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David_A10-Marble
10-Marble
July 26, 2009
Question

Mathcad 14 license exceeded

  • July 26, 2009
  • 3 replies
  • 17108 views
After I upgraded my hard drive (C: drive) to a larger disk, I used Norton Ghost to transfer the contents of the old C: drive to the new drive. Windows XP Pro booted up ok. But Mathcad, which was installed on the E: drive, didn't like the new hard drive and would not run. Note that I did not replace the E: drive with new harddisk, only the C: drive. The E: drive is where Mathcad was installed. So I put the old C: drive back into the PC, uninstalled Mathcad 14. Then I put the new C: drive back in and reinstalled Mathcad 14. The install works fine, but when I go to acquire a license, the web says I've exceeded my licenses. I have not. I only have one installation of Mathcad 14 (Single User). How can I get the software back working? Windows XP Pro SP3 4GB RAM C: drive has O/S E: drive is where Mathcad is installed

3 replies

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RichardJ19-Tanzanite
19-Tanzanite
July 26, 2009
You will have to call the licensing people at PTC. Richard
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ptc-28593641-Visitor
1-Visitor
August 30, 2009
I have a similar problem in that I want to transfer MathCad 14 from a desktop to a laptop. It looks at the hostID of the PC and will not run. We used not to have these problems when MathSoft owned the product. I will not buy a new license, nor will I ever upgrade. I've basically stopped using the product and started using something else.
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RichardJ19-Tanzanite
19-Tanzanite
August 31, 2009
Well, Mathcad 11 was also activated, and if you used up your licenses you needed to call Mathsoft. PTC does have more draconian licensing policies than just about any other company I can think of, but if you call they will probably give you another activation. Richard
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RogerMansfield1-Visitor
1-Visitor
December 3, 2010

It is clear now, from reading posts to this PlanetPTC forum, that PTC treats single users differently from node-locked license users.

Single users are deemed to be temporary users with no standing, while node-locked license users (i.e., annual-maintenance-paying users) have standing, in that we have access to the knowledge base and upgrades so long as we keep paying the annual maintenance fee.

I have been told that with a node-locked license, you can move your two permitted copies (office and home, or in my case, primary and secondary) to other machines. I have not tried this myself, but I suspect it would be a hassle, because it involves dealing with PTC's licensing process and personnel.

I realize that this won't help you get back your single-user copy of Mathcad 14, but it would provide a remedy if you were willing to upgrade to Mathcad 15.

After more than fifteen years of single-user experience, I finally upgraded to Mathcad 15 last summer (June 2010). I try to regard the annual maintenance as dues to join an exclusive club of STEM professionals who really do math every day. PlanetPTC makes me feel like I really am in an exclusive club, and have a say.

I do truly believe that the reason Mathsoft, Inc. sold out to PTC was because the single-user revenue model just wasn't working. If PTC cannot make a go of it with Mathcad, then what?

Yes, those of us who still have Mathcad 2001i and Windows XP will have a fallback position (that I personally don't really care for -- Mathcad 14 has a better suite of ODE solvers*, and Mathcad 15 has DoE). But what about those who got on the Mathcad merry-go-round at Mathcad 11 or later?

Bottom line, at least for me, is: I want and need Mathcad, and I want it to be around for the long term. I'm assuming of course that I'll be around for the long term! So I'll pay annually to have a stake in Mathcad's future. Even if the licensing folks are hard to deal with. Even if the maintenance releases never seem to quite fix all of the problems that I have encountered in my own work. Even if I have to continue to read threads like this one, that really resonate with me.

*Please see http://www.debtdeflation.com/blogs/2009/09/26/why-i-use-mathcad/

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mzeftel1-Visitor
1-Visitor
December 3, 2010

Hi all,


Mathcad 14 licenses are tied to your computer's Host-ID. Mathcad 15 licenses are tied to your computer's physical address. If you get a new computer, or update your hard drive, or have any other license or installation issues, you can contact - and you will be given a new license. We are moving single user licenses to node-locked licenses so that all users will have acess to maintenance and technical support. Maintenance entitles you to free maintenance (service) updates within the year.

We are working very hard to improve the user experience with licensing and installation.

Regards,


Mona

Mona Zeftel

Mathcad Senior Technical Consultant

PTC

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RichardJ19-Tanzanite
19-Tanzanite
December 3, 2010

Mathcad 14 licenses are tied to your computer's Host-ID. Mathcad 15 licenses are tied to your computer's physical address

Not quite. Mathcad 15 licenses are tied to the physical address of a network adapter in your computer. The distinction is not a moot point, because the computer may not have a network adapter available all of the time, and if you switch network adapter (e.g. turn off the wired connection and turn on the wireless connection) the address will change. The consequences of that are obvious.

B
bedmonds12-Amethyst
12-Amethyst
December 3, 2010

PTC does provide a replacement license to existing Single Users who have to move their copy of Mathcad to a new machine, or have to reinstall on a crashed machine. We also provide technical support to help you get the installation working again. There is no requirement that you must upgrade to get a new license.

You can submit your Single User licensing or installation request here: http://www.ptc.com/appserver/cs/mathcad_logger/options.jsp. You will need to have your Mathcad product code to complete the form.

Brent

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KeithHooks1-Visitor
1-Visitor
December 3, 2010

How long does that usually take? I filled it out yesterday and received no response, not even an email confirmation that it was in queue. Based on the screen prompts and the information I recieved from my reseller, I didn't have any reason to believe it would work for me.

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mzeftel1-Visitor
1-Visitor
December 3, 2010

You should hear shortly, probably today.


Mona

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