Sometimes, malicious software or previous pirated versions of software modify your Windows hosts file to block license verification.
If the driver update didn't work, the "License Support" setup might be corrupted.
To change the ETABS license manager port:
If you want, tell me: your OS (server/client), whether license is local or floating, and lmstat output — I’ll give exact commands and config lines.
How to Fix the ETABS "License Not Recognized" Error #120 The ETABS "License Not Recognized" Error #120 typically occurs when the software is unable to verify your license file, often because it is incomplete, corrupted, or mismatched with your system settings. This error can block you from opening your structural models, but it is usually resolvable through specific reactivation or configuration steps. Primary Cause: Incomplete or Corrupted License
According to CSI Knowledge Base, Error 120 specifically indicates that the license file is incomplete. This might happen if: An activation process was interrupted.
The system registry entries became corrupted during installation.
The machine's hardware locking criteria (like Ethernet address or CPU info) changed after the license was issued. Step-by-Step Solutions to Resolve Error 120 1. Deactivate and Reactivate Your License
For standalone licenses, the most direct fix is to refresh the activation status.
Locate the CSiLicensing folder (typically in C:\Program Files\Computers and Structures\ETABS [Version]\CSiLicensing). etabs license not recognized error 120 work
Run the deactivation tool to remove the current incomplete license.
Re-run the activation process to generate a fresh, complete lservrc file. 2. Check System Date and Regional Formats
Discrepancies in how your computer reads dates can sometimes trigger licensing errors in CSI software. Ensure your system date and time are correct.
Change your PC date/number format to US (mm/dd/yyyy). Some users have found that non-US date formats cause the StandaloneKey.exe to fail to recognize valid licenses. 3. Verify Your Computer ID (CID)
If you use a hardware key (dongle), the error may occur if the driver isn't communicating with the software.
Run WechoID.exe from the installation folder to ensure the Computer ID checkbox is enabled.
If the ID isn't recognized, download and install the latest Sentinel System Driver. 4. Clean Install and Registry Fix
If the error persists, it may be due to leftover registry keys from older or evaluation versions.
Uninstall all previous versions of ETABS and related CSI software. Reboot your machine. If the driver update didn't work, the "License
Run the installation as an Administrator to ensure the installer has permission to write to the registry. When to Contact Support
If these steps do not clear the "License Not Recognized" message, you may need to provide CSI Technical Support with diagnostic files for manual verification:
Screenshots of your locking codes from the CSiLicensing folder.
The lservrc file (if it exists) located in the main ETABS directory.
The Error.LOG or LicenseError.LOG file found in the CSiLicensing folder.
Are you using a standalone license or a network license managed by a server? Licensing errors generated when running CSI software
Table_title: Licensing errors generated when running CSI software Table_content: header: | Error Code | Problem Description | row: CSI Knowledge Base Licensing errors generated when running CSI software
Error #120: License Not Recognized typically indicates that the license file is incomplete or corrupted
. This error often persists even after updating the license and will cause the program to terminate. Core Solutions for Error #120 To change the ETABS license manager port:
Depending on your license type, use the following steps to resolve the issue: For Standalone Licenses Reactivate
: Deactivate your current license and then perform a fresh activation. Check Computer ID (CID) WechoID.exe (found in the CSiLicensing
subfolder) to ensure the "Computer ID" checkbox is enabled and the computer recognizes your key. Update Sentinel Driver : If using a USB key or CID key, ensure the Sentinel System Driver is installed and up to date. Manage Native Images CSiNativeImageGen.exe utility found in the installation directory and select the Uninstall (F4)
option to clear any conflicting .NET native images that may interfere with license recognition. Verify Regional Settings In some cases, specific licensing utilities (like Standalonekey.exe
) fail due to date/number formatting. Changing your PC format to US (mm/dd/yyyy) can resolve hidden recognition errors. CSI Knowledge Base Essential Troubleshooting Tools These tools are located in the CSiLicensing subfolder within your ETABS installation directory: Computers and Structures, Inc. CSILicenseAssistant.exe
To check or change the current license mode (Standalone vs. Network) without reinstallation. WechoID.exe
To verify the locking code (Ethernet, CPU, or UUID) of your machine against your license file. lsdecode.exe
To view your current license type and expiration date to ensure it hasn't expired.
: Changes to your machine's hardware, including repairs or reformatting, can alter the locking criteria (UUID/Ethernet address) and cause the license to stop working. Always deactivate your license before performing major system maintenance. CSI Knowledge Base a web-activated license?
Here’s a concise troubleshooting piece for the ETABS error 120: “License not recognized”: