This Frequently asked questions document is a collection of key and licensing information that can help with questions and licensing issues with GE Fanuc Hardware keys.

General Information

Damaged, Lost or Stolen Hardware Keys

Q If my hardware key is damaged, lost or stolen, will GE Fanuc replace my hardware key with a new one at no expense?

A If a hardware key has been damaged, GE Fanuc will replace the hardware key at no cost to the owner. However, the damaged hardware key will have to be returned to GE Fanuc as proof that the hardware key was damaged. If proof cannot be provided, GE Fanuc will charge 50% of the list price for that damaged key. If a hardware key has been lost or stolen, GE Fanuc will replace the hardware key if the owner pays 50% of the list price for that hardware key. For all key replacements, contact GE Fanuc Inside Sales or your Local Representative.

Q If a hardware key has expired, lost, stolen or damaged, I cannot wait for the replacement to arrive because I am plant down. Are there any alternatives?

A Yes. GE Fanuc Inside Sales or GE Fanuc Technical Support can issue you a temporary software based license that can be installed on your computer. Based on your current license, we create an image that is installed to imitate the hardware key.

You will require Internet access and an email account in order to process a temporary key license. You will need to sign an electronic agreement before a temporary key can be issued. Once the key is created, usually a 2-hour process, a temporary key installation package is sent via email, FTP or is attached to your Seibel Case. A temporary key is valid from 1 week to a month based on circumstances.

Hardware Key Limitations

Q Can I have more then one GE Fanuc Hardware key connected to my computer? For Example, I have a hardware key for Proficy Historian 3.0 and a key for Proficy iFix 4.0.

A No. Only one hardware key can exist on one computer. GE Fanuc does not support multiple hardware keys on one computer. Contact GE Fanuc Inside Sales or your Local Representative to have your hardware keys merged into one hardware key. GE Fanuc will then generate a flash for one of your hardware keys or replace it with a hardware key that has both licenses on it.

Q I have been issued a software key license from GE Fanuc and I have a hardware key. Can I use both on the same machine?

A It depends. If you have a M1key then only one license can exist on your machine. A software-based license is considered the same as a hardware key as far as our Licensing Software is concerned. If the licensing service detects a software key license, it will take precedence over the hardware key. If you have a M4 key then the hardware key takes precedence over the software-based license, however it will give you what is on the software-based licence as long as the hardware key is not restricting any of the products on the software-based license.

Example: I have a software-based license that has iFix -all features and Proficy Historian. I then put on a key that has only iFix -Runtime option. It will then have iFix -Runtime and Proficy Historian. It can see both licenses but the hardware key does take precedence on the same products.

Q I have only one USB Port on my laptop and want to connect my hardware key to a high-powered USB External hub. Will I run into any issues?

A The answer to this question depends on the hardware that is used as the external USB hub. GE Fanuc does not recommend or support expansion USB cards. GE Fanuc recommends using a USB available port that is connected via the motherboard. External or expansion USB cards should never be used.

Parallel Ports

Q I don’t have a parallel port on my new computer and GE Fanuc has sold me a parallel key. Can I use a Parallel Expansion Card in my computer?

A No. Parallel Expansion Cards (ISA or PCI) are not supported by GE Fanuc and in most cases will not work with our hardware keys. You should contact GE Fanuc Inside Sales or your Local Representative and have them replace your parallel key with a USB key.

Moving Hardware Keys

Q Can I move my hardware key to a new computer without violating my license agreement?

A Yes. You are not limited to where your hardware key is located on your site. You can freely move your hardware key from one computer to another. However, once removed from one computer, will cause that system to go into ‘demo mode’, which can pose some restrictions regarding your software usage. Once your hardware key has been connected to one computer, it should not be moved unless its hardware key is replaced with another.

Registration

Q Do I need to call GE Fanuc to have my hardware key activated?

A No. When you receive your hardware key, all your company’s information and licensed products for your computer are all ready included on the key. There is no need to re-flash your hardware key or contact GE Fanuc Technical Support or GE Fanuc Inside Sales to have your hardware key activated.

All you need to do is install your software then connect your hardware key and it should be ready to use.

Unknown Hardware Key ID

Q I have a hardware key, and I do not see any labels on my key. How can I find out the key serial number of my key?

A The key licensing software comes with utilities that can read the hardware key and provides a GUI that allows you to see keyed information contained on the key. This information will provide you with licensing enabled options, your company name and serial number.

To access these utilities please do the following:

1. Make sure the hardware key is connected and has been connected for about 30 seconds.

2. Access the utility by doing the following:

For M4: Click Program Files, then Proficy Common, the License Viewer.

For M1: Click Run then type ikeydiag and click OK.

Upgrading Hardware Keys

Q How do I upgrade my key?

A There are two ways to upgrade your key:

1. Contact your local sales rep or Inside Sales to request an upgrade to a newer release.

2. You can also go to http://www.gefanuc.com/support. and click on the Software Version Upgrade Request link on the right

Once this is completed an email is sent to you with instructions on flashing your key to the new release.

Versions

Q Can my hardware key for Proficy iFix 3.5 be upgraded to Proficy iFix 4.0 without being replaced?

A Your hardware key can be upgraded from one version of GE Fanuc Products to support another version of the same product without replacement. GE Fanuc Licensing software comes with a flash utility that will re-flash your hardware key on-site when you need to upgrade your key. In some situations, GE Fanuc may replace the hardware key when it’s a M1 key with a replacement M4 key if additional products are added that M1 does not support.

If your using an old legacy hardware key, this key will need to be replaced with one of the Hasp M1/M4 hardware keys.
If your site was issued a software based key license, this will need to be re-issued by GE Fanuc and cannot be re-flashed.

Q After upgrading my hardware key to a newer version of my GE Fanuc Software product, am I still allowed to use the key on the older version?

A Yes. Your hardware key will work with older versions from the current version of your hardware key. Example. A key that was created for Proficy Historian 3.0, will work with older versions prior to that version.

Frequent Technical Questions

Option Not Enabled on Key

Q My hardware key seems to be not working properly. I keep getting messages saying that an option is not enabled on the key when I know this option is enabled. Is there something I am doing wrong?

A Most cases that came in to technical support where related to not having the proper licensing installed. When a key is flashed, it is flashed with a pre-defined build, which can change when issues are corrected or new features are added to the licensing application. This can cause discrepancies when the licensing software goes and detects if this option is enabled. It is recommended that you go to http://www.gefanuc.com/support and click on the licensing key update link to download the latest licensing (M1or M4) for your hardware key. Follow the Installation document that is present on the download page.

If this still is not working, then there could be an error present in your key’s flash and will need to be corrected. Contact GE Fanuc Inside Sales or your Local Representative so they can issue a new hardware key flash to correct the problem.

Slow Installation / Key Not Detected Error / Key not recongized Error

Q How to install your hardware key on existing software installations or if the key is not working and giving errors.

Shutdown all GE Fanuc Software on the computer.
If GE Software is running as a Service, stop these services from the Windows Services Panel.
Go to add/remove programs and uninstall any GE Fanuc Licensing, Intellution Licensing, or Sentinel System Drivers.
Once uninstalled reboot computer.
Go to http://www.gefanuc.com/support and click the link “Licensing Key Updates”.
Follow the Step 1 “Locating Key Style” section to determine your key style.
Next go to Step 4 “Updating The Key” section to obtain the latest Licensing software.
Download Licensing Package and install.
Shutdown computer, attach hardware key to the appropriate port and restart computer.

Q When I install the software on my new Windows XP SP 2 or Windows 2003 Server SP 1 computer, I am noticing that it takes a very long time to install the product, especially when its installing the licensing component. Sometimes, I also notice that my hardware key is not working either. Is there something wrong with my computer or the CD?

A No. There is nothing wrong with the installation CD or your computer. The problem is with the Windows Operating System and the version of the licensing on the CD. There is a feature called DEP (Data Execution Prevention) that was installed by the Service Pack for your operating system. This is a feature that helps prevent malicious code from executing in memory. In order to get the software installed properly, we need to disable DEP. Follow the below steps for:

Windows XP Professional SP2 or Later
Windows 2003 Server SP1 or later

Uninstall your GE Fanuc Software if it’s installed.
Open the windows Control Panel
Open System. You may need to switch from Category view to Classic view.
Select the Advanced Tab in system properties.
Click the Settings button in Startup And Recovery
In Startup, click the Edit button.
In the boot.ini Notepad window, you will be making a change to the /NoExecute entry. Your entry may look like the following:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Change /NoExecute=OptIn or /NoExecute=AlwaysOn or /NoExecute=OptOff to /NoExecute=/AlwaysOff

Now reboot your computer.
Install your GE Fanuc Software. You should notice it is a lot faster then before.
Uninstall the licensing component of your install.
Go to http://www.gefanuc.com/support and click on the licensing key update link to download the latest licensing (M1 of M4) for your hardware key.
Install the downloaded licensing
Reboot your computer

This is a timing issue most likely with the processor speed on newer PC's. Setting iFIX to run as a service or using RunTask has been reported to correct the problem in iFIX 3.0 and iFIX 4.0