"Hardware information does not match with your dongle"

The error in Autodata typically occurs because the software's license file is tied to a specific Hardware ID (UID) that no longer matches your current system configuration . This often happens after hardware upgrades, OS reinstalls, or if the license was generated for a different machine. Common Causes

This message usually appears during software startup, immediately after plugging in a USB hardware key (dongle), or during an update. If you are staring at this error, your AutoData system is essentially performing a security handshake—and failing. This article dissects why this happens, how to fix it within minutes, and how to ensure it never returns.

Registry Clean-up:

Before importing a new license, some users find success by removing old Autodata registry entries to ensure no conflicting hardware information remains.

for any error codes (like Code 10 or Code 28) on the USB/Sentinel device.

If you use Autodata on a remote PC via RDP (Remote Desktop), the error is inevitable. The hardware information passed through RDP is a virtual USB hub ID, not the real one.

Download and Install

the latest Sentinel Protection Installer for your version of Windows. Restart your computer before plugging the dongle back in.

  1. Hardware Information: This refers to a unique fingerprint of the computer you are using. It is generated by reading specific components: the Motherboard Serial Number, MAC address (Network Card), Hard Drive Volume ID, and sometimes the CPU ID.
  2. Your Dongle: The USB stick stores encrypted license data, but crucially, it also stores a snapshot of the "Hardware Information" from the original computer where the software was first activated.
  3. Does Not Match: The live fingerprint of your current PC does not match the snapshot stored inside the dongle. AutoData assumes you have cloned the software onto a second unauthorized machine.

If you are using a modified version of Autodata (a "crack"), some patches inject a fake hardware ID. When the system date passes a certain threshold, the fake ID invalidates, triggering this mismatch.