Perpetual licensing issue

[ltrm_esp]

I had a perpetual license for the 2013 Autodesk Design Suite and haven't used it much as I concentrated on my full time employment and not done much in the drafting department since 2014

I have since started to do a little part time drafting again with a vision for transition to retirement. Problem is my computer died earlier this year and found myself needing to purchase a new one. In purchasing a new computer I also inherited Windows 11 and obviously different hardware and architecture. When I installed the Autodesk suite on the new computer, I went to register the software and came back with an error message and not able to get it working.

I spoke to a number of support people in Autodesk and was very hard, as I am in Australia and don't have any local support. Finally, they decided they could not grant me a new license since it was an older version, the perpetual licensing is not supported any longer.

I paid over $9000 AUD for the software and had used it right until my computer died of old age and would still be using it if it wasn't for that reason. I now find myself with useless software, a new computer that cost me $3500AUD and nothing to show for the money I've spent for what meant to be a perpetual license.

All I've been asking for is a new Autocad license in my new computer and not even the whole design suite. I was not aware of the licensing changes that got rid of the perpetual licensing support and don't want to have to subscribe on a yearly basis for something I will not be using on a full time basis.

can anyone please help?

thank you

[paullimapa]

Well 2013 is over 10 years old and I'm surprise you were even able to successfully install the entire design suite on the latest & greatest hardware & OS.  But if you've clearly reached a dead end in attempting to get just AutoCAD to run, my suggestion would be to look into the free AutoCAD clone programs especially when you're just planning to use it for a short time as you'll be moving into full retirement. You can install and run the latest from those clones which allows you to open old dwgs and create even new dwgs that are perfectly compatible.  Some clones look & feel like AutoCAD while others may take more time to get used to. But it's that or you'll have to pay to use AutoCAD / AutoCAD LT on Autodesk current pricing model.

[nrz13]

I feel your pain. I recently spent over a week dealing with Autodesk and our reseller when Autodesk forced an update to the license manager that broke our perpetual licenses.  We eventually got it resolved, but it was a pain.

In your case, it doesn't sound like you have a license issue, but a hardware compatibility issue, right?  You can try running the program in Compatibility Mode (right-click the acad.exe file > select Properties > Compatibility tab > Run this program in compatibility mode for > select the OS you were using successfully with 2013).  And for good measure, you can try checking the "Run this program as an administrator" box as well.  It's a long shot, but that might work.

If you can't get it working on your hardware, or downgrade your OS software, then it's as @paullimapa suggested: you're going to have to explore an alternative.  I tested several alternative CAD programs not that long ago and the good news is that they're way better than I expected and way more affordable than AutoCAD.  However, if you use dynamic blocks, none of them passed muster in compatibility with AutoCAD.

If I'm mistaken and your issue isn't the software compatibility, but the license itself, then Autodesk does have an obligation to honor that perpetual license and you need to keep working with them to get your license re-activated.

[pendean]

Autodesk stopped automatically authorizing new installation of software 2014 and older (that includes your 2013s) as of July 2022 on new hardware and unsupported operating systems: it's on you now to keep trying Autodesk over and over and over again until someone gives in if you can convince them your Windows7/XP/NT4 died or whatever and you had no choice but to get a new PC.
https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/subscription-changes/autodesk-to-end-activation-for-versions-2011-201...
and https://www.asti.com/end-of-activation-for-autodesk-versions-2011-2014/

Reminder: you and I "own" nothing created by Autodesk. Never have, still do not. That's the reality.
Licensing Agreements are written in favor of the agreement writer (Autodesk), not the signer (you and me) sadly.

Take a few minutes to understand "software ownership" as an end user like you and me, it is quite enlightening how the laws are literally against us users:
https://www.webopedia.com/insights/owningsoftware/ 
https://www.allbusiness.com/the-difference-between-buying-and-licensing-software-928-1.html 
and... well, there is so much out there to explain how software works in plain language, help yourself
https://www.google.com/search?q=do+you+own+a+software+license 

Best wishes.

[RobDraw]

There are several threads here with the same story, outcome and advice.