Move to another computer

An AFDIM licence belongs to one computer. When that computer changes, or when you move to a new one, the licence is issued again for the computer you use now. You keep the same licence, plan and expiry date. A perpetual licence keeps its update period.

Which case you are in

Situation	Status AFDIM shows
Windows reinstalled on the same computer	This machine has changed, or Not activated if the licence file is gone
Hard disk, motherboard or other hardware replaced	This machine has changed
Licence file copied to a new computer	Issued for another machine
AFDIM installed on a new computer, no licence file	Not activated

In AutoCAD®, AFDIM shows this status on the About tab of its settings dialog. It also shows the status in the AFDIM is not activated window when you run AFDIM. In every case the licence must be issued again for the computer you use now. The steps depend on how you activated the licence: with a licence key or with a licence file.

With a licence key

If you activated AFDIM with a licence key, use the case that fits your situation:

• Same computer, Windows reinstalled: enter the key again with Enter licence key… on the About tab. You do not need to ask for anything.
• New computer, and the old computer still works: within the limits below, move the licence yourself. No support request is needed.
• Old computer broken or gone, or the key is refused after a hardware change: AFDIM says why it refuses the key on the computer you use now. Open the Licence page, choose Move my licence to this computer and enter your licence key. You need no request code. The reply tells you when the move is approved. Then enter the key on the computer you use now. The licence on the old computer is withdrawn.

Move the licence yourself

1. On the old computer, click Settings on the AFDIM ribbon tab. The computer must be online.
2. Go to the About tab and click Move licence to another computer…. The button appears only for a licence that you activated with a licence key.
3. Under Reason for the move (required):, write why you move the licence, for example “a new computer” or “the old one is away for repair”. The reason must be 5 to 200 characters long. AFDIM stores the reason with the move.
4. Click Move licence. A window titled Move the licence to another computer? shows your key and your reason.
5. Click Move licence in that window to confirm. AFDIM removes the licence from this computer and shows the message below, with <key> as your licence key.
6. On the new computer, install AFDIM if it is not installed yet.
7. On the new computer, click Enter licence key… on the About tab and enter the same key. The licence keeps its plan and expiry date.

The licence is removed from this computer. On the new computer: AFDIM Settings › About › Enter licence key…, then type <key>.

You can move a key yourself only when it has been on the computer for 30 days. These limits also apply:

• A quarterly or yearly key can move at most 2 times in any 365 days. After a move, AFDIM can append Moves left in the next 12 months: <n>. to the confirmation.
• A perpetual key can move once in total, only in the first 365 days after purchase. This window starts at purchase, not activation. Renewing updates does not restore the used move, reset the count or extend this window. After the window ends or the move is used, write to support@afdim.com for any further move. The update end date in Licence can change after a renewal; it does not show or extend the move window.

Entering the key again on the same computer, for example after a Windows reinstall or a renewal, does not restart the 30 days. If AFDIM refuses a move, it says why. If the key has not been on the computer long enough, AFDIM also says from which date you can move it. If you cannot wait, write to support@afdim.com and include your licence key. A computer that has stopped working for good can always be moved: write to support.

If your licence came as a file and you reinstalled Windows on the same computer, load the same license.json again with Load licence… on the About tab. Keep the email that the file came in. If AFDIM does not accept the file, follow the steps for a licence file below. The licence is issued again for that computer free of charge.

If the move does not finish

AFDIM shows the result under the buttons of the Licence group.

AFDIM says	What it means	What to do
Not moved - AFDIM still runs on this computer: <reason>	The move was refused or could not be sent. Nothing has changed, and the licence is still on this computer. <reason> says why, for example a limit or the 30 days.	Read the reason. If the reason is the network, check it and try again. If you cannot wait, write to support@afdim.com and include your licence key.
The key is released, but local licence cleanup could not be completed. Close the other CAD windows and try moving the licence again on this computer. Then the steps for the new computer	The server released the key, but AFDIM could not remove the licence from this computer, possibly because another CAD window is using it.	Close the other CAD windows. Then try Move licence to another computer… again on this computer. Until the licence is removed, AFDIM may still run here. You can already enter the key on the new computer.
The key is released, but this file could not be deleted: <file>. Delete it, or AFDIM keeps running here until it expires. Then the steps for the new computer	The server released the key, but a copy of the licence stays on this computer. <file> is the path of that copy.	Delete the file that the message names. If you do not, AFDIM keeps running on this computer until the licence expires.
The licence could not be saved on this computer. Close the other CAD windows and try again. If this continues, contact support.	AFDIM could not write the licence on this computer, for example because another CAD window is using it. This can happen when you enter the key on the new computer.	Close the other CAD windows and try again. If the message continues, contact support. See also The licence could not be saved.

When the key is already released, moving the licence again is safe: the server gives the same answer as the first time.

Steps

These steps are for a licence that came as a file.

1. Install AFDIM on the computer you will use, if it is not installed yet, and restart AutoCAD.
2. Click Settings on the AFDIM ribbon tab, go to the About tab and click Request licence. AFDIM shows the request code of this computer.
3. Open the Licence page, paste the request code and choose Move my licence to this computer. Instead of pasting, you can click Send via afdim.com on the About tab. It opens the Licence page with the code already filled in.
4. Enter the email address that the licence was sent to, so that the licence can be found. The page prepares an email. Send it.
5. You receive a new license.json for this computer, within 3 business days.
6. Load it with Load licence… on the About tab. See Activate a licence.

What happens to the old copy

The licence that is issued again replaces the previous one. It is the same licence, now bound to the computer you use.

• A licence covers one computer at a time. After a move, stop using AFDIM on the old computer and uninstall it there.
• The licence on the old computer can be withdrawn after a move. That computer then shows Licence withdrawn once AFDIM has checked for updates. A perpetual licence never expires by itself, so its old copy is withdrawn after every move.
• If an old and a new licence file are both on one computer, AFDIM uses the newer one and ignores the older one.
• For a licence that came as a file, you do not need to deactivate anything on the old computer before you ask for the move.

Take your settings with you

Licences and settings are separate. To keep your settings on a new computer:

• Custom drafting standards: click Export… on the Drafting standard tab on the old computer, and Import… on the new one.
• All settings: with AutoCAD closed on both computers, copy %AppData%\AFDIM\settings.json and the %AppData%\AFDIM\standards\ folder to the same place on the new computer.