The coffee was still steaming when Leo tried to open ETABS for the Monday morning deadline. Instead of the familiar workspace, a cold, gray box appeared: "License Not Recognized. Error #120." The program terminated before it even began. Leo knew this usually signaled an incomplete license file
. He had spent all Sunday night finishing the 50-story model, and now the software refused to believe he was an authorized user. CSI Knowledge Base Troubleshooting the Lockdown
To break through Error 120, Leo recalled the standard fixes recommended by Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI) Reactivate the License : For standalone licenses, the most common fix is to deactivate and then immediately reactivate
the license. This forces the software to rebuild the missing or corrupted license file components. Check the Date/Number Format
: Sometimes, the PC's regional settings clash with the license server. Setting the date/number format to US (mm/dd/yyyy) can resolve recognition issues when running tools like Standalonekey.exe Native Image Cleanup
: If the error appeared after a fresh update, Leo might need to uninstall the CSI native image using the installer to clear out conflicting old data. Network Pathing : For office setups, adding an LMHOST.INI
file containing the server's IP address to the program folder helps the software find the license faster across the network. CSI Knowledge Base Leo reached for the CSI Licensing troubleshooting tools
in his installation folder. After a quick deactivation and a fresh activation key entry, the error vanished. The 50-story model finally loaded, just as his boss walked in with a second cup of coffee. WechoID.exe lsdecode.exe ) Leo should use to verify his computer's ID?
This error usually triggers when the software can find a license file, but the data within that file is missing required segments or doesn't align with the machine's specific "Locking Code" (which includes the Ethernet address, CPU info, and UUID). Primary Fixes etabs license not recognized error 120
Reactivate the License: For standalone versions, the official recommendation is to deactivate the current license and then reactivate it to refresh the local license file.
Fix Corrupted Registry Entries: Sometimes registry errors during installation cause this mismatch. You can try running a Microsoft FixIt tool or a clean reinstall: Uninstall all previous versions (including trials). Reboot your machine. Perform a fresh installation.
Check Date/Time Settings: In some cases, inconsistent regional settings or system dates can interfere with license validation. Ensure your system date and number format are set to US (mm/dd/yyyy). Technical "Deep Story" Workarounds
If the standard reactivation doesn't work, the community often points to these deeper causes:
UUID Invalidity: If your computer lacks a valid UUID (showing as FFFFFFFF-FFFF-FFFF...), the license manager may fail to lock the software to your hardware.
Clock-Manipulation ("RunAsDate"): For older versions where licenses have expired, some users employ tools like RunAsDate to trick the software into thinking it's running during the valid license period, though this is a workaround rather than a formal fix.
Cleaning Temporary Files: Deleting *.tb2 files in the C:\Windows folder and resetting toolbars within ETABS can occasionally clear UI-related license glitches.
Note: If you are using a network license, Error 120 may require your IT administrator to update the License Manager (LM) to a version compatible with your specific ETABS release. The coffee was still steaming when Leo tried
was staring at the deadline for the skyscraper’s seismic analysis when the screen flashed a mocking red. The high-stakes project was due in four hours, but ETABS refused to cooperate, displaying the dreaded message: "License Not Recognized Error #120."
It was a classic structural engineer's nightmare. According to the CSI Knowledge Base, Error 120 typically signifies an incomplete license file. For Maya, this meant her software couldn't verify her credentials, likely because her standalone license had hit a snag during a recent system update.
She didn't panic—she'd seen this before. Following official troubleshooting advice, she knew the primary fix was to deactivate and then reactivate the license. But as she worked, she remembered a few other tricks her colleagues used for this specific glitch:
Check the System Date: Sometimes a simple mismatch in the machine's date can invalidate a license file.
Run as Administrator: Registry entries can get corrupted during installation; running the program with Administrator rights can sometimes bypass these permission hurdles.
Registry Fixes: If deactivation failed, she might need a Microsoft FixIt tool to clear out corrupted registry entries left behind by previous versions.
If you're facing this specific issue, this walkthrough shows how to resolve the license recognition error step-by-step:
| Component | Details | |-----------|---------| | Operating System | [e.g., Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit] | | ETABS Version | [e.g., v19.0.0, v20.1.0] | | License Type | [Local / Network Concurrent / USB Hardware Key] | | License Manager (if network) | [e.g., CSi License Manager vX.X] | | Network Connectivity | [Local / VPN / Remote Desktop] | | Antivirus / Firewall | [e.g., Windows Defender, McAfee] | Step 6: Repair the Licensing Service If none
If none of the above works, the licensing driver itself might be corrupt.
If versions match, your license file might be corrupt. Get a fresh copy.
trusted.lic file attachment.C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Sentinel RMS\License Manager\trusted.lic to trusted.lic.old (backup).trusted.lic from your email into this folder.Pro tip: Never edit trusted.lic in Microsoft Word. Use Notepad. Word adds hidden formatting that breaks the license.
If you are using a standalone (local) USB dongle or software license on a single machine, Windows permissions are often the culprit.
If that works permanently, go to Properties > Compatibility > Check "Run this program as an administrator" for the ETABS shortcut.
If you have tried all the above and are still facing Error 120, the issue might be deeper within the Windows registry or a corrupted software installation.
Based on user reports and CSI documentation, the following steps resolve the issue in most cases:
| Step | Action |
|------|--------|
| 1 | Restart the CSI License Manager on the server (via Services > CSI License Manager). |
| 2 | Verify the license file – Ensure lservrc is in the correct folder (usually C:\Program Files\Common Files\CSI\Licenses\). |
| 3 | Check network connectivity – From the client PC, ping the license server and telnet to port 27000. |
| 4 | Update LMServer – Download the latest License Manager from CSI’s website. |
| 5 | Reconfigure license path – In ETABS, go to Help > License > Configure, and specify the correct server or local file. |
| 6 | Temporarily disable firewall/antivirus – Test if the error disappears; if so, add an exception for lmgrd.exe and ETABS.exe. |