Cloudflare Internal Server Error Preventing Activation Key for Express

[Thomas_HP_Ret]

Greetings Members

As of this week (10/28/25) I am unable to obtain an Activation Key for Express Modeling.  It was working fine the previous week.  Here is a step by step description of what happens:

- Click the CE Direct Express icon on my desktop

- Obtain the following dialogue, this is normal or at least has been since direct access to the license server stopped working for me in Nov 2023.  Each time I have to reactivate even though I have an account and have been using CE Direct Express for more than 2 years.  Nothing has changed - same laptop, Win 10 OS, etc.

- I enter my email address and password, select ‘Activate’ to get this dialogue, also normal.

- In my case there is no proxy server, I am merely a PC on the internet.  My internet connection is fast and reliable.  I select the Submit button and obtain this dialogue:

- At which point I select ‘Request activation key’.  Normally I would receive an activation key in seconds, paste it into the Manual Product Activation box and the program starts.  That has changed this week, now I get this:

- Any others having this problem?  Anyone know cause and possible workarounds?  Let me know please, I have numerous models of home projects I would like to access.

Thanks, Thomas

[der_Wolfgang · Accepted solution]

Hi Thomas, 

You stumbled in a problem as few (hundred?) other people as well. 

Please read the related topics. The problem is discussed in several topics.  

In few words: 

• uninstall all your PE versions,
• Download and install the PE90  (for download see modeling express in English )
• for most of the people this have been the solution.

an incomplete list of related topics is listed ==>> here .

There is also a longer thread in the ==>> german forum, already started two years ago. 

View solution in original post

[Thomas_HP_Ret]

Hi Wolfgang

Yes, the installation of CE Direct Modeling Express 9.0 worked, I'm back up and running.  I need to rebuild my custom toolbars but that is typical for version changes.  Thanks for your help!

Thomas

[MG_2433878]

I have been getting THIS SAME CLOUDFLARE ERROR 500 when I try to use my CoCreate Modeling Personal Edition 3.0 which I have been USING FOR YEARS successfully. But when I tried on Oct. 25th, and the program tries to  request an access code from the PTC server (using: 

https://www.ptc.com/appserver/securePeModeling/peManualLic.jsp?lang=en&u=bgmom&m=BETHSLAPTOP&w=6.1&v=30.00 ) it SEEMS that the delay created by the CLOUDFLARE "proxy" causes the PTC server to report "no internet connection" ... which is NOT the case!  Research re. the Cloudflare Error 500 says that IT IS NOT AN ERROR WITH CLOUDFLARE, BUT with the host server ... PTC.COM.  Cloudflare is sort of an "intermediary reverse proxy server"  to prevent BOT attacks and DNS attacks on the PTC server, but it APPEARS that PTC implemented its use WITHOUT understanding that the induced delay "crashes the program" (failure to supply access codes)    

PTC offers NO SUPPORT for their free software or EVEN A WAY TO ALERT THEM TO THE PROBLEM ... and meanwhile I am LOCKED OUT of using the program and completing my project!    PLEASE SOMEONE try and get them to FIX it, as I don't think "reloading my old software" will solve it, and my computer does NOT RUN Creo Elements/Direct Modeling Express 9.0 WELL AT ALL!!!

[JC_858293]

There is a temporary solution that I found that does work.  If you install the German version of Direct Modeling Express 9.0 and run it, it will allow you to get your temporary key for 72 hours.  Then exit the German version and then start your Direct Modeling Express 8.0 and the 72 hour key is valid.  Strange way to get it to work but it does.  I have an open ticket with PTC but they are not willing to even look at it.

[Thomas_HP_Ret]

Thanks JC for the suggestion but I am running V 9.0 with no issues.  As are other former colleagues of mine, we've all gone to V 9.0.  Thomas

[JC_858293]

Thomas,

  I tried 9.0 and got the issue where the PTC activation page came up without anything more.  That's when I tried the German version and it worked as I stated above.  I'll see what happens in 4 days when the activation key expires.

Jack