Altera ModelSim Starter edition license error - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 04, 2015, 08:28:49 pm
content: I thought I would have a go with Altera ModelSim. I already have Quartus II 14.1 Web Edition installed and running fine, compiling my designs. However, when I try to run ModelSim, it complains with 'Fatal License Error' saying it is unable to checkout a license. I have carefully made sure that I ran the Altera Starter Edition including selecting that option during the installation process and it says that no license is required. I tried installing it on a different computer but I get exactly the same message when I try to run it. The first computer was 64 bit Windows 7, the other one was 32 bit Windows 7.Do I need some sort of license file to keep it happy, even though Altera says it doesn't need it?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 12:35:47 am
content: I think you have to enable the talkback for that to work. Let me check where the setting is at.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 12:42:07 am
content: It's on: Tools->Options under General->Internet Connectivity and click on the TalkBack Options button.Under Enable check the "Enable sending TalkBack data to Altera" it only sends metadata not your projects.Edit: that menu is in Quartus II btw.

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 08:32:36 am
content: Quote from: miguelvp on January 05, 2015, 12:42:07 amMany thanks, I am indebted to you. I don't think I would ever have found that. I did do a lot of web searching for the answer before asking here.

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 09:09:35 am
content: Not a problem, Quartus II 14.1 Web Edition is free so they do require you enable the talkback for some of the functionality including also SignalTap.In that dialog box you can find details on what where the data that is sent is stored in case you want to know more about what it's being sent. I did look at it a while back and it didn't look too intrusive.

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 11:27:29 am
content: Quote from: miguelvp on January 05, 2015, 09:09:35 amThanks. I don't have a problem with sending back data to them, I doubt if they will be that interested in what I'm up to!

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 06:55:19 pm
content: Quote from: miguelvp on January 05, 2015, 12:42:07 amOh dear, I tried that but still get the message saying I need a license. I made sure I could log in to the Altera website with my account so not sure what I haven't done. I tried restarting Quartus and even tried rebooting the PC but still no. Any clue as to what else I need to do?

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 09:33:50 pm
content: Are you downloading the stand alone ModelSim or the one that came with Quartus II 14.1 Web Edition?I mean is it in C:\altera\14.0\modelsim_ase\win32aloem ?

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 09:53:52 pm
content: Quote from: miguelvp on January 05, 2015, 09:33:50 pmYes, it's in that directory

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 10:51:38 pm
content: Strange,I would ask support at:http://www.altera.com/mySupportI tried on two systems with Win7 professional 64 bit and they both work out of the box, but I never installed modelsim separately

author: mkissin
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: January 05, 2015, 11:27:56 pm
content: There is a known bug with the licensing for ModelSim at the moment:http://dl.altera.com/?edition=webYou need to apply a patch to allow it to work properly.

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2015, 08:28:09 am
content: Quote from: mkissin on January 05, 2015, 11:27:56 pmYes, I contacted Altera support and they told me of the patch - that sure does explain things! I can't try this till later but it sounds like this should fix it.Thank you miguelvp and mkissin for your help.

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 06, 2015, 06:32:53 pm
content: That was it, all working now. Thanks again guys.

author: andersm
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: January 13, 2015, 11:47:39 pm
content: It seems that the ModelSim 14.1-0.01m patch is no longer available for download, and instead there's a new installer packagewith the same version number.

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: January 14, 2015, 02:02:50 pm
content: Quote from: andersm on January 13, 2015, 11:47:39 pmThat's not very clever!

author: maximumsam
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 07:22:19 am
content: Quote from: deephaven on January 06, 2015, 06:32:53 pmHi: I'm also having the exact same problem, can you please post the link to the patch? Did you have an online technical support helping you with it? since I cannot find the link to contact support staff, only documentations...

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 18, 2015, 08:40:30 am
content: Quote from: maximumsam on February 18, 2015, 07:22:19 amI believe it is fixed in the latest software, have you tried downloading that? Yes, I did file a technical support question. Have you created an account on the Altera website? I see they have a beta of a new version of their website so it may have all changed since I logged in last.

author: maximumsam
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 22, 2015, 07:05:42 am
content: Quote from: deephaven on February 18, 2015, 08:40:30 amI downloaded the latest version along with the patch ( QuartusSetup-14.1.1.190) patched it, still getting the exact same error

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 22, 2015, 09:30:11 pm
content: Earlier in this thread someone suggested that you need to turn on talkback, did you do that?

author: maximumsam
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 25, 2015, 06:27:15 am
content: Quote from: deephaven on February 22, 2015, 09:30:11 pmYes I did!

author: maximumsam
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 25, 2015, 06:29:40 am
content: Quote from: maximumsam on February 25, 2015, 06:27:15 amI'm thinking about ask support for help, but was struggling to find the link to contact a real support staff... Is the patch posted right now the one that solved your problem?

author: deephaven
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 25, 2015, 08:48:50 am
content: Quote from: maximumsam on February 25, 2015, 06:29:40 amThe patch that was posted at the time I originally reported the problem here was the one that fixed it.Go herehttps://www.altera.com/myaltera/mal-signin.jspand, if you don't have one, create an account. Then you'll be able to click on MySupport and issue a support request.

author: maximumsam
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: February 27, 2015, 03:42:17 am
content: Quote from: deephaven on February 25, 2015, 08:48:50 amThanks a lot man