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
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 "License Not Recognized Error 120" in ETABS typically occurs when the software cannot communicate with the Sentinel RMS License Manager or find a valid license file. This issue is common after Windows updates, server migrations, or changes to network configurations.
Follow these steps to resolve the error and get back to your structural modeling. Check the LSHOST File
The most common cause is ETABS looking in the wrong place for its license.
Navigate to the ETABS installation folder (usually C:\Program Files\Computers and Structures\ETABS [Version]). Locate a file named LSHOST.txt. Open it with Notepad.
Delete any existing text and type the IP address or Host Name of the license server. If you are using a standalone license, type localhost. Save the file and restart ETABS. Verify the Sentinel RMS License Manager
If you are using a Network License, the service on the server might have stopped.
On the Server: Open "Services" (type services.msc in the Start menu). Locate: Find "Sentinel RMS License Manager."
Action: If it’s not running, click Start. If it is running, click Restart.
Check Tools: Use the WlmAdmin.exe tool to see if the ETABS licenses are visible and not expired. Adjust Windows Firewall Settings
Firewalls often block the communication port used by CSI software.
Ensure UDP Port 5093 is open on both the server and the client workstation.
Add an exception for the Sentinel RMS License Manager executable (lservnt.exe).
Temporarily disable the firewall to test if the error disappears. Set Environment Variables
Manually pointing Windows to the license server can bypass local configuration glitches.
Right-click This PC > Properties > Advanced System Settings. Click Environment Variables. Under System Variables, click New. Variable Name: LSFORCEHOST Variable Value: Enter your server's IP address or hostname. Restart your computer. Re-run the Leveling Tool etabs license not recognized error 120
Sometimes the internal "license level" (e.g., Ultimate, Plus, or Standard) gets reset.
In the ETABS installation folder, look for CSiLicensing.exe or LicenseRequest.exe. Run the tool as Administrator.
Ensure the correct product level is selected to match your purchased license.
💡 Quick Tip: If you recently updated Windows, your "Computer ID" or "Locking Code" might have changed. If the steps above fail, generate a new request file via the License Management Tool and contact CSI Support for a license reactivation. To help you fix this faster, let me know: Your ETABS version? Using a Network or Standalone license?
This is the solution that resolves the issue in 90% of cases. ETABS installs a driver called the "Sentinel Protection Installer" to manage licenses. If this driver becomes corrupted or fails to update, ETABS will throw Error 120.
Steps to fix:
Once your computer restarts, launch ETABS. The license should now be recognized.
Error 120 is a solvable but annoying barrier. If your IT team is familiar with FlexNet licensing, the fix takes minutes. For individual users or small firms without dedicated IT support, the error can cause significant downtime. Recommendation: Before purchasing ETABS, ensure your IT environment is prepared to maintain a CSI License Manager server, or opt for the standalone USB license to avoid network-related error 120 entirely.
Rating (for licensing experience only): ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
Rating (software itself): ★★★★☆ (4/5) – Great software, frustrating license system.
The "ETABS License Not Recognized Error 120" is a common issue typically encountered when the software's licensing system, Sentinel RMS, fails to validate the license. This often occurs even after a license update or a fresh installation. 1. Core Causes of Error 120
According to documentation from Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI), this error is primarily linked to:
System Date/Time Mismatch: The most common trigger is an incorrect system date or regional number format.
Native Image Conflicts: Leftover files from previous installations can interfere with the new license.
Driver Issues: Missing or outdated Sentinel USB key drivers if using a hardware-locked license. 2. Troubleshooting Steps Step 1: Update Regional Date & Number Formats
The CSI Knowledge Base indicates that Error 120 frequently arises when running Standalonekey.exe due to non-US date formats. Open Region Settings in your Windows Control Panel. Change the format to English (United States). Ensure the date format is set specifically to mm/dd/yyyy. Restart your computer and attempt to run ETABS again. Step 2: Remove CSI Native Images
Corrupt native images can prevent the license from being recognized correctly.
Navigate to the ETABS installation folder (typically C:\Program Files\Computers and Structures\ETABS [Version]). Locate and run the utility to uninstall CSI native images.
If prompted during a reinstall, always select "Yes" to remove any previously installed native images. Step 3: Verify the License Manager Service
If you are using a network or standalone license, ensure the Sentinel RMS License Manager is active. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and hit Enter. Find Sentinel RMS License Manager in the list. If it isn't "Running," right-click it and select Start. Step 4: Update Drivers (For USB Keys) If your license is tied to a physical USB dongle: Check if the Sentinel Driver is installed.
Download the latest driver version from the CSI Knowledge Base or the official Sentinel site. 3. Advanced Fix: Re-installation
If the above steps fail, a clean reinstall is recommended to clear hidden configuration errors.
Uninstall ETABS and any existing Sentinel RMS License Managers. Reboot the system to ensure all processes are cleared.
Install the application using "Run as Administrator" and carefully follow every step in the provided instructions. This error usually triggers when the software can
Are you using a standalone or a network license for your ETABS installation?
The high-stakes world of structural engineering doesn't just involve gravity and seismic loads; sometimes, the greatest stress comes from a digital barrier: ETABS License Error #120. This error typically signals that the license file is incomplete or unrecognized by the Sentinel RMS License Manager. The Story of the Unfinished File
Imagine a lead engineer, Sarah, finishing a complex high-rise model late on a Friday. She hits "Run Analysis," but instead of seeing deflection maps, she’s met with a cold dialogue box: License Not Recognized - Error #120.
For Sarah, this isn't just a glitch; it's a "gatekeeper" error. According to the CSI Knowledge Base, Error #120 specifically means the software found a license file, but it lacks the necessary data to authorize the session. How Sarah Solves the Mystery
To get her project back on track, Sarah follows the standard "investigation" steps recommended by Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI):
Step 1: The Deactivation LoopSince she is using a Standalone License, the official fix is to deactivate the current license and then reactivate it. This refreshes the lservrc file, ensuring all components are complete.
Step 2: Checking the "Heartbeat" (Sentinel RMS)If deactivation doesn't work, she checks the Sentinel RMS License Manager service in Windows. If this background service is paused or not running, the software can't "read" even a perfect license file.
Step 3: The Date Format QuirkSometimes, the error is caused by a simple regional setting. If her computer's date/number format isn't set to US (mm/dd/yyyy), the Standalonekey.exe tool may fail to generate the license correctly.
Step 4: The Sentinel CleanupAs a last resort, if the system is clogged with old license remnants, she might use the lsclean.exe utility with the -fixsercom command to "scrub" the license server settings clean. Summary of Solutions Primary Solution Incomplete License File Deactivate and then Reactivate the license. Service Not Running Restart Sentinel RMS License Manager in services.msc. Regional Setting Conflict Change PC date format to US (mm/dd/yyyy). Corrupted Utilities Run the lsclean -fixsercom utility as an Administrator.
By the time the sun set, Sarah had reactivated her key, refreshed her Sentinel services, and successfully initiated her analysis, leaving Error #120 as a solved mystery in her project logs.
Are you dealing with a standalone or a network license, and have you already tried the deactivation/reactivation process? Licensing errors generated when running CSI software
Error 120 is a status code generated by Sentinel RMS (Rights Management System) , the licensing technology that ETABS (and other CSI products like SAP2000, SAFE, and CSiBridge) uses.
The code breaks down as follows:
LRES_NOT_RECOGNIZED. This means the license server received your request but could not find an entitlement matching the product (ETABS) and version you are trying to run.Crucial distinction: Error 120 is different from Error 94 (No license available) or Error 492 (Cannot connect to server). Error 120 means the server heard you, but it doesn't recognize your request as valid.
Once you've fixed the error, take these proactive measures:
1947@SERVER01), and the version of ETABS it supports.Error 120 is rarely a hardware failure. In 90% of cases, it is caused by either a broken path in the lservrc file, an overzealous antivirus, or user permissions. Work through the steps methodically, and you will likely be back to modeling shear walls and moment frames within 10 minutes.
Have you fixed Error 120 with a different method? Let us know in the comments below!
In structural engineering software, Error #120 in Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI) ETABS indicates that the license file is incomplete or improperly activated. This error typically prevents the software from launching and is often rooted in corrupted registry entries or a mismatch between the installed license and the workstation's configuration. Core Causes of Error #120
Incomplete License File: The lservrc file, which contains the authorization codes, may be missing critical components or failed to write correctly during activation.
Registry Corruption: Errors often arise from corrupted registry entries during the installation phase, which can block the software from correctly identifying a valid license.
Configuration Mismatches: For standalone licenses, changes to the machine's hardware ID (locking criteria) or system date formats can lead to the license being "unrecognized". Troubleshooting and Resolutions
Standard official procedures for resolving Error #120 vary depending on the license type:
Standalone Licenses: The primary solution is to deactivate the current license and then reactivate it using the activation key provided by CSI. This refreshes the local license file and ensures it matches the machine's current locking code. Download the Latest Driver: Visit the CSI Knowledge
Network Licenses: Users should verify the connection between the client machine and the license server. Creating an LMHOST.INI file in the product's installation folder with the server's IP address can help the software locate the license more reliably.
Installation Repair: If reactivation fails, running a FixIt tool or performing a clean uninstallation followed by a system reboot and re-installation is recommended to clear corrupted registry data. Alternative Approaches
Some users employ third-party tools like "Run as Date" to bypass licensing issues related to expired trial periods by tricking the software into seeing a historical system date. However, official CSI documentation emphasizes that legitimate activation requires administrative rights and open internet ports (80 and 443) to communicate with their activation servers.
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:
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?
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. |
If you are a structural engineer relying on CSI software, few things are as frustrating as trying to open a model to meet a deadline and being greeted by Error 120: License not recognized. This error effectively blocks access to ETABS, bringing your workflow to a grinding halt.
While the error message is vague, the solution is usually straightforward. Error 120 typically indicates a communication breakdown between the ETABS application and the Sentinel HASP driver (the software that manages the security key or license server).
In this post, we will walk through the most common causes and the step-by-step solutions to get your software running again.