Pre-Autodesk Netfabb owners? License dongle issues.

[Anonymous]

I have purchased Netfabb before it has been aquired by Autodesk. Pretty much enjoy it. But sadly since last week I'm getting "Unkown error occured" when launching the app and while it starts it can't process the license using hardware dongle.

It seem the dongle failed. What can I do in this situation - where can I get replacement dongle? Or maybe other way to unlock the license?

[steffen_anders_adsk · Accepted solution]

Dear @Anonymous,

Please note that there may be compatibility problems depending on what OS you choose. Netfabb 5 is a long-discontinued product. We provide neither support nor maintenance or servicing to keep it compatible with newer versions of operating systems, or OS updates, or to fix any issues it may have had at its last release. It may continue to work without problems, but that is not, and cannot be, guaranteed.

Specifically, the licensing mechanism, a third-party component that manages licenses and functionality permissions that was used for Netfabb in conjunction with the dongles, may be incompatible with newer OS versions such as Mac OS Yosemite and up, or Windows 10. In fact, due to the product's age and legacy status, we could not even guarantee it working on systems that have been running since, outwardly untouched.

Compounding the issue is that the dongle system’s manufacturer has not released ready-to-use support material for any newer Apple operating systems. If you are running netfabb on Windows, you may try an updated driver for the dongle system. Visit https://www.marx.com/en/support/downloads?direct=driver and download and install the CRYPTO-BOX driver. Then reconnect the dongle and try running netfabb again.

However, if the dongle, or a license activation stored on it, is still not recognized, it may mean that the dongle hardware has failed and is no longer recognized by Windows. From a technical perspective, there is nothing we can do to fix this as the dongles are no longer available.

Should such installations after all fail to work, or fail to continue working, there is, regretfully, nothing we can do to reanimate them.

If you purchased your original netfabb license through a reseller, please contact them for any options of replacement or upgrade.

Alternatively, may I invite you to have a look at Autodesk Netfabb at www.netfabb.com and its 30-day trial? Not only is it a product with continued support and maintenance, Netfabb has had extensive development, improvement and bugfixing in the five major versions since. Feel free to contact our Sales team at https://www.autodesk.co.uk/products/netfabb/subscribe/contact-me for any further options.

Kind regards,

Steffen

[Anonymous]

Sadly I need a new dongle. I've purchased my license and CD directly through Netfabb - so I guess it is you who I should contact regarding the issue.

I'm 100% sure it is not a system compatibility issue.

Thank you for suggesting the Autodesk Netfabb trial. Sadly as there is no option to purchase it, only subscribe at rather steep price and on top of that you've removed support for OS-es other than Windows your current offering has quite limited value to me even though I love the new features that have been added.

So please let me know how I should proceed and get a new dongle.

[steffen_anders_adsk]

Dear @Anonymous

While the brand and make of the dongle is still being sold by the manufacturer, it requires vendor-specific provisioning to be able to hold the license, and this provisioning was part of the delivery process. However, since sale and shipping had ceased with the product reaching end-of-life, this is no longer available. As such, it would not help to obtain new dongle hardware.

With support and maintenance of this product having ended years ago, there is, regrettably, nothing we can do to reanimate this installation.

Kind regards,

Steffen

[Anonymous]

Steffen - ok, I get it. Your're not willing to deal with it, but maybe you'll be willing to help a tad 🙂 .

I've did a bit of research, sent a couple of emails and got it touch with dongle manufacturer. Here's a quote from the message :

We (MARX) can handle the repair for the software manufacturer so that they do not need to be involved - but we need their confirmation, and the necessary information about their CRYPTO-BOX configuration.

So at this points solving this out depends on good will on your behalf.

Of course I'll send full email and all the necessary details through regular support channel so you could verify all is ok and I'm not making it up.

[steffen_anders_adsk]

Przemek,

I can assure you this has nothing to do with goodwill, or willingness, or lack thereof. When I said that the means for vendor-specific provisioning are no longer available, I meant that they are literally unavailable. The facilities are no more, the support for this product has expired, maintenance has ceased, and the entire product chain including sale and after-sales services was terminated.

For all intents and purposes, Netfabb 5 is an ex-product.

Kind regards,

Steffen

[Anonymous]

Steffen - please check the email I've forwarded you, the one from manufcturer of the dongle (MARX). All they need is a permission from you to attempt repair - so indeed it is down to your good will to help with this issue.

[steffen_anders_adsk]

Przemek,

MARX does not just require a permission, they also require, quote, "information about their CRYPTO-BOX configuration" which is something we do not have anymore, and can thus not provide to you, MARX, or anyone.

I am sorry, but there really is nothing Autodesk can do or provide to reanimate your dongle and, by extension, installation of netfabb 5.

Steffen

[Anonymous]

I installed a new monitor yesterday and, whether related or not, my computer stopped recognizing my pre autodesk Netfabb dongle.  I tried numerous things without success. I found this thread and downloaded the driver set up file. Tried it twice and the second time it worked. My dongle is recognized again.

[Anonymous]

If you have a subscription, you do not need to transfer your license from one computer to another to activate your subscription software on a different computer. Your subscription includes rights to install and activate your software on more than one computer. For each computer you wish to use, follow the standard installation procedures for your software. Refer to your Software License Agreement for more information about software usage rights.

[Anonymous]

I woke up this morning to my Windows computer having restarted overnight, I guess something got installed automatically. I started NetFabb and it would not recognize my dongle.   I had and resolved this problem before. 

What worked for me was to download the CryptoBox driver install program.

You can download it from here:  https://www.marx.com/en/support/downloads?direct=driver

Be sure to download the correct zip file which is circled in one of the screenshots I uploaded.

I unplugged the dongle and then I opened it and first uninstalled the driver files. Then I reinstalled the driver files. After doing this my dongle is recognized again.

I hope this helps others as Netfabb was quite an investment.

[Anonymous]

sadly it did not work for me and Autodesk is not willing (as I simply
can't believe noone from the Netfabb team knows how the dongles were set
up) to help with fixing the dongle (even though Marx themselves are -
they're more than happy to prepare new working dongle as long as
Autodesk agrees and lets them know about settings).

But at least for simpler issues (like a driver problem) there are
working solutions, so not all of us are screwed :D.

[Anonymous]

I had to try it several times before it worked. The key seemed to be to
unplug the dongle, uninstall the driver’s, reinstall the driver’s, plug in
the dongle and restart netfabb.

It’s crazy that we bought a lifetime license and that Autodesk bought the
company and its assets and obligations and will not make things right.
--

Regards,

Rich Beck
mrrabeck@gmail.com

E3 Digital Fab, LLC
3D printing, design, and consulting
www.e3-digitalfab.com, LinkedIn_Profile-Rich Beck
<>

[shahabmedi]

This is so disappointing not being able to use my software with no remedy in place from autodesk but I guess for every company the bottom line is profits and selling new products etc, not cool!!

i had a lifetime license dongle and was stolen with my laptop and needed a replacement 

my other dongle with other software were replaced with a $100 fee and no problems whatsoever