Im new here and need help.

I have the windows XP version of Houdini 8.1.668

Any time i try to start up Houdini an error pops up saying (License error: Unable to connect to hserver for license acquisition)

It happens to all the Houdini programs. Help please.

**I also forgot to mention my internet connection is DSL Verizon**

I have no idea or not if this will help.
I have a similar problem on my laptop that has sbc/home-portal software for my DSL.

Sounds to me like your licenses are not installing properly automatically.
Basically there is something on your computer that prevents Houdini from directly generating the keys.
In programs->sidefx there is the ability to launch the “license administrator” independently.
In here you can see under the “installed licenses” if you have any valid licenses installed.
If you don't see anything in that tab, then they aren't installed.
If there is nothing there are you immediately screwed?
Maybe not.

As longs as you have account to generate them on the sidefx web page.
http://service.sidefx.com [service.sidefx.com]
you can enter them manually.
On this page you can log in and generate your “keys”,
and then use the stand-alone license administrator to enter them manually.
file(pull down menu)–>manually enter keys.

the sidefx page may ask you for your “system/machine code” which you can get from the license administrator by
view(pulldown menu)—> diagnostic information.

there is also info on the previously mention sidefx page to walk you through it.
This will work for commercial licenses, for “apprentice licenses” I'm not sure.

hope that helps

Jim

Thank you so much. but that wasnt the problem. what i did is change the Server to Standalone mode and the programs started running! Thanks for your time and help anyway! :-)