires commands to be entered via an elevated command prompt. 

Detailed instructions for how to find and use the AdskLicensingInstHelper.exe and all of its commands and options can be found at this link:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Use-In...

Method #1:  Essentially, you would need to run a command similar to this for AutoCAD 2020:

AdskLicensingInstHelper change --prod_key 001L1 --prod_ver 2020.0.0.F --lic_method ""

This method, however, is quite obtuse and requires you to also know the Product Key and the Product Version for your installed product.  You can find this using the LIST argument and plugging your values into the command. 

AdskLicensingInstHelper list

Because the normal everyday user is unlikely to be able to follow and comprehend these instructions clearly, I have decided to write a batch file to perform these actions without requiring the knowledge necessary in the Autodesk KB article. 

Method #2:  Download and run the command script attached at the bottom of this article with elevated privileges. 

1.  When you launch the script (you may have to allow it in Windows 10 or if you have UAC enabled) you will see the following screen:

Run as Administrator

Note:  You will need to right-click and run as Administrator.  Otherwise, it will warn you that you are not running as administrator and need to close the program.

2.  To determine which products you have installed and need to reset, choose option 1. 

Choose Option 1 to List Products

In this example, the program lists AutoCAD 2020 with Product Key 001L1 and Product Version 2020.0.0.F.  We will be using these values to reset AutoCAD 2020 back to factory default.  The output of this command is a little convoluted.  It is especially busy when you have multiple products installed.  You will want to look for the value of "def_prod_key" and "def_prod_ver" when you run this option (highlighted.)

You can now type B to go back to the previous menu. 

3.   To reset the licensing for your listed product, choose option 2.

Choose Option 2 to reset license to factory default

By default, the values are set for AutoCAD 2020 with the Product Key of 001L1 and the Product Version of 2020.0.0.F.  to accept these default values, all you need to do is press <Enter> to continue.  If the values of your product are different, then enter those values instead.  For example, if you have AutoCAD LT 2020 installed, you will use Product Key 057L1.  It will verify your entry and prompt you to confirm that you wish to reset your license back to factory default. 

I suspect product versions will change as different updates and service packs are released. 

4.  To reset your license choose to answer Y to the prompt:  WARNING THIS WILL RESET YOUR LICENSE? [Y or N] _

Successful Result has no output between brackets []

If successful, you should receive no output between the brackets.  This is because the Autodesk license helper displays no output for a successful command.  If you made a typo or the product does not exist on your machine, then an error message will be displayed instead. 

Error when product not found

Also, if you are using the Autodesk Network License Manager for Network Licensed products, then resetting the licensing will also open the folder location for the LICPATH.LIC file, which contains the location of your license manager.  This will allow you to easily modify the file or remove it altogether if unneeded. 

5.  You can then choose whether or not to reset another licensed product or to quit the program.  When you quit the program, it is set to log an application event to your Windows logs.  This can help you keep track of when the program has been run.  Choosing Y will take you back to the main menu, while choosing N will exit the program.

Bonus options:

There are a few extra options included in this batch script that are helpful with Autodesk licensing.  These are optional settings to help make changes that are also otherwise difficult to do or understand. 

 Set ADSKFLEX_LICENSE_FILE -  This will allow you to change the System Environment Variable (and subsequently the registry value) of the Autodesk Network License Manager server location on the current client.  Acceptable values are often 27000@SERVERNAME or simply @SERVERNAME.  More information on this variable or instructions on how to set this manually can be found here.

Set FLEXLM_TIMEOUT - This will allow you to change the System Environment Variable for the amount of time that Autodesk software waits to check out a network license.  This is helpful when there is network latency or you are using a VPN or WAN to connect to your NLM.  A good start is usually a value of one-million.  (1000000 = 1 second.)  More information on this variable or instructions on how to set this manually can be found here.

Open adskflex*.data file location - This will allow you to open the file location where the adskflex*.data file exist that keeps track of single user licensed products.  For more information about manually removing license files, please see this KB Article. 

Download and unzip the script attached below.  Run as Administrator.  If Windows complains that the file is dangerous, you will need to click more information and run anyway. 

If you have any issues or want to add features, please feel free to contact me!

Good Luck!

[TravisNave · Accepted solution]

Please use this script at your own risk.  I have tested it on Windows 10 and Windows 7 for AutoCAD 2020 and AutoCAD LT 2020. 

If you have any problems or would like to add more features, please contact me.  I will try to keep updated versions in this thread if possible. 

[rkmcswain]

Now this is an example of a well written article. Why is this a forum post and not in the KB as an official article? 

@knowledge333 

[knowledge333]

Thank you for all your work on this article! I will run it by some SMEs here and see what we can do.

[TravisNave · Accepted solution]

UPDATE v1.4

Due to the common occurrence of Autodesk 2020 License Timeout issues similar to the image below, I have decided to make an additional option in my command script.

Error when Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service is not running

The update to the script will now have the option to start this service.  The service is called the Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service and must be running for your product to function properly on its license type. 

This file runs the AdskLicensingService.exe file as a resident process.  Note:  You can also run this file manually to test for errors and to run as a resident file if the service itself is not running. 

This file is required to run

Choose Option #6 in the attached script (zipped below) to start the service.  If the service is not started, it will start the service.  If the service is already running, it will simply inform you that the requested service has already been started.

If you wish to test this file for errors, you can launch it manually from this location:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\Current\AdskLicensingService

The result of the launch should look similar to this:

Successful Launch

If you get any errors similar to invalid character ' \x00' looking for beginning of value then your configuration has a major error and your Autodesk 2020 product line will not work .  I am currently working on this issue. 

I will keep this thread updated as necessary.

[Anonymous]

I really appreciate the time and effort put into the solution for this problem. I tried it and after I still end up getting the error. I even set the delay to 30sec(3000000). I'm shouldn't be getting that much latency since I'm us-based and not using a vpn or other network gateway. Also tried a repair and reinstalling.

[TravisNave]

What is your exact issue?

[Anonymous]

Well it's the same problem, License Timeout and forces me to save and quit or just quit.

I tried another solution before yours, which was deleting some files, can't find the website now but it was an official post I believe from Autodesk.

So I tried you're script, runs and resets it without any errors.

As I stated above I've also changed the timing value via your script

Verified the services are running

repaired and reinstalled AutoCad 2020.

Actually trying to install 2020 was difficult. Kept failing, but finally got it and every since 2nd start of the program it started this.

[TravisNave]

See if your Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service is started. That's been
causing a lot of the pain in the last few days. It just won't stay
resident. My updated script adds a #6 to start it manually.

[Anonymous]

Ya it is (verified with task manager and says it's already running in the script), seems to not immediately kick me out if I don't open a drawing. As soon as I open a drawing the timeout comes up

Also I don't know if I've noticed it before but opening it hangs a long time at "ACConnectWebServices.arx". Since I upgraded to 2020, with the problem, it takes a full minute to open.

[TravisNave]

Interesting. Network version?

When the timeout happens, is the service still running?

[Anonymous]

Hi, 

Having the same issue but i am unable to solve this, can you create a more simple step by step solution

many thanks

[TravisNave]

Download my script.  I can't make it any easier than an automated program.  

Make sure the Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service and the Flexnet Licensing Service are both running and set to Automatic. 

[TravisNave · Accepted solution]

If you cannot install or reinstall a 2020 product, you need to check the Product2020Install.log file in your %TEMP% folder, rather than the normal setup log file.  If the problem is due to an upgraded licensing system, it will have an error similar to this excerpt:

Action start 18:43:07: licIsSvcUpgraded
1: 5 2: Successfull registered 3: 0 
1: 5 2: licIsSvcUpgraded 3: 0 
1: 5 2: run helper with params: 3: 0 
1: 5 2: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\9.0.1.1462\helper\AdskLicensingInstHelper.exe" upgrade isUpgraded 3: 0 
1: 5 2: process return code: 3: 100 
1: 5 2: failed to upgrade 3: 0 
1: 5 2:  3: 0 
CustomAction licIsSvcUpgraded returned actual error code 1603 (note this may not be 100% accurate if translation happened inside sandbox)

Your only recourse may be to delete the following folder and reinstall:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing

This folder runs the licensing for all 2020 products, so back this folder up before deleting and create a Windows Restore Point before doing so. 

Good Luck!

[patrykstolinski]

Hello @TravisNave 

I've ran into this thread while searching for a way to fix my own, separate (but it seems it's connected in some way) issue. As of today I cannot open Inventor - only splash screen, and then nothing - so I tried to reinstall it.

While reinstalling I have gotten a 1063 error (I included the log). After lots of post searching and talking with other people, we have determined that the problem might be in Adsklicensing, which I was told to uninstall (here's the thread in which we talk about it:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/inventor-forum/inventor-stopped-working-now-can-t-reinstall-it/

Long story short, person with the same issue I had solved it by uninstalling Adsklicensing and then deleting the folder autodesk shared. 

I have done the same, yet it behaves differently - I don't get any prompts when clicking uninstall in adsklicensing folder, it just sort off deletes the content with nothing to say or show. After that I removed the folder, but when trying to install a fresh Inventor 2020, halfway through the installation it throws 

and continues to fail the installation with 1063 error. 

I have read about the licensing service and tried to launch it manually, and it gives me the 1053 error.

Please, if you have any ideas how to fix this I would be most grateful. I have attached other logs from Adsklicensing.

[TravisNave]

I'd have to look at the full Inventor 2020 log file.

[patrick.dezess3VUS7]

I attempted to run the script however when I try to use option 1 it returns an error code "invalid character '\x00' looking for beginning of value". Any idea what may be causing this?

[TravisNave]

This is because the service doesn't work on your system. Autodesk has no
solution for this and as a result, your product will never work. Their
only suggestion is to reinstall Windows. Sorry.

[patrick.dezess3VUS7]

I guess I'm at a complete loss as to how this happened then. I had been
running 2020 since its launch with no issue, all told I have close to 200
hours in the software before this appeared. And is not PC specific either
because in desperation I loaded to a secondary machine that ran for about 4
hours before it crashed as well. Two completely different installs, two
different builds of windows.

[TravisNave]

I had the same happen to one of my engineers. No explanation for it.