Transfering an older CAD w/out the disk?

[Tankman]

I am a Landscape Architect, currently working for a small landscape company in CO. I also do independent contract work for a firm in CA. So, I rarely do 3D, but do need to coordinate drawings with other LAs, architects, civils, etc.

 

Thanks for the link, but really not wanting to go for a LT version. After reading their disclosure on the link, it is legal to purchase a used copy of CAD, but you can't register it in your name or upgrade? Are those the only stipulations to purchasing and using a used copy? Other than that it works fine, no registration required?

 

Seems to be the case, the AutoCAD program will work fine.

 

The link was only one of what appears to be hundreds of AutoCAD books, programs, I even saw laptops and desktops for sale with the AutoCAD programming installed. There are full programs, not LT, listed on eBay.

[ReMark]

What is your budget?

 

You could opt for a CAD program such as ZwCAD Professional. I think it retails for around $600. You can download a 30-day trial version at www.zwcadusa.com. I know one gentleman in South Africa currently using it and I've just downloaded the trial version.

 

Here is why I suggested it. The interface looks and acts so much like AutoCAD that you'd have a difficult time telling them apart. There are only a handful of commands that don't show up in AutoCAD or have slightly different names. Fully 75% of the icons are exactly the same with most of the others appearing to be mirror images of the ones used in AutoCAD.

 

One drawback is if you have to share drawings. ZwCAD Pro will open anything up to and including AutoCAD 2007 drawngs and nothing later.

 

ZwCAD users can save as a DWG to 2007, 2004, 2000, r14, r13 and r11/12 file formats.

 

ZwCAD users can save to a DXF file format in 2007, 2004, 2000, r14, r13, r11/12, r9, r2.6 and r2.5.

[ReMark]

Regarding buying a "used" copy of AutoCAD. You pays your money; use takes your chances.

 

AutoDesk now says they are under no obligation to authorize used software. They don't come right out and shall they won't do it but then again they don't say that they would do it.

 

If you were to buy an AutoDesk product that was released prior to 2007 and it comes with the serial number and authorization code, in theory, it could be loaded and run with no problem. Why? Because it wasn't necessary at one point in time to obtain an authorization code over the Internet. When Microsoft and AutoDesk went that route things became a bit more difficult.

 

I'm not advocating you do what I just talked about. I think you should buy either a brand new copy of AutoCAD LT 2010 or 2011 or look at a program like ZwCAD Professional.