FS Auth - Activation error "Error validating license code" (Single user)

FS Auth - Activation error "Error validating license code" (Single user)

Problem

During manual activation of a client installation of Freedom Scientific JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion single user or non-network license, a message “Error validating license code” is posted.


Applies to

  1. JAWS/ZoomText/Fusion

Resolution

Please take into consideration the following before apply the solution:

  1. To successfully install authorisation you must have administrator level access to the computer file system.
  2. Check that the Freedom Scientific product software version and license type is compatible with the license.  Enter the product serial number into the website:  FS Activate checker to confirm status.
  3. If it is a Network License this license requires the installation of license server software for client workstations to connect to and retrieve the network license. Please see:  Download Sentinel License Manager. 



Notes
Note
If during activation you did not retain the Activation License Code you may go here and use the same Locking Code and authorisation number and submit them to receive the license code.

Method 1 - Elevate the FSClientActivator

The permissions may be insufficient on a system where UAC cannot be disabled leading to insufficient elevation for the client activator to properly install authorisation.  

  1. Open Start menu then search Command Prompt, when the search is returned press SHIFT+F10 and choose Run As Administrator.
  2. At the prompt enter or copy/paste the command below (including quotes) then press ENTER to run the client activator with elevated permissions:

    "C:\Program Files\Freedom Scientific\Shared\Authorization Tools\7.0\FSClientActivator.exe"



Method 2 - Check and correct for truncated license code

  1. Open Notepad.exe and copy the license code received into that application.
  2. Then click Format > Word Wrap so that the option is not checked.
  3. Compare with the license code displayed on the FSActivate website. The license code should display on a single line, if it breaks over a line there may be a hard return that is causing the code to be truncated, delete the hard return so the code displays on a single line.  

Method 3 - Terminate license code at number sign

Information in the license code beyond the # sign is not required so truncating text after this sign may help the code validate successfully.

  1. In the Notepad document created earlier highlight all text up to and including the # sign.
  2. Then select copy from the Edit menu. 
  3. Restart the activation process by searching Utilities and select the program group for the product:

    Utilities - JAWS
    Utilities - ZoomText
    Utilities - Fusion

  4. Then launch Start Activation and go through a Manual Activation using the amended code from clipboard for the License Code.
  5. Then click through to Finish to complete activation or the product.


Method 4 - Create an authorisation file by hand

  1. Create or edit the text file in notepad pasting the activation license code.
  2. Then save it named appropriately for the product being activated:

For JAWS

JAWS.CPS

For ZoomText

ZOOMTEXT.CPS

For Fusion

FUSION.CPS
  1. Then open Windows explorer and place it in the following path:
“C:\program files\freedom scientific\activator”
  1. Close the Freedom Scientific product if it is running and then restart it.
  2. When the product starts open the About product option within the menu of the main window. Check the serial number displayed, if it shows 801 or 799 the product is not authorised. Check the serial number shown matches that of the license to ensure it is authorised.