One computer, 2 Windows partitions on separate drives and a software license?

[gaba]

I have two physical drives on one computer.
Each disk generally has at least two partitions:
- c: Windows 10 Pro
- d: Program files, ArchiCAD, my documents, projects, etc.
This isn't a RAID system! The second drive is actually a clone of the first drive and I treat it as an archive for easily copying my work from the first drive.
During bootup, I can choose which drive Windows starts from.
I use a hardware license (CodeMeter key). This gives me a lot of freedom and flexibility  🙂

My question:

After switching from a hardware key to a software key, will I be able to boot Windows 1 or Windows 2 without any problems and use ArchiCAD with a software license?

A local reseller stated that ArchiCAD doesn't recognize the software license on Windows 2. Is this true?

I don't want to test and experiment myself so I don't lose the software key, etc.

Operating system used: Windows 10

[gaba]

I've already responded to the distributor that, unfortunately, I won't be taking advantage of the annual, promotional ArchiCAD 30 subscription, as I won't receive a cloud key at the end of the subscription.

I prefer to stick with the perpetual 29 license and the CodeMeter hardware key, retaining my flexibility and operational freedom.

[Laszlo Nagy]

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@gaba wrote:

Barry, I've had a perpetual license with a CodeMeter key for many years.

My perpetual license, along with ArchiCAD29, expires in August 2026.

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A perpetual license does not "expire". The license information is digitally stored in the hardware dongle. As long as you have the hardware dongle, when you have the dongle plugged in, you will be able to start Archicad on both Windows instances. When you installed Archicad on both Windows instances, the CodeMeter driver was also installed and it will communicate with the dongle and use the license stored in the dongle. So, there is no expiration.

As far as I know, what may have an expiration date is the SSA/Forward contract, which means that after the expiration date, you will not get the benefits associated with SSA/Forward (e.g., certain services, Add-Ons and functionalities like Library Part Maker, PARAM-O, Redshift, Python Palette etc.).

[gaba]

Laszlo: Yes, you're right !

Sorry, I misspoke!

Yes, I double-checked, and my annual SSA/Forward contractexpires in July 2026.

Therefore, I won't be eligible for annual updates, etc.

1. If I remember correctly, a long time ago, new versions of ArchiCAD were released every 1.5-2 years (?).
2. Then they started being released annually in the summer. (?)
3. And a few years later, the new version release was postponed until the fall.

Hence my personal disappointment that my update expires in the summer and not the fall of 2026. 😏

Well, that's a pity, someone was born in December and someone else in January and there is a year difference between them. 😎

[ryejuan]

what i understand with software key it will be downloaded to your system then if you are done using you need to upload back to the cloud so that if you plan to use it in a different system you can easily download it. If for example the system you downloaded the softkey got corrupted you're in no luck to upload it back in the cloud and need to report to Graphisoft the matter so they can issue out a new softkey.

So basically what i understand from your set up is like cloning your other windows to another drive just incase windows 1 fails you have windows 2.

I haven't experimented on this kind of set up though but have you ever given the thought of cloud license instead of softkey?

[Lingwisyer]

They mentioned previously that they do not plan to move to subsciption, so they will not be getting a cloud licence.

[gaba]

exactly as he mentioned: Lingwisyer

They mentioned previously that they do not plan to move to subsciption, so they will not be getting a cloud licence.

Without a subscription, we have a choice: use only a hardware key or switch to a software key (but not a cloud key!).

Of course, once we abandon the hardware key and switch to a software key, we cannot reverse this decision! This means we cannot return to the hardware key.

I understand that Graphisoft's policy is to gradually phase out hardware keys and replace them with software keys. However, I believe this introduces a number of operating system-level restrictions for users like me.

There are also issues with convenient and secure access to Graphisoft servers (in the case of cloud keys), which have raised concerns from users in other threads.

[Lingwisyer]

You used to be able to setup hardware keys on a server to be network accessible. I wonder if that is possible with software keys. Would require a second machine though...

Ling.

[ryejuan]

yeah those where the days!

[ryejuan]

Hi @gaba ,

Just want to pick your brains regarding the set up why did you eventually decided to do windows 1 & 2? Like what made you decide to go with this configurations? Usually most users will have just back up of the back up of the back up for files, but maybe you have encountered something along the way that made you decide to this kind of set up. I'm just curious. Thanks!

[Lingwisyer]

Sounds like a test environment, so that if you brick it, you can just jump over. Much like people will do on VMs, but in this case with the HD too.

See this earlier reply.