Move Elicense to New Computer?

Tomato Can · 04-24-2026, 08:51 PM

Been a long time since having to do this. Do I need to Unlicense before moving my Elicense to a new computer? If so, how do I do that?

zyberianwarrior · 04-24-2026, 10:16 PM

it would help open teh game click on settings and it should be the first tab HOEVER if its 2.5 you will NOT be able to reacquire the license the license company folded either late least year or early this year if you have 2013 you are ok though. just follow the prompts i mentioned above

Cap · 04-25-2026, 09:00 AM

Not sure about this but Pilight might know. I think you can create an image of your older computer and transfer it to the new one. In theory this would transfer your game too. I tried something similar but my old laptop was too old or something because I couldn't create an image.

Cap

pilight · 04-25-2026, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cap

Not sure about this but Pilight might know. I think you can create an image of your older computer and transfer it to the new one. In theory this would transfer your game too. I tried something similar but my old laptop was too old or something because I couldn't create an image.

Cap

That's what I did last time I changed computers. If you unlicense, you won't be able to relicense.

zyberianwarrior · 04-25-2026, 04:57 PM

hmmm does that actually work?

Rob Morris · 04-26-2026, 05:45 AM

I got this reply from OOTP Support a little while ago about eLicense:

"Unfortunately, eLicense shut down their licensing servers. This will result
in errors when the game is trying to activate your license key. Currently,
there is no solution and no plans to work on DRM free versions of those
games, as they are too old."

Cap · 04-26-2026, 07:51 AM

I tried creating a system image again, but kept running into error codes indicating I had one or more corrupt files on my old computer. Seems no way around this for me as I just don't know enough about this stuff to correct or repair the corrupt files.

So it should still work for others here as Pilight has demonstrated.

Cap

Tomato Can · 04-27-2026, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilight

That's what I did last time I changed computers. If you unlicense, you won't be able to relicense.

How would I do that? I tried just copying all the files over but that did not work. How would I do an "Image"? Thanks so much!

Cap · 04-28-2026, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomato Can

How would I do that? I tried just copying all the files over but that did not work. How would I do an "Image"? Thanks so much!

You're basically making a copy of your entire hard drive to an external one. Pilight may be able to talk you through it. If you're running Win7 like me, just type in "backup" in the Start search (bottom left) then click on "backup and restore". Then click on "Create System Image" top left of your screen. No idea how this works if you're running Win 10 or 11.

Cap

zyberianwarrior · 04-28-2026, 10:42 AM

Pretty much same way Cap but I am curious as to wether or not thsi woruld work with that particular license problem

Tomato Can · 05-02-2026, 04:38 PM

Thank you all for the help. Sadly, I am not sure that I am smart enough to do that. I guess this Universe that I have had now almost 18 Real Time years is on it's last legs. I started it in game year of 1880 and am now up to 1974. Heartbreaking that this is going to come to an end, all because of "eLicense". Oh well...

Thank you guys for your help! This has always been one of the best game forums!

zyberianwarrior · 05-02-2026, 10:33 PM

its not that hard really all you are doing is get an external hard drive and make an image copy of you computer drive then move the external to the new compiuter and restore To create a complete disk image (system image) in Windows 11, use the built-in "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)<<" tool in the Control Panel to save a full backup of your system drive to an external hard drive or network location. This allows for full restoration of your system, including apps, settings, and files, in case of hard drive failure

video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMR-VGqD51U

04-24-2026, 08:51 PM	#1
Tomato Can Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 431	Move Elicense to New Computer? Been a long time since having to do this. Do I need to Unlicense before moving my Elicense to a new computer? If so, how do I do that?

04-25-2026, 09:00 AM	#3
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 8,043	Not sure about this but Pilight might know. I think you can create an image of your older computer and transfer it to the new one. In theory this would transfer your game too. I tried something similar but my old laptop was too old or something because I couldn't create an image. Cap __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.."

04-26-2026, 07:51 AM	#7
Cap Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Large Province in God's Country Posts: 8,043	I tried creating a system image again, but kept running into error codes indicating I had one or more corrupt files on my old computer. Seems no way around this for me as I just don't know enough about this stuff to correct or repair the corrupt files. So it should still work for others here as Pilight has demonstrated. Cap __________________ "...There were Giants in Those Days.."

04-24-2026, 10:16 PM	#2
zyberianwarrior All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbia TN Posts: 1,599	it would help open teh game click on settings and it should be the first tab HOEVER if its 2.5 you will NOT be able to reacquire the license the license company folded either late least year or early this year if you have 2013 you are ok though. just follow the prompts i mentioned above

04-25-2026, 04:57 PM	#5
zyberianwarrior All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbia TN Posts: 1,599	hmmm does that actually work?

04-26-2026, 05:45 AM	#6
Rob Morris All Star Reserve Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Liverpool, England Posts: 616	I got this reply from OOTP Support a little while ago about eLicense: "Unfortunately, eLicense shut down their licensing servers. This will result in errors when the game is trying to activate your license key. Currently, there is no solution and no plans to work on DRM free versions of those games, as they are too old."

04-28-2026, 10:42 AM	#10
zyberianwarrior All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbia TN Posts: 1,599	Pretty much same way Cap but I am curious as to wether or not thsi woruld work with that particular license problem

05-02-2026, 04:38 PM	#11
Tomato Can Major Leagues Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 431	Thank you all for the help. Sadly, I am not sure that I am smart enough to do that. I guess this Universe that I have had now almost 18 Real Time years is on it's last legs. I started it in game year of 1880 and am now up to 1974. Heartbreaking that this is going to come to an end, all because of "eLicense". Oh well... Thank you guys for your help! This has always been one of the best game forums!

05-02-2026, 10:33 PM	#12
zyberianwarrior All Star Starter Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Columbia TN Posts: 1,599	its not that hard really all you are doing is get an external hard drive and make an image copy of you computer drive then move the external to the new compiuter and restore To create a complete disk image (system image) in Windows 11, use the built-in "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)<<" tool in the Control Panel to save a full backup of your system drive to an external hard drive or network location. This allows for full restoration of your system, including apps, settings, and files, in case of hard drive failure video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMR-VGqD51U