Hi all!
Are older versions of Dorico now redundant? I’m trying to download Dorico 3 (purchased around 5 years ago) to a new computer, but computer says no. Activation code appears to have expired.
Do they really expect you to upgrade to every new version? (I presume it’s a rhetorical question)
Cheers
Stephen
I guess the computer says something more informative than just no. What does it really say.
Activation Codes are one time codes and not be used again, after they have been used.
As long as you still have the USB eLicenser you can run all older releases, Dorico 3.5 and earlier.
Ha, ok it just said ‘no valid licence found’. Thanks, I didn’t know activation codes could only be used once. Where would one find the USB eLicenser?
Much appreciated btw
Thanks Alberto!
SAM? Blimey, I’m really out of touch here…
Steinberg Activation Manager
Ah, sounds fancy
To sum up: Previous versions used an older, different licensing/authorization method, which is no longer supported. If you weren’t using a USB “dongle” to store your licences (allowing them to be used on any computer), then you’re out of luck.
Dorico 4, 5, and 6 can all be installed without problem.
However, I think it’s realistic expectation that you need to upgrade every few years or so.
Not just to keep the developers in bread and jam: There have been literally thousands of new features, bug fixes, compatibility fixes for new OS versions, and refinements to the program, which should benefit you in some way.
Software is like a garden, it needs careful maintenance and will wither and perish if left.
Version 3 was released in September 2019. (The next version, 3.5, in 2020.) So you’ve had a good run for your money. The discounted upgrade price from v3 to 6 is just slightly more than 2 times the incremental upgrade from n to n+1, so you’re making a saving there.
(The number of Finale users who were outraged by the decision to close it down, who then announced that they were still using a decade-old version was… telling.)
Thanks benwiggy! Yep, I presumed as much. I wasn’t aware of the USB-licence, but since modern computers don’t have usb ports now I presume it’s redundant anyway.
I genuinely appreciate the advice on here - the Steinberg Forum’s been a godsend
Many thanks again!
Just to add to what @benwiggy and @Alberto_Maria wrote, the USB eLicenser is the old hardware dongle that had to be attached to the computer. In case you do not have one, you’ve used the old Soft-eLicenser, which can not be reactivated anymore.
I don’t know of computers with at least one USB, mostly USB-C port.
There is information on this page:
and further articles on the left on that page. Something there might be useful information.
Modern computers don’t have USB? What? They all do. Yes, some only USB C, but most have at least one or two USB A ports. And you can get a simple adapter for USB A to USB C which is a tiny little thing and very cheap.
The USB eLicenser was a small silver dongle. You must have had that at some stage to run Dorico 3.5, no?
I’d echo @benwiggy and say it is really worth upgrading to the current version. Not only is it WAY more advanced, but you will get help and support from the forum. People are not going to install 3.5 to try to help you. So it’s limiting your world to stay so far behind.
There’s a free demo version of Dorico 6 you can try out. And you can read the 1200 page manual to see what you are missing. (Ha ha… but seriously, worth a read. And you can read all the version release history also.)
…I really didn’t know that 
Anyhow, my version’s just D3 not 3.5 - definitely no silver dongle, just an email with an activation code.
Upgrade it is! ‘1200 page manual’ you say? I can’t wait.
Cheers Andro!
The current english-language manual (*.pdf) is 2,046 pages long, including the table of contents and index; the German version, for example, has as many as 2,190 pages; other languages are available. 
In that case you should login to your Steinberg online profile and check if your license is registered there. This is the prerequisite for the update to the latest version.
You obviously used the Soft-eLicenser and that can not be reactivated anymore.
You can buy the update directly on the Steinberg Website.
I’d recommend using the Steinberg Download Assistant to install everything that you need and you can also enter your upgrade activation code there.
On the assumption that you’re already familiar with version 3, I’d recommend reading the Version History of each release, to see what was added or changed along the way. Or read the Scoring Notes reviews.
Note that these PDFs contain info on more than one release, e.g. 5.0, 5.1, 5.1.10, etc.
Thanks again @benwiggy, really appreciate it. That’s a great help
You can make use of the free trial to Dorico 6 if you want to check out all the new features. (See the version history for all the updates!)
—Jim
