Cannot license VMware Workstation after performing an upgrade
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Cannot license VMware Workstation after performing an upgrade

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Article ID: 301106

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Updated On:

Products

VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

This article guides you through troubleshooting why Workstation cannot be licensed and thus virtual machines do not power on. The article identifies and provides you steps to eliminate common causes leading to the issue.


Symptoms:

  • Cannot power on virtual machine in Workstation
  • Virtual machine does not start in Workstation
  • Virtual machine does not power on after upgrading to new version
  • You receive the error:

    Serial number doesn't match existing licenses
     
  • While entering the License /Serial key in VMware workstation you get an Error

    You do not have permission to enter a license key. Try again using the system administrator account.



Environment

VMware Workstation Pro 10.x VMware Workstation Pro 14.x
VMware Workstation Pro 11.x VMware Workstation Pro 15.x
VMware Workstation Pro 12.x VMware Workstation Pro 16.x
VMware Workstation Pro 13.x VMware Workstation Pro 17.x

Resolution

The below listed steps provide instructions or links to documents to eliminate possible causes and take corrective action as necessary. The steps are ordered in the most appropriate sequence to isolate the issue and identify the proper resolution.
 
  1. Ensure your copy of Workstation is licensed correctly. For more information, see Licensing VMware Workstation (2014291).

    Note: Workstation 6 was previously sold for Linux and Windows operating systems and serial numbers work only for the specific host platform. If you enter a Workstation 6 for Windows serial number on the Linux version or vice versa, it does not license the product and you receive the Serial number doesn't match existing licenses error. To confirm whether the serial number supports your current platform check the order details for product description.
     
  2. Verify your serial number is specific to the version installed on your computer. For more information, see Determining VMware Software Version and Build Number (392).

    Each major version upgrade of Workstation leads to new serial numbers. For example, if you upgrade from Workstation 6 to Workstation 7, you receive a new serial number from VMware. In addition, you have to ensure new software binaries are downloaded from VMware website and installed on top of the existing software.
 
The "You do not have permission to enter a license key. Try again using the system administrator account" error can occur if the user logged in does not have the sufficient permission. Try starting the application-using Run as administrator or register the license key using a local administrator account. If still an issue then please follow the below workaround to have the license key registered manually.
 
  1. Launch a command prompt on the host machine using an Administrator account. For more information, see the Microsoft TechNet article Start a command prompt as an administrator.
  2. Type the following command in the command prompt: -

    For 32 Bit OS:

    "C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Workstation\vmware-vmx.exe” --new-sn XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX


    For 64 Bit OS:

    "C:\Program Files (x86)\VMware\VMware Workstation\vmware-vmx.exe” --new-sn XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

    Note: For Linux, see You are unable to license VMware Workstation for Linux (2054606)



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