Installation
- SOLIDWORKS and SW PDM System Requirements
- Preparing for Installation
- How to Download SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager (.EXE)
- How to Request a Manual Download for SOLIDWORKS
- How To Order A SOLIDWORKS Media Kit
- Installing – A Complete Overview to Managing a CAD Environment
- SOLIDWORKS Individual Installation
- How to Modify Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- How to Repair Your SOLIDWORKS Installation
- SOLIDWORKS Activation Wizard: How to Transfer SOLIDWORKS License
- Performing a Clean Uninstall
- How to Quickly Update SOLIDWORKS to a Newer Service Pack
- Install the 3DEXPERIENCE Add-in for SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Network Licensing
- How to Upgrade SolidNetWork License Manager
- Moving from SOLIDWORKS Standalone to Network Licenses
- Adding License to an Existing SolidNetwork License Manager
- Use Options File to Reserve Licenses for Specific Users
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Order Guide
- How to Reactivate SOLIDWORKS Network Licenses
- How to Move the SOLIDWORKS SolidNetWork License Manager to a New Server
- SOLIDWORKS SolidNetwork License Manager Overview
- How to Install the SolidNetwork License Manager
SOLIDWORKS Portal
SOLIDWORKS
- SOLIDWORKS Hardware Guide – 2021 Update
- SOLIDWORKS Keyboard Shortcuts
- SOLIDWORKS Copy Settings Wizard
- Accessing Xpress Tools
- How To Tell Who Has a SOLIDWORKS File Open
- How to Use SOLIDWORKS Pack and Go
- SOLIDWORKS Administration Overview
- Rebuild Types and How They Work
- How to Store SOLIDWORKS Templates on the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform
- How to Adjust Annotation Formatting and Spacing
- Understanding SOLIDWORKS Settings and Templates
- How to create SOLIDWORKS Part, Assembly, and Drawing Templates
PDM
- PDM How to Work in Off-line Mode
- Enhancement Requests for PDM Users
- How to Use PDM Move Tree
- How to Use PDM Copy Tree
- PDM - What are Private State Files?
- PDM Search Operators
- How to Set PDM to Details View in Windows File Explorer
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Search Results – Which Configuration’s Variables are Displayed?
- PDM Automatic Login Options
- PDM Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities
- PDM License Type Matrix
- PDM Server Recommendations
- PDM Backup Procedures
- How to Reset Your SOLIDWORKS PDM Admin Password
- How to Control Get Version Commands
- Adding a PDM Vault View with a Windows Azure Active Directory Account
- PDM Major Minor Revisions
- How to Set Revision Manually in PDM
- How to Set Up Revision Tables
- PDM - What are Version Free Variables?
- PDM How to Rollback a File to a Previous Version
- PDM Setting Cache Options Automatically
- How to Change PDM Date Formatting
- How to Delete a PDM User Completely
- How to Reset Web2 Authentication in IIS
- SOLIDWORKS PDM Connectivity Test Tool
- How to Configure the SOLIDWORKS PDM Local HOSTS file to Resolve Server Name
- Show all articles ( 3 ) Collapse Articles
- Create Local Vault View
- How to Delete or Recreate a Local Vault View
- Create Local PDM Vault View Using .cvs File
- How to Change PDM Client License Type after Installation
- PDM File Version Upgrade Tool
- PDM Upgrade Checklist
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS PDM Add-ins
- How to Upgrade SOLIDWORKS Toolbox in PDM
- SOLIDWORKS PDM: Moving Server Components - Checklist
- How to Install SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
- SOLIDWORKS PDM / Manage Installation Guide (PDF)
- Install Microsoft SQL 2019 for PDM Professional
- How to Install PDM Client Software
Known Solutions
- Windows Firewall Exceptions for SOLIDWORKS Network Based Products
- Why Users Need Local Admin Rights to Install SOLIDWORKS
- How to Run SOLIDWORKS with Administrator Permissions
- Blank SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager - Resolution
- SOLIDWORKS RX - The Ultimate CAD Diagnostic Tool
- SOLIDWORKS Safe Modes
- How to Force SOLIDWORKS to Use Your Graphics Card
- How to Ensure that You are Running a SOLIDWORKS Certified Graphics Card Driver
- Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
- Resolution to Common File Location Errors
- Non-Matching Internal ID
- Could not obtain a license for SOLIDWORKS CAM. Invalid (inconsistent) license key
- “The Source Folder Is Not Versioned Properly…” Error when Modifying Serial Number
- “A Newer Version of This Product is Already Installed” Error when Installing SOLIDWORKS
- "Error obtaining License (-85, 147, 0)"
- SOLIDWORKS Search Routine Order
- How to Restore Dismissed SOLIDWORKS Messages
- Viewing SOLIDWORKS Configurations in eDrawings
- How to Modify the Reference/Update Dialog Dismissal Time
- Show all articles ( 4 ) Collapse Articles
Simulation
- Simulation Meshing Guide
- How to Duplicate and Reuse Simulation Study Data
- Setting Up Default Options for SOLIDWORKS Simulation Studies
- Which Type of Elements Should I Use?
- Is SOLIDWORKS Simulation Accurate?
- Getting Started with Simulation
- The Basics of Setting Up a Study in Simulation
- Do I Need Non-linear Simulation?
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Troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS Installation Issues
The following information provides advice and techniques for troubleshooting SOLIDWORKS installation issues. In some cases these steps will allow you to resolve issues yourself or prepare you for a fast resolution with the help of a support representative. Before proceeding with an installation, please consult our “Preparing for Installation” guide to prevent or minimize the potential for problems.
- ● If your SolidWorks Installation fails using the SolidWorks Installation Manager, please click the “Save logs for support…” button to zip all the installation log files for troubleshooting.
- ● What should I do if my SolidWorks installation fails?
- ○ After the log files are saved, reboot and verify the following:
- ▪ You have Administrator privileges on your computer.
- ▪ Antivirus has been turned off.
- ▪ Your computer is running a supported operating system and meets minimum system requirements (SOLIDWORKS System Requirements). If you have an active Subscription, please search the Knowledge Base in the Customer Portal for the install error you received. If an article exists for your specific install failure, this will be the fastest method for obtaining a solution. If you cannot locate an existing Knowledge Base item and the above 2 conditions are met (Admin rights and system requirements), please contact MLC CAD Systems Technical Support.
- ● What should I do if my upgrade of SOLIDWORKS fails?
- ○ If your upgrade fails it is recommended to uninstall and re-install SOLIDWORKS using the Installation Manager version that corresponds to the version and service pack you are upgrading to.
- ● What should I do if the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager is not downloading files?
- ○ Proxy server restrictions can prevent applications from downloading files, which can in turn prevent the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager from downloading files automatically. You can download files manually and then install them using the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager. Select the option in the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager to download individual files. Based on your product selections and system requirements, a web page appears in a separate window containing links to download all required files manually.
- ○ The ability to download files while using the Installation Manager is reserved for SOLIDWORKS customers on active subscription. For customers that are not on a current subscription, please contact MLC CAD Systems technical support to obtain installation media. Additional information can be found in How to Download SOLIDWORKS
- ● What should I do if a Blank White SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Screen appears?
- ○ If you see a blank white screen on the SOLIDWORKS installation manager, it is typically caused by Windows blocking HTML files from appearing on your screen. Learn how to resolve this issue here

- ○ Sometimes when extracting a Zip file, Windows will block certain HTML files in the installation media. To correct this problem follow the steps below:
- 1. Browse to the downloaded installation file location
\sldim\lang\english\HTML\ - 2. Right-click on the frameset.html and select properties from the shortcut menu
- 3. If an Unblock button is present in the properties dialog then select it.
- 4. Repeat this process for other HTML files in the folder if they are blocked
- 5. Re-launch the SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager process

- ● SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager Log Files
- ○ SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager log files are available to assist in troubleshooting installation problems and are helpful to the MLC CAD Systems Technical Support team if a Support Case needs to be created.
- ○ These log files are located with other SOLIDWORKS application log files in the following location:
- ▪ C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\SOLIDWORKS\Installation Logs\installed_version
- ▪ This directory contains the SummaryIMLog_nnnnn_nnnnn_nnnn_nnnnn.txt file, a general log of SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager progress. The Other Logs subdirectory contains more detailed installation log information.
- ▪ NOTE: To see the log file directories, you might have to configure the Windows Folder options to Show hidden files and folders. If the application data is located on a drive other than C:, adjust the directory path accordingly.
- ▪ TIP: For self-support, search for “return value 3” in the log file to get to likely failure point.
- ● What information should I include if I create a Support Case?
- ○ The following items should be included:
- ▪ A screen shot of the error message
- ▪ Installation log files (It is best to include the entire zipped log files folder)
- ▪ Troubleshooting steps performed so far
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byJarred Degeyter