How to transfer the license

Before formatting a hard disk containing a Mold or Frame license, read these instructions!

These instructions apply only to software activations without a USB key. If you have a Dartwin USB key you don’t need to transfer any license: just plug the USB key into the new computer, install the program, and enter the USB key’s PIN code that was provided to you at the time of purchase.

Besides the USB key, a Web License subscription also guarantees activation continuity across different computers, avoiding the risk of having to transfer — or lose — your license.

There are two different situations, not to be confused: license transfer always works and automatically generates the keys you need, whatever the status of your updates. Reserve activation — that is, a new license, to be requested when the source computer is no longer available — can instead only be provided once, and only if the license’s update period is still valid (see further down the section “How to request a reserve activation”).

What you can do with “Transfer license”

  1. Transfer a license to a new computer: deactivate a Mold Simulator or Frame Simulator license on the computer where the program is installed (the source computer) and activate it on another computer (the destination computer).
  2. Suspend a license: temporarily lock a license on the computer where the program is installed before making hardware or software changes — such as replacing the hard disk, formatting, or changing operating system — in order to reactivate it on the same computer once the changes are complete.
SOURCE COMPUTER the current one (where the license is today) DESTINATION COMPUTER the new one (where you want to use it) 1. Lock 2. Activate
The transfer moves the license from the computer where it is currently active (source) to the new computer (destination): you lock the license on the source computer, generate the new activation key, and use it to activate the program on the destination computer.

For a temporary suspension (before formatting or changing operating system, without changing machine), the source and destination computers in the diagram are the same computer: the source one is the computer before the changes, the destination one is the same computer after the changes.

Can’t access the program anymore?

If you can no longer start the program whose license you want to transfer or lock — for example because you’ve already formatted the hard disk, or because the computer is broken or has been disposed of — you can no longer lock it yourself: you’ll need to request a reserve activation, described at the end of this guide.
In normal cases, however, the transfer only requires an internet connection and you can do it yourself by following the steps below.

How to transfer your license to a new computer

1. Install the program on the destination computer

Always use the most up-to-date installation file for your version:

  • if you’re not sure which version you have, check it in the Help → About menu of the program you want to transfer;
  • download the installation file from your Dartwin User Panel, whose link was sent to you in the activation email. If you can’t find it anymore, request it from support@dartwin.it;
  • for very old versions the installation file may no longer be available: in that case you’ll need to recover it yourself from your own archives. If you’re unsure which version you need, write to support@dartwin.it stating your license details.

2. Start the program on the destination computer and copy the Computer Codes

When the program starts on the destination computer, the Computer Codes appear: you only need the codes for the modules you’ve actually purchased and want to transfer. Copy each code with Ctrl+C directly from the field, rather than retyping it by hand: characters such as “O” and “0”, or “l” and “1”, are easy to mix up, and a transcription error will prevent the key from being generated in step 5.

The “Send computer codes to Dartwin via internet” and “by email” links in this window are only for asking Dartwin to manually generate an activation key (for example for a reserve activation): you don’t need them for a transfer, because the new key is generated automatically in step 5.

These are your NEW COMPUTER CODES: you’ll need them in step 5 to generate the new activation key and unlock the program. If you need to transfer more than one program (for example both Mold Simulator and Frame Simulator), copy all the codes you need, but remember that licenses are transferred one at a time: repeat the whole procedure described in this guide separately for each program.

3. On the source computer, start the transfer

Start the program you want to transfer on the computer where it is currently in use (the source computer) and click Help → Transfer license…

4. Confirm the license lock

A message will appear asking if you want to proceed with the transfer.

Clicking “Yes” locks the license immediately. From this point on you won’t be able to use the program on this computer anymore: you’ll have to complete the transfer on another computer, or wait at least one hour to reactivate it on this same computer. Clicking “No” cancels the procedure and nothing gets locked.

5. Generate the new activation key

After confirming, a window with the data needed for the transfer will appear. Make sure your internet connection is active.

Before generating the new key, we recommend clicking “Save information”: a window opens where you can save a .txt file with all the transfer data (old computer code, lock key, and the link to the web page). It’s not required, but it’s very useful if you want to generate the new key from another computer, and it’s the file Dartwin Support will ask you for if you run into problems during the transfer.

Then click “and click here to get a new activation key”: the Fluid Interactive website opens, with the source computer’s data already filled in.

Enter the new computer code for the license you’re transferring (the destination computer’s, copied in step 2). If you connect to the site from a computer other than the one the program was installed on (the source computer), the fields for the old computer are empty: copy them from the .txt file you saved in the previous step.

Once all three fields are filled in, click “Submit”: the site automatically generates the NEW ACTIVATION KEY for the destination computer.

6. Activate the program on the destination computer

Copy (Ctrl+C) the new key and paste it (Ctrl+V) into the activation box on the destination computer (the same “Activation” window shown in step 2): the program unlocks and the license is transferred.

How to suspend a license so you can reactivate it on the same computer

If you need to modify the computer on which a Mold Simulator or Frame Simulator software license is active — for example replacing or formatting the hard disk, or changing operating system (e.g. from Windows 10 to Windows 11) — without changing machine, you still need to suspend the license first. Otherwise the activation keys provided at purchase will no longer be valid, and you’ll have to request a reserve activation (possible only once).

The procedure is the same as described above: here the source computer is the computer before the changes and the destination computer is the same computer after the changes.

  1. Lock the license, as in steps 3 and 4 of the transfer procedure.
  2. Save the information to a text file, as in step 5.
  3. Once the license is locked, make the changes to the computer.
  4. Once the changes are complete, reinstall the program.
  5. Start the program and copy the new Computer Codes, as in step 2.
  6. Go to the link saved in the text file and generate the new key, as in steps 5 and 6.

Important notes

  • The number of transfers is unlimited: you can always generate new keys to transfer the program again.
  • To transfer the license back to the old computer, at least one hour must pass since the license was locked.
  • Each lock key generated during a transfer can be used only once: be careful not to lose the new activation key, because you won’t be able to generate another one for the same transfer.
  • Generating a lock key invalidates the old activation keys — including the original ones provided at purchase. Always keep the new key: you may need it to reinstall the program on the same computer.
  • Always use copy (Ctrl+C) and paste (Ctrl+V) to enter codes and keys, to avoid transcription errors.

How to request a reserve activation

Software activations are generated based on the computer’s hardware characteristics. If you’re planning hardware changes, always remember to suspend or transfer the license before making them, following the steps earlier in this guide: in that case you won’t need any reserve activation.

If, however, you weren’t able to lock the license in time — for example because the computer suddenly stopped working — we can provide you with a reserve activation: in practice, the free issuing of a new license for the destination computer.

Warning

A reserve activation is possible only once per license, and only if the update period is still valid. If your updates have expired, we cannot generate a new reserve activation key: you’ll need to renew your updates first.

To request it, send an email to sales@dartwin.it stating:

  • a reference for the purchased license (order number, invoice number, or original activation key);
  • the new computer code of the destination computer, on which you want to reactivate the license.

After using the reserve activation, we recommend switching to a USB activation key, or to a Web License subscription: both are independent of computer hardware and can be used on any machine.

How to switch from a software key to a USB key

You can purchase and request the transfer of your license to a USB key at any time:

  1. Log in at www.dartwin.it
  2. Purchase the USB key from the online product page
  3. As soon as we receive your order and payment, we’ll send you the USB key already activated with your programs.