Our server that holds our entire setup, Vault, license server etc has been compromised.

As a result, the IT contractors are doing a complete format/clean install and setting up the server again.

Then I will be reinstalling Workgroup PDM 2016. (yes its old, outdated and unsupported, we are migrating soon...but in the meantime...this is what we have)

So basically we have no server or vault. it's been even physically removed form the rack to perform the maintenance

Fair enough. not much we can do until that is up and running again.

However, is there a way to start SolidWorks without the license server active?

At least we can work on local files/Checked out files or tinker a little, so we are not completely dead in the water

So far I have tried:

• Removing the server from the license manager list - did not work (obviously since there is no server even in the rack for it to communicate the instruction with)
• Tried opening in Safe mode from Rx tool...still requires a license and it fails and shuts down.
• Tried modifying the installation on client machines to remove the serials and possibly "trigger" SolidWorks to startup in trial mode - did not work.

This is an odd situation, so I am just trying to find out if there is a half way solution in the meantime to help us do a little rather than nothing at all

I suspect there is no solution but I would appreciate any insight at all to confirm that or correct me.

Thank you

Clients Running:

Window 10 Pro 64-bit (1809 build)

Solidworks 2016 SP 5.0

Workgroup PDM