Pro/Engineer doesn't recognize network card

I tried installing Pro/Engineer Wildfire on my Windows 2000
system. I have a Realtek RTL8139(A) PCI-Fast Ethernet-Adapter
(connected to a cablemodem, forming my internet connection),
which works with no problem, and got myself a license file at
www.ptc.com for this card's hardware address as reported by
ipconfig /all.

Now when running PTC.Setup and trying to install the license
server, I get the message "PTC.Setup has not found a Host-ID.
Make sure that you have installed and configured an ethernet
network adapter ..." I have then removed and re-installed my
network card in the device manager - no success.

I managed to install Pro/Engineer without the license server,
but of course when trying to start the program I get several
error messages of not finding a license server and not finding a
network adapter. My distributor's helpdesk has not found a
solution today ....

Any idea what could be wrong and how I could help PTC.Setup to
find my network card?

 

Is this computer a laptop with a WiFi card? Or does it have more tha one
network adapter of any kind? Both of these will cause problems because the
license manager will only see one of them. Run IPCONFIG /ALL again and look
for more than one MAC address. Also, if the computer is not actually on the
network (which for you is a cablemodem) the card still may not be recognized
as existing at all. In other words if you have to run software of any kind
to access the network make sure it is running and try again.

Good Luck!!! I had a similar problem and never ever got a working answer
from PTC and gave up.

 

You don't want to install a license server. You need to choose
"Nodelocked license" or something like that. The license server
is a FlexLM deadly-bobber for one server serving licenses to many
boxes on the network. You are using a node-locked license. Not
the same thing at all. If I remember correctly there is a point
early in the install routine which gives you the choice.

You now have to uninstall the entire thing. Pro/E won't reinstall
to the same place and most likely if you try to just reinstall it
but choose another license method, it'll still remember the first
method you chose and not give you the choice. You want to get
EVERYTHING when you uninstall it, so use the Winshit uninstaller.
Then do a clean install and watch for the nodelocked choice. If
you didn't get asked for the location of your license file then
you did it wrong the first time. I *think* it was the last of
three choices you get in one of the windows during installation.

It's true that having more than one NIC will confuse the licensing
system. If you turn off the *second* NIC during the install (you can
do that from the NIC-management folder in control panel, just rmb
on the adapter's icon, then choose disable. You can re-enable later)
then it seems that Pro/E will use that address fine in the future,
even if you have two NIC's. No guarantees on that one, tho.

It is NOT true that unless you are "using" the NIC, pro/e won't
be able to use it. First, the cable modem is only a modem. The
connection STILL has to go through the network interface card.
If you're using cable you ARE using your NIC. Second, the computer
is aware of the hardware even if it isn't being used. In the olden
dayes before everyone was internetted people often had to install
NIC's just for the MAC address for copy protection. I don't remember
where to look for the MAC address, but free IP tools such as WinIP
will be able to suss it out for you. Then look in your license file
that came from PTC. Your MAC address should match the number in the
license file.

A couple hints : don't install Pro/E or ANYTHING into "My Programs"
or wherever the H Microsoft insists on putting them. I put the os
on one partition, the apps on a second, and the data on a third.
When it comes cleanup time life is MUCH easier that way. I have a
directory on the apps partition for licenses. Back it up. When you
get the Pro and your other apps running nicely, zip 'em up and save
the zip somewhere. Then when something Bad happens, format the partition
and unzip 'em. Or if it's just a Minor Bad, erase the blown directory,
defrag the drive (NTFS sucks) and unzip. Back again in business in
less than twenty minutes. Much quicker, easier, and less stressful
than trying to figure out how the hell Bill's Little Creation barfed
*this* time when your back was turned.