Machine Edition – USB Hardware License Key did not get recognize inside Virtual Machine
A virtual machine (VM) is a software implementation of a machine (i.e. a computer) that executes programs like a physical machine. The physical computer on which you install and run the virtual machine is called the host system and its operating system is called the host operating system.
When trying to use Machine Edition installed inside a virtual machine, the user may experience a license error due to the hardware license key is missing or not being detected. The Machine Edition hardware license key must be detected and recognized in the host operating system before the virtual machine can access the license key.
To identify if the Machine Edition hardware license key is being recognized by the host operating system, the user can use windows device manager following the steps below:
Device Manager on Windows XP
To open Device Manager on Windows XP, click Start, and then click Control Panel. Click Performance and Maintenance, and then click System. On the Hardware tab, click Device Manager.
Device Manager on Windows 7
To open Device Manager on Windows 7, click Start, click Control Panel and then click Device Manager.
Once the USB Hardware license key is detected, the user will see “SafeNet Inc. HASP Key” or “Aladdin HASP Key” keywords shown as a device under Universal Serial Bus Controller.
*Note – If the device is not properly detected by the host operating system, a yellow question mark or
To troubleshoot if Machine Edition Hardware License key is not being detected by the host operating system, user can approach the steps in the following:
1.) Remove the Hardware License Key from the USB port.
2.) Uninstall M4 Common Licensing under Windows Add / Remove program (For Win XP users) or Program and Features (For Windows 7 users)
*Note – If you are not able to locate M4 Common Licensing under the installed program list in the windows. Please skip step 3 and continue with step 4.
3.) Once M4 Common Licensing is uninstalled , then restart the computer
4.) Download and install the latest version of Proficy Client Installer from the following link: Proficy Client Installer - DN2266:
http://support.ge-ip.com/support/index?page=dwchannel&id=09237d4900112023fa714052b0 5.) After the M4 Common License is installed, restart the computer.
6.) Connect your USB Hardware License Key to the computer, wait for 30 seconds for device driver install and detect the key.
(*Note – Try to connect the USB hardware license key directly to the USB port on the computer. The USB hardware license key may not necessarily be detected if connecting the key through a USB Hub or computer docking station) 7.) Check if the device is properly installed and detected under device manager in the host
operating system.
8.) Eject the key from the USB port for now.
machine and allow the operating system to auto detect the USB controller and any root hubs.
10.) Once the USB device drivers are successfully installed on the VM, you may re-insert the Hardware License Key. At this point, the hardware license key will be detected and will start working inside the VM.
11.) To verify the Machine Edition hardware license key is recognized inside the virtual machine, the user can access to the followings areas inside the virtual machine for verification
I. License Viewer Windows Task Bar – Start – All Programs – Proficy Common – License Viewer the license key information will be display in the License Viewer Windows.
Best Practice:
Scenario 1.) For users who want Machine Edition software installed just into virtual machine but not on the host operating system
If the user has decided to install Machine Edition into a virtual machine without installing Machine onto the host operating system, the following steps are required.
1.) Download and install the latest Proficy Client Installer on your HOST Operating System Proficy Client Installer - DN2266:
http://support.ge-ip.com/support/index?page=dwchannel&id=09237d4900112023fa714052b0 *Note – The Proficy Client installer is a driver pack required to be install onto the host OS to recognize
the hardware license key. Without the Proficy client installer installed, the license key will not be detected.
2.) Restart the PC
3.) Plug in the HW License Key and wait for about 30 seconds for device driver install and detect the key. As soon as the key is detected you will see a Red Light lit up at the tail part of the Key and the hardware license device is showed in the device manager (Under the Universal Serial Bus) in the host operating system
4.) Start up your VM (If you have the VM suspended previously, you would have to reboot the VM in order to recognize the key). The operating system in the virtual machine will start detecting the hardware license key and installing the driver.
5.) Once the driver installation is done, user would have to remove the hardware license key and restart the virtual machine. Once the windows desktop is load, the user can now plug the hardware license key back into the PC. At this point the hardware license is detected
6.) To verify the Machine Edition hardware license key is recognized inside the virtual machine, user can access to the followings areas inside the virtual machine for verification
a. License Viewer Windows Task Bar – Start – All Programs – Proficy Common – License Viewer the license key information will be display in the License Viewer Windows.
Scenario 2.) For user who wants install Machine Edition software onto both Host and VM
If the user has decided to install Machine Edition software (same version or 2 different versions) onto both Host and VM (or multiple VMs), we would recommend the user to download and install the latest Proficy Client installer from the link below to ensure same version of Proficy License installer is used. Proficy Client Installer - DN2266:
http://support.ge-ip.com/support/index?page=dwchannel&id=09237d4900112023fa714052b0
*Note – The hardware license key can only be accessed by one single computer at a time (host or a VM). The same key cannot be shared or used by multiple computers at the same time (e.g. host and VM at the same time).
To switch Machine Edition Hardware License key use from one VM to another VM:
The user may want to switch the license key from one VM to another VM (if Machine Edition software is installed into more than one VM).
In order to switch the hardware license key from one virtual machine to another virtual machine user would have to perform the following steps:
1.) Remove Hardware License key physically from the PC
2.) Launch the 2nd VM (if the 2nd VM is not already running) and ensure that VM has topmost focus.
3.) Plug in the Hardware license Key, the 2nd VM will gain control to the USB port and redetect the hardware license key
To switch Machine Edition Hardware License Key between Host PC and virtual machine Handover hardware license key from virtual machine to host PC
1.) Remove the hardware license key from the PC 2.) Power off / Pause the virtual machine
3.) Insert the license key back into the PC
Handover hardware license key from host PC to virtual machine 1.) Remove the hardware license key from the PC
