HSMAdvisor Help Topics

Information Required for License Account Setup:

First Name and Last Name: We ask for customers' first and last names for support purposes and to identify their account. Although we do not require the use of real names, customers should remember the name used for the product purchase. This information is kept confidential.
Email Address: This is used to identify the customer and is required when accessing the licensing system.
Computer ID (for Permanent License only): The Computer ID is a unique 24-character alpha-numeric code generated from the computer's hardware IDs. This is only needed for the Permanent License type and is required at the time of purchase.

Privacy Policy: We do not share any customer information with anyone and do not send newsletters, spam, or any other type of information to their email addresses. Personal information is only used for account authorization.

Here is a list of license types we offer with HSMAdvisor:

Floating License (Unlimited)
Floating License (Subscription)
Floating License (1 or 3 Horse Power)
Permanent License

Floating License (Unlimited)

Floating License offers customers mobility
Each purchased seat of the software can be used non-concurrently (a seat can run only on ONE computer at a time) on multiple computers.

This License Type is perpetual and is sold for a one-time payment. It includes free updates and support forever.

This License Type requires an Internet connection every time a seat is to be renewed.
The amount of time a seat can remain on one computer is called the "Floating License Parking Period."
The duration of each License Parking Period is controlled by the user himself and can vary from 10 minutes to 30 days.

Users can easily increase the number of concurrent seats (the number of seats that can run on multiple computers simultaneously) by purchasing additional ones using existing Account Details.

Floating License (Subscription)

The benefit of the subscription-based license is that it offers the same features and functionality as the unlimited version, but with the flexibility of paying on a monthly basis. This allows the user to have access to the software as long as they continue to pay for it, and the ability to cancel the license at any time.

Floating License (1 or 3 Horse Power)

This License Type behaves exactly like the Unlimited Floating License. It also never expires and carries lifetime support and updates.

With the exception that the calculations are limited to 1 or 3 Horse Power.
This License type was created for owners of light hobby CNC machines and routers.

The limit only kicks in after 1 or 3 years from the day of purchase.

You can, at any point, buy another License and get unlimited power again.
Using your old credentials will also add total Horse Power to your license.

You can also ask us to upgrade to any Unlimited License type by paying the difference.

Permanent License

This License type does not require an Internet connection at all.
It is ideal for cases when a computer is not connected to the Internet.

This License Type is sold once per seat or a number of seats. It includes free lifetime updates and support.

After purchase, each computer has to be registered using its Computer ID key. An individual Serial Number will be issued for each computer that the permanent seat was purchased.

Users can purchase additional seats on an as-needed basis.

A Permanent Seat can be transferred to another computer for free - No questions asked.
Please install HSMAdvisor on the new Computer and email us your original purchase confirmation with your new Computer ID.

When installing HSMAdvisor on a new computer, you will be given a 30-day Trial Period to register your software, transfer the license, or purchase another seat.

Here is the table showing the differences between Floating and Permanent License Types

HSMAdvisor License Type vs. Available Feature	Floating License	Permanent License
How many Computers can use the same seat	Unlimited	1
Can I switch between different computers throughout the day using the same Seat?	Yes	No
How many Computers can use the same seat at the same time	1	1
Do you offer Multiple Seat Packages	Yes	Yes
Does this License Type require an Internet connection	Yes	No
How often does HSMAdvisor connect to the Internet	From once every 10 minutes to once every 30 days.	Never
How soon can the same seat be used on another Computer	10 minutes	Only after Seat Transfer is approved via email
Is it a one-time purchase or a subscription?	It is a one-time purchase. All our licenses are lifetime with no recurring payments.	It is a one-time purchase. All our licenses are lifetime with no recurring payments.
Do I get all updates and upgrades?	Updates and Upgrades are Free Forever	Updates and Upgrades are Free Forever
Support	Free	Free

See Also

Account Details

The Floating License allows for the installation of HSMAdvisor on multiple computers, but it can only be used simultaneously on the number of computers that correspond to the number of seats purchased.

This licensing scheme is ideal for cases where HSMAdvisor has to be installed on large number of computers and used by few individuals concurrently.

Typical usage

An individual machinist or a programmer has Single Seat floating License and uses it on multiple computers throughout the day.
(Example: Steve buys One Seat and uses it at his home, and at work. He also works part-time for another shop where he can also use the same floating license as well)
An organization has a large number of computer workstations with HSMAdvisor installed on many of them, but only few programmers at a time will be using the software.
(Example: Company N has 8 workstations with HSMAdvisor installed on all if them. But only has 3 programmers who could use it at the same time)

Purchasing

To purchase a Floating License go to the online store, and select the Floating License product you require.
You can select the number of seats required when entering your registration information.

See Also

With the Permanent License, each seat can only be used on the computer it was purchased for.

This licensing scheme is ideal for cases when HSMAdvisor has to be installed on a computer that is not connected to the internet. Or when the customer does not wish to use the subscription system.

Typical usage

A machine shop computer that is not connected to the internet.

Purchasing

To purchase Permanent License go to Online Store Select the Permanent License Type product category and choose a product with the number of seats you wish to purchase.

You will be required to enter your Account Details and offered to pay via PayPal

This License Type requires customers to register their computers using Computer IDs, so that license keys for each seat can be generated and issued.

Computer ID is the unique key that HSMAdvisor generates for the given motherboard and processor. It shows that the Computer ID key on the License Activation dialog. HSMAdvior Settings -> License -> Purchase Enter Key

See Also

After purchasing the License, you need to activate your seats
This is how you can do this

The Automatic Registration sequence is identical for both the Floating and the Permanent License Types

Launch HSMAdvisor
Go to the Settings tab
Go to the License panel
Click on the Purchase/Enter Key button
In the License Activation window, enter your:

First Name
Last Name
Email Address

Click Register Automatically button.
A message should appear confirming your license.

Floating Seats can ONLY be activated using the Automatic Registration process.

For Permanent License Types, customers have options for how they wish to activate their purchased seats.

Permanent License Owners can do either one of the:

Use the Automatic Registration process described above.
Or. Send an email to with your Account Details. Don't forget to include the Computer ID of the computer you are registering.
Activate your seat manually by clicking on the View my License Online link inside the License Activation window

Manually Activating your Permanent Seats Online

To View your License details online and/or to activate your seats, please do the following (internet connection required):

Click on the View my License Online link inside the License Activation window.
OR follow this link right now: http://hsmadvisor.com?page=user_keys
A new Web browser window will open where you need to enter your:

First Name
Last Name
Email Address
Account Password (It is empty by default. Enter it only if you have previously set it up)

Click Proceed button
Select the Permanent License from the list of licenses that are registered with those credentials
If you have set up the Account Password, please enter it and click "Proceed":
If you hold the Permanent License type, you will be offered to register your Computer ID
Click on the Register Computers button and enter your Computer ID keys. One per line:
Click Add Keys, and it will generate the license keys for you:

Your new License keys will appear at the bottom of the list.

Collecting multiple Computer ID Keys for manual activation

When your computers are offline, collecting your Computer ID keys may be challenging.

So we came up with an easy solution:

Download (and unpack if a ZIP file is used) the HSMAdvisor Computer ID Collector utility into a USB flash drive (links at the bottom of the article)
Insert the USB drive into a computer which you want to register and launch the utility on each one of them, one PC after the other
In the end, the "Computer_IDs.txt" file will hold all of your Computer ID keys
Send this file to us or manually register the computers yourself using the steps outlined in the topic above

Here is a video tutorial of the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywPDzSHEudY&feature=youtu.be

See Also

The Floating License is a preferred type of license when a computer is connected to the internet.

It has multiple advantages, like the ability to be used on multiple computers and easier license transfers, that do not involve sending an email with a license transfer request.

Here is how Floating License works:

To activate a Floating License, you need to enter the license First Name, Last Name, and Email and click on the "Automatic Registration" link.

HSMAdvisor will connect to the licensing server and request a seat.
The seat will remain parked on the computer for another 10(or more) minutes.

For as long as HSMAdvisor is open on that computer, it pings the license server every 10(or more) minutes to renew the seat.
The computer that currently has the parked seat is given priority when renewing.

If you launch HSMAdvisor and there are not enough free seats available, you will get an error message saying that "The seat is busy."

This usually only happens when you try to use HSMAdvisor on more than one computer simultaneously.
In such cases, consider upgrading to a 2 seat license.

You can also change how often HSMAdisor pings the server by going to Settings and choosing a different "Floating License Parking Period."

I can also free up parked seats for users who need license renewals on other computers (i.e., accidental choosing of longer than needed License Parking Period, or other things like changing of the employer, computer upgrades, etc.)

The default 10-minute renewal interval can be changed in HSMAdvisor settings. The license owner can also control the maximum parking interval online on the User Keys page.

Are you looking to expand your HSMAdvisor software capabilities or accommodate more users within your organization? We've got you covered! With our seamless upgrade options, enhancing your software license is now easier than ever before.

Here's how you can upgrade your HSMAdvisor license:

Adding More Seats to Existing License: Has your team grown since you initially purchased your HSMAdvisor license? No problem! Easily increase the number of seats on your existing license to accommodate more users.
Upgrade from 1 and 3 HP Licenses: If you're currently using a 1 HP or 3 HP license you can upgrade to either the Unlimted Floating or Unlimited Permanent license.
Transitioning from Cancelled or Active Subscription: You can also switch from a subscription-based model to a different license type.

To make the upgrade:

Visit our store at https://hsmadvisor.com/buy
Select the product you would like to get
Enter the same First Name, Last Name, and Email address associated with your current license
The system will find your existing licenses and preset the available upgrade options.
You will only have to pay the difference between the original and the new license.

You will receive an email notification with your updated license details.

The minimum upgrade fee is USD 10

If you are reading this, know, I am sorry to see you go and wish you could tell me why you are changing your mind.

Canceling your Lifetime HSMAdvisor or FSWizard License

If you purchased one of the HSMAdvisor or FSWizard lifetime licenses, please email me (contact details here) and ask for a refund.
No questions asked. Of course, feedback regarding what made you change your mind is very much appreciated!

You can ask for a refund if less than 6 months passed after making the purchase.

Canceling your Monthly Subscription License

You can cancel your HSMAdvisor Subscription License using one of the following two ways:

In your PayPal Account:
https://www.paypal.com/myaccount/autopay/
Log in to your PayPal, then click on the Settings Icon -> Payments -> Manage Automatic Payments -> HSMAdvisor.Inc and then hit Cancel
Alternatively, you can always email me and ask me to cancel it for you: contact details here

Most HSMAdvisor License packages come with a FREE FSWizard license that you can use on your Android, iOS devices, or online.

Please check out our HSMAdvisor Store web page for details on currently available packages.

Here is how you can enable FSWizard PRO features on your Android, Apple device, or web browser:

Please purchase any HSMAdvisor+FSWizard package or a stand-alone FSWizard PRO cross-platform license.

Get the FSWizard app from one of these places:
FSWizard Lite Google Play store page or download the latest APK here: https://hsmadvisor.com/fswizard
FSWizard Lite iTunes Store page
Or go to app.fswizard.com to access the web app on any device
Launch FSWizard and go to the Settings page:
Once on the Settings page, click on the Customer Login button:
The Login dialog will open, prompting you to enter the email address you used when purchasing your FSWizard or HSMAdvisor License.
Click on the OK button.
FSWizard will attempt to connect to the licensing server and download the database files to enable all the PRO features on your FSWizard app.
If you re-install your app or install it on a different device, go to the "Customer Login" page and perform the steps outlined above.
You can enable PRO features on as many of YOUR devices as possible.
PRO Features added this way are the same as those in the app purchased through the "Walled Garden" app stores.