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I stopped using Mathematica for some months. In the meantime, I received a "your activation key has been extended" e-mail. Since I didn't run it, Mathematica went inactive (i.e., I need to activate it). I need to use it again.

My problem is, I need to generate a password, but in order to do that, I first need my MathID, which, seemingly, I can only retrieve once Mathematica is active (I can only get to the activate mathematica screen, which prompts for a password), or (maybe) by reinstalling.

Here is a screenshot of the prompted window:

Is there a way to retrieve my MathID while Mathematica is not activated?

Thanks in advance.

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    $\begingroup$ This is more of a question for WRI support... anyway, the screen asking for a password should show a button like "other ways to activate" or such, which will display the MathID at some point. $\endgroup$
    – Yves Klett
    Dec 10, 2014 at 14:36
  • $\begingroup$ It doesn't :( I whish I could attach a screenshot... $\endgroup$
    – Rafael
    Dec 10, 2014 at 14:49
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    $\begingroup$ I think this issue should be addressed to WRI indeed. I doubt anyone here can help you more than that. $\endgroup$
    – Öskå
    Dec 10, 2014 at 15:02
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    $\begingroup$ If you have a WolframID account, you can also log in and chat with WRI support - that was very convenient last time I had license issues. $\endgroup$
    – Yves Klett
    Dec 10, 2014 at 15:17
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    $\begingroup$ FTR, I e-mailed them and they told me mine was a lab version, which uses a special (lab-specific) MathID. I installed the right version and everything worked as expected. Thanks you too, @YvesKlett $\endgroup$
    – Rafael
    Dec 10, 2014 at 23:10

1 Answer 1

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Other than via the regular dialog displayed at startup, you should be able to retrive your MathID from your "mathpass" file. On my system (Windows 7) it can be found here:

C:\Users\username\AppData\Roaming\Mathematica\Licensing

This file contains machine name, MathID, activation key and the password.

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  • $\begingroup$ The folder is empty (!). I also browsed for the Local-equivalent, but there was no Licensing folder $\endgroup$
    – Rafael
    Dec 10, 2014 at 14:53
  • $\begingroup$ @Öskå true, but without MMA running, evaluating $UserBaseDirectory will be problematic ;-) $\endgroup$
    – Yves Klett
    Dec 10, 2014 at 14:54
  • $\begingroup$ @Rafael can you search for "mathpass" on your machine? Perhaps it is mislaid... $\endgroup$
    – Yves Klett
    Dec 10, 2014 at 14:56
  • $\begingroup$ Ok. I found a mathpass at C:\ProgramData\Mathematica\Licensing, but it has a 24 digit (hex consistent) number that won't work. Neither does a 14-digit suffix (the actual MathID is supposed to have the form 1234-12345-12345) $\endgroup$
    – Rafael
    Dec 10, 2014 at 15:06

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