Activation Troubleshooting for ZBrush 3.5R2 Windows

[Support]

Use this thread to post questions or issues concerning activation for ZBrush 3.5R2 Windows.


Please include your complete system specifications
Operating System, CPU type and speed, RAM, disk space, graphics card, and anything else that might be applicable beyond those basics.
This information is very helpful to the people trying to answer your question, as well as helping us look for patterns.
Be sure to include this information even if you have already given it in another of your posts.


Thanks!

[mrnick1234567]

Hello Support, I have sent an email regarding this too, but as it is urgent I thought I would post here incase any users had the same issue.

I have installed 3 copies of Z-Brush 3.5 - two are the new v3.5R2 which I installed this morning.

However we are having problems. Both our artists using the 3.5R2 software quit it for one reason or another. When they relaunch it, it asks to be activated again.

If we enter the activation codes we received on the browser page again (or paste the Zactivation.zsc file sent by email) it says 'activation failed'.

We are using a network environment. I was careful to install the software as Administrator, then log out and log in as the user to activate it.

It looks like zbrush can read the Zactivation.zsc file as if we try and enter the code again the access time is modified, as if it is writing to it.

Both machines are running XP64 - latest service packs / updates, have 8Gig Ram, Dual Opteron CPUs. They previously had Zbrush 3 on them which I successfully unlicenced and removed using control panel as per the uninstall intructions. We had to install the latest C++ runtime in the troubleshooting folder to get the software to work.

Any help appreciated.

Nick

[Harmonic]

I haven't been able to activate 3.5 or 3.5R2. I just keep getting the activation failed message. I have already read and tried everything from the support site.

Windows XP Pro
2 GB ram
Amd 500+ Athlon64 X2 Dual Core Processors
GeForce 7600GT 256mb
2 300GB SATA Hard Drive RAID 0

The computer I use for art is not generally connected to the Internet, I just connect it temporarily every now and then to activate software and such. I will try running windows update today and see if that helps.

Update
I Updated my computer this morning with noton update and windows update and 3.5 R2 activated no problem.

[alannoon]

ISSUE #1:
3.5 worked no problem.

Downloaded and unzipped 3.5r2.

Deactivated 3.5

Ran and activated 3.5r2.

Was greeted with the error:

zb3.5r2.jpg

Attempted to run ZB again, became unauthorized.

Went through authorization process, cannot get authorized.

Emailed as directed in prompt seen above. Redirected to support site.

Came here.

Windows Vista 64bit SP1 (UAC Disabled)
Intel Xenon 5140 @ 2.33GHz
8GB RAM
nVidia Quadro FX 3450/4000 SDI
300GB Hard Drive, with 197GB free
12GB Pagefile

[Support]

Thanks Zaphod:)

[alannoon]

Created folders.

Ran ZB3.5r2.

Asked for authorization.

Filled out form.

Taken to page:
ZBrush Registration and Activation
This page is only for users who would like to activate the Windows version of ZBrush 3.5.

Attempted to use previously obtained Authorization Key

Authorization Failed.

[alannoon]

I used the serial number that was emailed to me on 9/10/09 after upgrading to the original ZB3.5. Is that not the correct one?

[alannoon]

I am pretty sure I did all that, but to be sure, I am redownloading and starting over.

Sorry, I am not trying to be difficult. I blame Vista, which I despise, but unfortunately have to use here at work. At home, with my personal copy of ZB3.5r2 on WinXP 64bit, I had no problems what so ever.

[alannoon]

Ok, I went through the process again, and it seemed to work this time.

Perhaps this will be of value to others: The only thing I can figure out that I did differently was how I extracted the files from the archive.

Originally, I opened the .ZIP in IZArc and dragged the ZBrush 3.5R2 folder to ...Program Files (x86)/Pixologic directly from the IZArc dialog. "vmem and TempFiles" folders were not created.

The second time, I again opened the .ZIP in IZArc, but used the "Extract" button and aimed it at ...Program Files (x86)/Pixologic. This time, "vmem" and the TempFiles folder was created automatically.

So I think I am all good. My virtual mem problem also seems to have cleared up.

THANKS!

[maxmax]

Hello,

I have an activation problem by activate 3.5R2 after deactivate 3.5 on my desktop pc. Now I read after enter my serial number:

"You have reached the maximum number of activations for this serial number.
This machine was never registered and the number of active licenses has reached the maximum alloted for your purchase agreement.

If you would like make a request to technical support to deactivate an installed license on a different machine, please click on the link below."


Before the activation by 3.5r2, I have done a lot of activation for 3.5...because every new start of zbrush 3.5 had need a new activation on my system.

Noe there is no activation on my desktop...and I dont have an activation code for activate:cry:

sorry about my english!

[chrom]

maxmax i have the same problem as you and already sent to support to deactivate the 2 instalation that i have one home and one in work.
All worked fine before the upgrade to 3.5R2

now iam waiting hope all will be ok

[bokaja]

I lost the original mail with the link to the download site - how do I get it back? I have already deactivated the 3.5 edition.

[BrianW]

I have a Windows XP Home edition, SP2 updates current.
I am running an AMD 2600+ 2Ghz chip set with 4GB RAM.
An NVidia GE Force 6200 driver updates current.
No trouble with ZBrush 3.1...
After downloading and unzipping 3.5R2 into ZBrush folder and clicking on ZBrush.exe I get a task bar ZBrush button that says "ZBrush not responding".
I have in the past followed the procedures suggested to solve the web activation failure issues. You know, disable anti-virus software...running vcredist_x86_VS2008_sp1.exe, etc yadda yadda to no effect.

Is anyone experiencing better luck ordering and running the CD? I know Windows Voodoo rules may apply here.

Thanks in advance!
BrianW

[Kerwin]

Hello,

I have an activation problem by activate 3.5R2 after deactivate 3.5 on my desktop pc. Now I read after enter my serial number:

"You have reached the maximum number of activations for this serial number.
This machine was never registered and the number of active licenses has reached the maximum alloted for your purchase agreement.

If you would like make a request to technical support to deactivate an installed license on a different machine, please click on the link below."


Before the activation by 3.5r2, I have done a lot of activation for 3.5...because every new start of zbrush 3.5 had need a new activation on my system.

Noe there is no activation on my desktop...and I dont have an activation code for activate:cry:

sorry about my english!You'll have to open a ticket with the Pixologix support guys (support.pixologic.com). The "deactivation" system is broken for some of us and they are being slow to recognize their is a problem with their new IP protection scheme (I just got a boiler-plate answer when I pointed this out to them in my ticket.) Maybe if we open enough tickets, and make enough noise about this, Pixologic will get it--we're sick of IP schemes that break at the drop of a hat and require us to call and have the thing fixed manually each time we move a license.

Not that the support guys haven't been great about it. They have always reactivated me after I run out of activations, but this is getting ridiculous that they keep implementing schemes that are so fragile. (Zbrush activation is by far the most fragile out of dozens of products I own.)

-K

[Digitalthumbs]

Getting error message "the application failed to start because it's side by side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log is incorrect."
I'm running Vista 64bit. Can anyone advise What I am doing wrong?

[MrJamela]

I'm also getting this "ZBrush Registration and Activation
This page is only for users who would like to activate the Windows version of ZBrush 3.5." error.

Very annoying.

I installed the new version. It appeared to work fine. Did the web registration, no problem. But when I quit and reloaded the app, it told me I wasn't registered.

I've tried reinstalling it and dropping in the license file that I was e-mailed, but it doesn't seem to be recognizing it.

As far as I can tell, all folders, etc. are accounted for.

Jaime

[MrJamela]

Didn't mention this before, but I'm running Windows 7.

It ran fine until I restarted the application. Then it somehow unregistered itself and nothing I do seems to make a difference.

[preb0]

We are experiencing exactly the same as Jamela. Yesterday we installed 3.5R2 on a user's machine and when he logged in this morning, it was deactivated again. The activation file, we received is not working anymore.

We are running XP64 though.

What to do, dear Pixologic?

Cheers!

[calico1]

I agree, Zaphod. This should be fixed and then given to us in good order.

[Kerwin]

I concur with the frustration, especially about the product rough edges. However, just dropping ZB isn't an option for me because it still is the most efficient sculpting system out there . . .

Our frustration, though, will probably not be resolved through disengagement as Pixologic seems immune to that tactic. (Heck, they've been immune to problems in the Mac community for years, that ultimately took to ZB3.2 to fix and for the past two years, a RAID system was sure ticket to loosing installs on a PC . . .)

I willing to take the time to file tickets, since I haven't actually paid for any new upgrades since I first bought the product in 2001. ;)

-K

[tsitrana]

:confused: I lost the original mail with the link to the download site - how do I get it back? I have already deactivated the 3.5 edition.
I have the same problem, what do we do? ANYBODY?

[mrnick1234567]

preb0 (member.php?u=167799), we are having the same issue as you (see my post earlier on). We are also on X64. v3.5 seems to work but not 3.5R2.

[Kerwin]

:confused:
I have the same problem, what do we do? ANYBODY?Support Ticket.

[MrJamela]

I did submit a ticket for this problem, although I would think that an entire sub-forum dedicated to a single issue, with a single thread would probably be a good spot as well. :)

I'm sure they'll figure it out.

I do think this would have been circumvented with a regular installer instead of unzipping. I wonder if permissions issues prevented the right files from overwriting.

I also plugged in my wacom, but I doubt that has anything to do with this.

Jaime

[abxy]

When I attempt a web activation I keep getting a result page that tells me this:

Email ErrorThe email address provided does not match with the serial key provided at the time of purchase.
Please try again.


I've tried about every email address combination that I can think of, including using the email address that the original "ZBrush 3.5 for the PC (Upgrade Info)" email was sent to. Nothing seems to work. I'm positive that I'm entering in the correct key since I'm copying and pasting the serial from the saved html page.

If I try to just start over and use the link in the "ZBrush 3.5 for the PC (Upgrade Info)" email it takes me to an INVALID PAGE page. Perhaps the email was typo'd when I registered and that's screwing everything up, but I doubt it. What do I do?

[aurick]

When I attempt a web activation I keep getting a result page that tells me this:

Email ErrorThe email address provided does not match with the serial key provided at the time of purchase.
Please try again.


I've tried about every email address combination that I can think of, including using the email address that the original "ZBrush 3.5 for the PC (Upgrade Info)" email was sent to. Nothing seems to work. I'm positive that I'm entering in the correct key since I'm copying and pasting the serial from the saved html page.

If I try to just start over and use the link in the "ZBrush 3.5 for the PC (Upgrade Info)" email it takes me to an INVALID PAGE page. Perhaps the email was typo'd when I registered and that's screwing everything up, but I doubt it. What do I do?
Please submit a support ticket on this. We'll be able to look at the entries on the server and make sure that things are correct so that you can proceed to activate.

[aurick]

preb0 (http://member.php/?u=167799), we are having the same issue as you (see my post earlier on). We are also on X64. v3.5 seems to work but not 3.5R2.
Has anything changed between when you activated and when it wasn't working? For example, did you launch ZBrush under a different user account? Anything you can think of that might be different would help us track down what is happening.

[aurick]

:confused:
I have the same problem, what do we do? ANYBODY?
It's not the ORIGINAL email that you need. That upgrade link was simply to create your 3.5 account. Once created, the link became useless.

What you need is the email that was sent AFTER upgrading. The one that has your cleverbridge reference number and serial number for version 3.5. That same email has your download link, which is good for a total of 14 days. Clicking it will give you the file called ZBrush3_5.zip, which when extracted will result in the ZBrush 3.5R2 folder.

If you no longer have the right email, submit a support ticket so that it can be resent to you. Cleverbridge can also resend your delivery email. (Just don't call them for technical support.)

[mrnick1234567]

Has anything changed between when you activated and when it wasn't working? For example, did you launch ZBrush under a different user account? Anything you can think of that might be different would help us track down what is happening.Hi Aurick,

Absolutely nothing changed. From speaking to the artists, they both just quit the software and relaunched it. They didn't log out or reboot or anything.

I have managed to reactivate one copy by entering the serial code by going through web activation again. Initially it said that the licence had already been activated on this machine, but then gave me the option to send a new code which I selected. The new code reactivated the software, however we don't want to quit it again as we may get the same issue on startup. I imagine this also will take another activation off out 15 licence allocation which will have to be reset somepoint.

Nick

[Neox]

stupid me, i clicked the link in the initial mail, decided to not upgrade right now because i had too much work to do, forgot it and now that i have time the link doesn't work anymore, as i didn't fill out anything i don't have a second mail :/

[MrJamela]

So.... Any progress? I'm feeling supported around.

[Gridlost]

ok,

I followed the instructions form the first email. clicked the link downloaded SR2.

installed it, ran the trouble shooting program, then later realized i had to give Zbrush permissions to run. I run Vista 64.

ok I cheer, Zbrush loads. then I faced with a burly serial check. ok, so i web activate. enter in my Email, serial number then press proceed. sends me to a page with no links. I check my email for 2nd email. its not there. I cannot activate SR2. arg.
OK, now what?

[aurick]

ok,

I followed the instructions form the first email. clicked the link downloaded SR2.

installed it, ran the trouble shooting program, then later realized i had to give Zbrush permissions to run. I run Vista 64.

ok I cheer, Zbrush loads. then I faced with a burly serial check. ok, so i web activate. enter in my Email, serial number then press proceed. sends me to a page with no links. I check my email for 2nd email. its not there. I cannot activate SR2. arg.
OK, now what?
The page you were taken to probably said that it was for ZBrush 3.5 only. Am I right?

First, did you try again and ensure that you entered the serial number (and your email address) correctly before proceeding? If so and it took you back to the same page, then please try one more time. This time don't fill in the form. Instead, copy the URL that is at the top of your browser window and then submit a ticket through http://support.pixologic.com (http://support.pixologic.com). Include the URL from the activation system and also be sure to include your cleverbridge reference number and serial number.

[mrnick1234567]

I have a work around reagrding our issue of us licencing the software, and then it saying it's unlicenced the next time we run it.

A colleague here spoke to the guys up the road at SCEE who had the same problem. They got around it by activating each machine twice. Both times as the user. I have just done this on the two machine I had 3.5 R2 on and it seems to work - even across reboots / log out. It moans about the machine already being licenced, but you can still request another code.

However I want to know if it means we are using up 2 of our activations per machine this way - which obviously would be bad.

I do hope the licence system gets more robust soon. I dread to think the amount of artist and sysadmin time we have lost due to Z-Brush activation issues over the last few years!

Nick

[aurick]

I have a work around reagrding our issue of us licencing the software, and then it saying it's unlicenced the next time we run it.

A colleague here spoke to the guys up the road at SCEE who had the same problem. They got around it by activating each machine twice. Both times as the user. I have just done this on the two machine I had 3.5 R2 on and it seems to work - even across reboots / log out. It moans about the machine already being licenced, but you can still request another code.

However I want to know if it means we are using up 2 of our activations per machine this way - which obviously would be bad.

I do hope the licence system gets more robust soon. I dread to think the amount of artist and sysadmin time we have lost due to Z-Brush activation issues over the last few years!

Nick
This is an issue that we are working on right now. We'll let everyone know when it has been resolved. Thanks!

[mrnick1234567]

Great, thanks Aurick.

[Gridlost]

Aurick?

When i post a reply to my ticket discussion, dose the Tech get notified that my issue is unresolved? or Do I need to start a new ticket?

Figured you were in the know on these matters... :cool:

I followed your advice, with the url and all. still waiting for a response from the origional tech.

[mosquito]

1. I installed 3.5R2 on winXP
2. and deactivate successfully and install win7 OS
3. install ZB 3.5R2 and activate via web <- success.

4. reboot and run 3.5R2... but ZB is deactivated:cry:
5. "activate by web access" click and retry activation
but I can see following image only
zbcenter.JPG (javascript:zb_insimg('159115','zbcenter.JPG',1,0))
there is no response code

please help:cry:
sorry for my bad english

[MrJamela]

Welcome to the party Mosquito. I'm in the same boat.

They are working on this problem -- just wish it was fixed so I could log some Zbrush time this weekend.

Jaime

[mosquito]

1. I installed 3.5R2 on winXP <--- at D drive root
2. and deactivate successfully and install win7 OS
3. install ZB 3.5R2 and activate via web <- success. <------at C drive progra~\pixologic folder

4. reboot and run 3.5R2... but ZB is deactivated:cry:
5. "activate by web access" click and retry activation
but I can see following image only <---------------reinstall at D drive root and try activate....Now I can see the code at that page.

exit and rerun, reboot and rerun.... now always run with activated successfully:)

maybe ZB3.5 activate process is associate with several disk...? hehe

sorry for my bad english...I hope this helps you.

[aurick]

1. I installed 3.5R2 on winXP
2. and deactivate successfully and install win7 OS
3. install ZB 3.5R2 and activate via web <- success.

4. reboot and run 3.5R2... but ZB is deactivated:cry:
5. "activate by web access" click and retry activation
but I can see following image only

there is no response code

please help:cry:
sorry for my bad english
Click the Web Activation button. On the page with the form, before filling it out, copy the URL for the page. Submit that as a support ticket. We need that in order to troubleshoot and try to find why this is happening to some people.

Before you do this, though, please double check to make sure that you are using the ZBrush 3.5 serial number. There have been a number of people getting this page, only to have it turn out that they were still trying to use their old ZBrush 3.1 serial numbers.

[robertrageson]

Hey everyone,
i found that any VISTA users need to have SERVICE PACK 1 installed. This has resolved the issue with having to activate zbrush every time you start it.

[MrJamela]

I deleted and reinstalled in the root directory of my C Drive and resubmitted web activation.

This time it seems to have worked....

I think I'm good now, but we'll see what happens.

[ubrisky]

I think this is enough .....
I do agree with you. Those are the most effective way

[ibialick]

Intel Q660 Quad Core @ 2.4 Ghz
8 Gigs of Ram
Fresh System Install of XP x64 Fully Updated
C++ 2005 x86 & x64
C++ 2008 x86 & x64
Windows Update (got 2 small updates for C++ Libraries)
Installed 3.1 and activated
Installed 3.5 and Activated
Installed 3.5R2 and Activated

I know most probably don't have option/desire to fresh install their system, timing was just right for me. Perhaps there is something in my steps though that may help others to get successful activation. I am not sure if i needed to install both x86 and x64 versions of the C++ libraries but i was not sure if 32bit (x86) application could access a x64 C++ library so i figured better safe then sorry. Everything worked like clockwork. I probably took some extraneous steps installing all the versions so far(?) but it worked so i am happy.

Cheers Mates, Isaiah

[maximd]

Has anything changed between when you activated and when it wasn't working? For example, did you launch ZBrush under a different user account? Anything you can think of that might be different would help us track down what is happening.Hello,

just like preb0, we are experiencing the activation problem on Win XP 64 bit with Zbrush 3.5r2.

As you described aurick, Zbrush was activated with an Administrator account but was launched after logging in with a different user: the license is asked again, even if it was activated a few minutes ago.

However the problem exists also with the same account but after a reboot: Log in as administrator, activate Zbrush, launch zbrush 3.5r2: OK
Reboot
Log in as administrator, launch Zbrush: you must reactivate Zbrush

This is really annoying: is there a known issue which explains this behaviour?

[nstine]

Hey,

I recently purchased a copy of Zbrush 3.5R2. The installation and activation went smoothly, however, I had to go to class before I could complete the registration for my Cleverbridge account. Assuming I had my serial key in my email I closed the web page that displayed my serial key.

Later, while trying to create my Cleverbridge account I discovered that the serial key in my email is completely X'd out except for the last 4 letters/digits.

For example it looks similar to this: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-FAKE

Since I don't have a Cleverbridge account I cant send in a support ticket and I cant create an account until I have the entire serial key.

[aurick]

Hello,

just like preb0, we are experiencing the activation problem on Win XP 64 bit with Zbrush 3.5r2.

As you described aurick, Zbrush was activated with an Administrator account but was launched after logging in with a different user: the license is asked again, even if it was activated a few minutes ago.

However the problem exists also with the same account but after a reboot: Log in as administrator, activate Zbrush, launch zbrush 3.5r2: OK
Reboot
Log in as administrator, launch Zbrush: you must reactivate Zbrush

This is really annoying: is there a known issue which explains this behaviour?
Yes, and we're working on a fix. :)

[aurick]

Hey,

I recently purchased a copy of Zbrush 3.5R2. The installation and activation went smoothly, however, I had to go to class before I could complete the registration for my Cleverbridge account. Assuming I had my serial key in my email I closed the web page that displayed my serial key.

Later, while trying to create my Cleverbridge account I discovered that the serial key in my email is completely X'd out except for the last 4 letters/digits.

For example it looks similar to this: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-FAKE

Since I don't have a Cleverbridge account I cant send in a support ticket and I cant create an account until I have the entire serial key.
You do not need to fill in the license information to create a Support account. Only the system info is required. After you have submitted a ticket and gotten the license info that you need you can then log back into Support and update your account with the license info.

[nstine]

Wow, I cant believe I didn't notice that. I'm going to have to blame it on a lack of sleep. Anyways, thanks for the help.

[andreseloy]

1./Antivirus Off
2./Activation.zsc deleted
3./Web activation enable
4./Fill form enable
5./Activation key for this machine haave been already...you want a activation key copy..yes
6./Select activation key copy and paste and.....
7./Activation failed this was done N times!
8./Activation by phone failed!! very bad connection from where im living in a mountain in Los Andes, the guy who very kindly talk to me say that the activation code is to big for 3.52r
9./Emaail activarion send twice
10./Support tICKECT send done.....
11./waiting the gem.....done!!!!!!:cry:

some urgent help please
Andreseloy

[aurick]

1./Antivirus Off
2./Activation.zsc deleted
3./Web activation enable
4./Fill form enable
5./Activation key for this machine haave been already...you want a activation key copy..yes
6./Select activation key copy and paste and.....
7./Activation failed this was done N times!
8./Activation by phone failed!! very bad connection from where im living in a mountain in Los Andes, the guy who very kindly talk to me say that the activation code is to big for 3.52r
9./Emaail activarion send twice
10./Support tICKECT send done.....
11./waiting the gem.....done!!!!!!:cry:

some urgent help please
Andreseloy
For some reason I can't find your activation request. Could you resubmit it, just to be sure?

[andreseloy]

I resubmit the info and the new activation key was succesfully recognized!
Thanks
Andreseloy

[MikeOwen]

Hi,
Has a fix become available yet for WinXPx64 users to get the activation to continue to work after a different user to the local admin has actiavted the software?
Mike

[aurick]

A fix is being worked on. When it's released there will be an announcement here at ZBC as well as in the Support news.

[rera09]

:(Thank you for the tips for the activation and also on the troubleshooting of the keys. I have got the lot of helpfull information on activation of the keys from this forum.

[boy412]

A fix is being worked on. When it's released there will be an announcement here at ZBC as well as in the Support news.

How's that fix coming along? It would be nice to load up the new release here at school...the natives are getting restless!

[jaegercat]

I'm totally lost on this. After following the instructions given, I now have two directories in my program folders, one called ZBrush3 and one called ZBrush3.5R2. I ran the ZBrush.exe in the 3.5R2 folder, it walked me though an activation process, and at the end of it I was apparently running 3.5.

What's supposed to happen now? Am I supposed to go into ZBrush from the 3.5R2 folder or the original ZBrush3 folder? Neither of them will take me back into ZBrush - the one in the original folder just hangs, the one in the 3.5R2 folder just tries (and fails) to reactivate again.

Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-bit, tried running direct, Run as Administrator and running in compatiability mode.

[aurick]

I'm totally lost on this. After following the instructions given, I now have two directories in my program folders, one called ZBrush3 and one called ZBrush3.5R2. I ran the ZBrush.exe in the 3.5R2 folder, it walked me though an activation process, and at the end of it I was apparently running 3.5.

What's supposed to happen now? Am I supposed to go into ZBrush from the 3.5R2 folder or the original ZBrush3 folder? Neither of them will take me back into ZBrush - the one in the original folder just hangs, the one in the 3.5R2 folder just tries (and fails) to reactivate again.

Windows 7 Home Premium, 64-bit, tried running direct, Run as Administrator and running in compatiability mode.
After installing and activating R2, you run it by running the executable in the ZBrush 3.5R2 folder. You can also create a desktop shortcut to that executable.

ZBrush 3.5 should NOT be run in compatibility mode. The only thing that should be active on the Compatibility tab is the run as administrator setting.

If you continue to have difficulties, please submit a support ticket.

[mrrazorb]

We are currently using zbrush 3.1 and did not have to give students Administrative priveledges in order to use it, as a matter of fact softimage, 3dsmax, maya, photoshop and not one of the other programs we run require administrator access. I am in a lab environment with students ranging in ages, Administrative access is not an option as im sure it would result in a disaster, Should we forget looking into purchasing the upgrade or is there a fix for this, if not why would you require admin access to run an application like zbrush?

Anyway please let me know so i can stop the purchase order if i need to.
Thanks,
JS

[aurick]

We are currently using zbrush 3.1 and did not have to give students Administrative priveledges in order to use it, as a matter of fact softimage, 3dsmax, maya, photoshop and not one of the other programs we run require administrator access. I am in a lab environment with students ranging in ages, Administrative access is not an option as im sure it would result in a disaster, Should we forget looking into purchasing the upgrade or is there a fix for this, if not why would you require admin access to run an application like zbrush?

Anyway please let me know so i can stop the purchase order if i need to.
Thanks,
JSRun as Administrator is NOT the same as giving an account admin privileges/turning the user account into an administrator. The Run as Administrator setting can only be assigned by an admin, and only affects the specific program for which the setting has been enabled. It does NOT give user accounts permission to do anything that you wouldn't want them to do. All that this setting does is give ZBrush itself permission to write to its own folder and subfolders. This is a requirement with Vista and Windows 7 for programs that do that rather than writing to the user profile. Enabling this setting for a specific trustred program like ZBrush by right-clicking on that program and going to Properties>Compatibility will not open the computer up to security risks.

[mrrazorb]

We run windows XP here w/sp3, and the run as tab is only temporary at least from what i know about it, it allows you to run a program as an administrator but when the program is shut down and restarted you would have to do it again, maybe they changed the reset attribute in WINDOWS 7 and Vista unfortunatly we are in XP, i cant go to each machine everytime a student starts Zbrush and log them on as an administrator, then stop class when it crashes and relog them on as an administrator, that just wont work. Perhaps there is something about the Run As option i dont remember from my MCSE. Am i wrong about the Run As checkbox in XP, Anyway just trying to do the pre-problem solving as permissions seem to be the biggest problem i have read.

Thanks again for the quick response,
JS

[aurick]

We run windows XP here w/sp3, and the run as tab is only temporary at least from what i know about it, it allows you to run a program as an administrator but when the program is shut down and restarted you would have to do it again, maybe they changed the reset attribute in WINDOWS 7 and Vista unfortunatly we are in XP, i cant go to each machine everytime a student starts Zbrush and log them on as an administrator, then stop class when it crashes and relog them on as an administrator, that just wont work. Perhaps there is something about the Run As option i dont remember from my MCSE. Am i wrong about the Run As checkbox in XP, Anyway just trying to do the pre-problem solving as permissions seem to be the biggest problem i have read.

Thanks again for the quick response,
JSRun as Administrator only applies to Vista or 7. For XP, the user needs to have Read/Write/Modify permission for the ZBrush folder and subfolders. With version 3.1 you also need to give this permission to the All Users\Shared Documents folder.

Alternatively, install while logged in as an admin, but do not activate. Then log in as a regular user and launch ZBrush to activate it. 3.1 will inherit the permissions from the account that is used to activate. If first launched and activated while logged in as an admin, then only admins can run it. If logged in as a user, then all users and admins can run it. If you do this, then only rare exceptions require manually setting permissions.

PS: Why are you posting your 3.1 activation issues in a thread for ZBrush 3.5? You should be submitting a Support ticket. :p

[mrrazorb]

Thanks Aurick for the insights, but my question was/is not about 3.1 it was about 3.5 and upgrading to it and all of the issues that i have seen people having with permissions, 3.1 was only mentioned as i dont remeber having to set the permissions to Admin, however you answered that with the last reply because im sure that i activated as the student account. Again thanks for the replies i guess we will hold off on upgrading.

Thanks again,

[Laticis]

Hi, I am also having troubles activating ZB 3.5R2 on my Desktop Vista 32Bit.
( First time user and buyer )
It does not have internet connection, so I followed instructions sent an email off for the activation code via my laptop XP expecting the 7 day activate later.
When I found I could not use ZB my eagerness took over and I installed the software onto my very weak laptop and activated it via web.
The serial code was emailed and I now have access to ZB via my laptop.
Unfortunately I can not get the activation code / ZB working through my desktop, just doesn't want to read that ZActivation file.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers Laticis

[aurick]

Hi, I am also having troubles activating ZB 3.5R2 on my Desktop Vista 32Bit.
( First time user and buyer )
It does not have internet connection, so I followed instructions sent an email off for the activation code via my laptop XP expecting the 7 day activate later.
When I found I could not use ZB my eagerness took over and I installed the software onto my very weak laptop and activated it via web.
The serial code was emailed and I now have access to ZB via my laptop.
Unfortunately I can not get the activation code / ZB working through my desktop, just doesn't want to read that ZActivation file.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers Laticis
Activation codes are unique to each computer, and cannot be used on any other computer. The activation code can only be used once as well.

[Laticis]

Hi Aurick,

Thanks....I thought that might be the case. I have resolved my issue since then.
Bit the bullet and hooked my very slow internet connection up to my PC.
No problems at all with the activation, been happily playing away.
Very impressed.....lots of fun and learing to be had in the coming days and years ahead.

Best of wishes for the festive season everyone.
Merry Christmas.

Cheers Ady / Laticis