Changing over the computer

[NaeKid]

Ok,

I have tried to find an answer on here, but, so far, no real luck.

Anyway, I have an old XP machine running AutoCAD 2008 and it is getting to be a little on the slow side. I have permission from the boss to build-up a replacement computer with all the goodies that I think are needed. Some of the programs that I am running I am not sure if they will run on the new Windows7 OS, so, I am planning on doing some testing (off-line) of the new Windows7 with all those programs (some written in the early '90s and some DOS-mode) and see how my AutoCAD 2008 runs with it all, work out the glitches (if possible) and once everything is working properly, the old computer will be shutdown for good and the new computer will take its place.

My problem is that trying to install the CD on the new computer, it is not accepting the serial-number that I used on the original computer, it keeps coming back as invalid. Does anyone have an idea on how I can make our legit copy of AutoCAD work on the new computer (as well as the old one) till all the bugs are worked out and I can shut-down the old one for good?

[rkmcswain]

If you are on subscription, you can log on and retrieve your S/N.
Otherwise, call your reseller.

After you get it installed, you can try to use the "portable license utility" to transfer the license back and forth between the old and new computer - but if it was me, I would just activate the new install and then disable the old when the time comes.

[ReMark]

New computer. Good.

New OS. Good.

AutoCAD 2008. Not so good. Why aren't you upgrading to 2010?

You may run into compatibility problems trying to run old software on the new OS. DOS and Win7? Better get an online subscription to SmartComputing.com as I bet you're going to have a lot of questions.

[NaeKid]

I would love to be able to upgrade the software as well, but, our CAD upgrades only happen when we are no longer compatable with our customers. We are still running some CAD software from 1993 under XP, are still running other software that was written for Dos 5.0 and such.

Our AutoCAD upgrades (since I started here) was 2000, 2006, 2008. If I receive 2010 documents, I need to use the viewer and downgrade the .dwg file to 2008 which is a bit of a PITA, but, I do as my boss requests (even though I am the IT-guy) ..

[ReMark]

And the boss gets a new car every other year? What? The "old" one didn't do all the things the new one does?

[Tankman]

"Windows 7 is supported in AutoCAD 2010 (and 2011 and higher) and Inventor 2010 (and 2011 and higher). If you want to install and run older versions of AutoCAD, LT, or Inventor (2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, R11...) in Win7, you can use the virtualized "XP Mode" available for Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate and Enterprise (both 32-bit and 64-bit).

To use the Windows XP Mode you will need a CPU hardware support. You can detect the HW virtualization support in your processor with the utility havdetectiontool.exe (http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=163321). The Windows XP Mode add-on (application) can be downloaded from the Microsoft web (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx). Then you can install the tool through Windows Virtual PC > Windows XP Mode."