How to perform activation when we have a 'Changing Host ID'?

Keywords: Host ID, HostID, activation, activate, volume number, settings.ini, docking station, device ID, Limit reached

Details: 

The HostID is derived from the MAC address and it might change when the computer changes its network connection by going on WiFi, a VPN or a different Network.

The steps below will set it to the permanent, unchanging value of the Volume Serial Number.

1. If your ChemDraw software is activated, open it and Deactivate the license to be reused with the new host ID (Help > Activate ChemDraw > Deactivate button). Then close ChemDraw.
2. Determine the volume number of your hard drive:
   Type "cmd" on your search bar and click the Command Prompt option.
   Go to your C drive by typing C: and hit enter.
   Type VOL and hit enter to view your volume number.
   Use only the numbers and letters of the volume number. Remove the "-" in the middle.
   
3. With full admin privileges, edit the local settings.ini file at the following location: (It is recommended to run Notepad by Right-click > Run as admin, Then browse to the location of the INI file. You need to select "show all files").
   
   Version 23.0 or later:
   C:\ProgramData\RevvitySignalsSoftware\FNE\Settings.ini
   
   Version 22 or older:
   C:\ProgramData\PerkinElmerInformatics\FNE\Settings.ini
   
   
4. Change the 1st line to HostID=XXXXXXXXX (insert the volume serial number of your C drive without the hyphen) and save it. Again, the settings file should be saved with Admin privileges.
   
   
5. Run ChemDraw (right-click and Run as Admin) and activate again.