National Instruments Activation Wizard Walk-Through

Publish Date: Aug 18, 2014

Overview

The NI Activation Wizard allows you to activate your National Instruments software. Activation is the process of acquiring and
applying an activation code. This is a complete step-by-step walk-through of the National Instruments Activation Wizard. This may
be connected to the installation of National Instruments Software or called from the National Instruments License Manager. There
are generally two methods used to activate products. The first is the installation process of the software in which the last step of
the installation opens the activation wizard. The second is through the National Instruments License Manager.
Table of Contents

1. Table of Contents
2. 1. How To Open the Activation Wizard
3. 2. Activation Steps
1. Table of Contents

1. How to Open the Activation Wizard

2. Activation Steps
Option 1: Automatically activate through a secure Internet connection
Option 2: Use a Web browser, email client, telephone, or fax machine to acquire an activation code.
Option 3: Apply one or more 20-character activation codes previously acquired for this computer
3. Related Links
2. 1. How To Open the Activation Wizard

To open the NI License Manager navigate to StartAll ProgramsNational InstrumentsNI License Manager in Windows. In
the NI License Manager you can press F6, click the Activate button, select OptionsActivate... from the menu bar or right-click
on the product to activate and select Activate... in the product tree.
3. 2. Activation Steps

Although not all methods of activation use all steps they generally follow the same pattern. When opening the Activation Wizard
through the NI License Manager if there are activation codes present on the computer for software that is not activated it will allow
you to select which of those products you would like to activate. If software is selected for activation, they will be activated and
proceed to step 1. You cannot deselect items, only change which items are selected. If no software is selected it will proceed to
step 1.
The NI Activation Wizard Welcome screen allows you to chose between three methods of activation. The default is to
automatically activate through a secure Internet connection. You may also use a Web browser, email client, telephone, or fax
machine to acquire an activation code. If you already have an activation code or codes, you may apply one or more 20-character
activation codes previously acquired for your computer. If the third option is selected, proceed to Option 3.
Here you may explore further to understand the National Instruments Software License Agreement (
http://delta.ni.com/nilg/jsp/customer_activate_initial.jsp?p_lang=US) and How you can move an activated product to a different
computer.

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Option 1: Automatically Activate through a secure Internet connection

Step 1 - Enter Serial Number(s)
All products that can be activated will have a field to enter the serial number for that product. If there are more products than can fit
on one window the words More Products will show up on the bottom and the next window will show the remaining products.
The serial number is typically located on the Certificate of Ownership included in the software kit. For more information on where
to find the serial number, see KnowledgeBase 2ZM9AE6E in the related links section below.
If the Activation Wizard was opened at the end of an installation, some or all of the serial numbers may be auto-populated.

Step 2 - Register your Products

Your first name, last name and organization are required to activate your products. You will have the option to log in to your user
profile or create a new user profile. There is a check box for product registration that is checked by default. If you leave the box
checked you may enter your information to register your product to ensure access to your service benefits from National
Instruments, including technical support, software upgrades and updates.
Step 3 - Instructions
When activating through a secure internet connection the required information is automatically transmitted. By default, an email
will be sent the email address of your choosing to confirm the activation.
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Step 4 - Contact NI
The Activation Wizard will contact National Instruments automatically. This process may take a few minutes. If the Activation
Wizard cannot connect to ni.com, you will have an option to retry connecting, choose an alternate method or exit the Activation
Wizard. If the second option is selected it will bring you back to the options in step 1.
Step 5 - Product Successfully Activated!
If everything went smoothly the products successfully activated. The last window will show which products activated. You may
need to restart the associated products to use any new features. If you experience any problems, have any questions, or have
feedback regarding product activation, visit ni.com/activate.
You may have an option to register your hardware. If you check this box you will be brought to the National Instruments
Registration Wizard. You will want to register your hardware or software to receive important notifications such as calibration and
service expirations, facilitate technical support, and occasionally receive special offers on related products.
Option 2: Use a Web browser, email client, telephone, or fax machine to acquire an activation code
Step 1 - Select the Specific Method you will use
Choose the option you intend to use to activate. All of the options will take you to the same next page shown in Step 2.
Step 2 - Enter Serial Number(s)
All products that can be activated will have a field to enter the serial number for that product. If there are more products that can fit
on one window, the words More Products will show up at the bottom and the next window will show the remaining products.
The serial number is typically located on the Certificate of Ownership included in the software kit. For more information on where
to find the serial number, see KnowledgeBase 2ZM9AE6E in the related links below.
If the Activation Wizard was opened at the end of installation, some or all of the serial numbers may be auto-populated.
Step 3 - Instructions
Use a Web browser on this or another computer - If you are activating through a web browser, the required information will be
listed for you in the appropriate boxes. you can save the information to a file. You will be prompted for an email address, which will
be used to send you an activation confirmation message.

Email - If you are activating through email you will be prompted to input your information including physical address and email
address. After this has been filled out, you will be prompted to use your default email client or saving your activation information to
a file that you can manually send in an email client of your choosing. If the second option is selected you can click a Save button
to create a file containing your activation information.

Telephone - If you are activating through telephone you are given the phone numbers to call and the numeric version of the
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Telephone - If you are activating through telephone you are given the phone numbers to call and the numeric version of the
required information. If you have problems with the numbers given you can call your branch office. You may save the needed
information to a file.

Fax - If you are activating through fax you will need to enter your fax number, select your location from a list and print the
activation request form.

Step 4: Contact NI
Web Browser - If you follow the instructions above you will go to ni.com/activate
Email - Attach the file saved as instructed above to an empty email with no subject line and send it to activate@ni.com
Ensure that your email has successfully sent the activation request to activate@ni.com. You will receive a return email containing
your activation cods within one business day of your request being sent, although typical response time is less than ten minutes.
Telephone - Call the number given in the instructions above and enter the numeric version of the required information. If you have
problems with the numbers given you can call your branch office.
Fax - Fax the printed form to the number listed in the above instructions.
Exited the Activation Wizard - If the process required that you exit the Activation Wizard then when you receive your activation
code, return to the Activation Wizard and choose "Apply one or more 20-character activation codes previously acquired for
this computer". Then follow the steps outlined in Option 3 below.
Option 3: Apply one or more 20-character activation codes previously acquired for this computer
Step 1 - Enter 20-Character Activation Code
Enter the activation codes for the software you are trying to activate on your system. If you receive a message saying that one or
more activation codes did not apply, then the code may have been generated improperly. This could be due to a number of
reasons. Some reasons might be that the wrong version was selected when the activation code was generated, the computer ID
was not correct, or the serial number that was used does not apply to the software that you are attempting to activate.
3. Related Links
National Instruments: Activation FAQ (http://www.ni.com/license/activation_faq.htm)
National Instruments: Product Activation and Licensing (ni.com/activate) (http://delta.ni.com/nilg/jsp/customer_activate_initial.jsp)
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National Instruments: Product Activation and Licensing (ni.com/activate) (http://delta.ni.com/nilg/jsp/customer_activate_initial.jsp)

National Instruments: Product Activation Privacy Statement (http://www.ni.com/license/privacy/)
KnowledgeBase 2ZM9AE6E: Where Do I Find my Serial Number for Activation? (
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/A5F093510551CC2986256D6C0054501F?OpenDocument)
KnowledgeBase 4BKIES0E: Can I Activate LabVIEW Silently? (
http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/D35FC410983C687E86257320000134EE?OpenDocument)

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