Autodata The Hardware Information Does Not Match With Your Dongle

To understand this error, you must understand how Autodata authenticates its users. Unlike cloud-only subscriptions, Autodata (especially versions 3.x and 4.x) uses a two-factor hardware handshake:

When you launch Autodata, the software performs a checksum: "Is the hardware ID inside this license file identical to the hardware ID broadcast by the USB dongle right now?" To understand this error, you must understand how

The error "The hardware information does not match with your dongle" means the checksum failed. The software sees a mismatch between what is stored on your PC and what is plugged into your USB port. When you launch Autodata, the software performs a

The most common fix is to refresh the communication between the OS and the dongle. When you launch Autodata

Sometimes, a corrupted HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Hardlock key remains. Delete this key (backup first), restart, and let the dongle rebuild it.

If the dongle LED does not light up (if it has one) or Windows makes the "disconnect/reconnect" sound repeatedly, the crystal oscillator inside the dongle may have failed. Without specialized equipment, you cannot fix this. You need a replacement dongle from AutoData.