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Upgrading to NovaBACKUP 22: "The current license is not eligible for a free upgrade"

Setup refuses the upgrade because the license key has no active NovaCare. Here are your options, and what to do if you already renewed.

Applies to: NovaBACKUP PC Agent and NovaBACKUP Server Agent, upgrading from an earlier version to NovaBACKUP 22.

When you install NovaBACKUP 22 over an earlier version, setup activates your license key online. If your license does not include upgrades to the new version, setup stops with a message that the license is not eligible for a free upgrade. This article explains why, what your options are, and what to do if you believe your license should be eligible.

Symptom

During the upgrade, setup shows:

Failed to activate license online:
The current license is not eligible for a free upgrade. Please choose an option below.

Setup then offers View upgrade options, Continue as evaluation, Enter another key, and Quit installation.

Cause

Upgrades to a new major version are included while your license has active NovaCare, the support and upgrade protection that comes with a subscription or that you renew yearly for a perpetual license. The message appears when:

  • NovaCare for your license key has expired. This is common for license keys that were included with a NAS or another device, which come with NovaCare for a limited time only.
  • You renewed recently, but the renewal has not reached the license key that is entered in setup. This can happen when the renewal was ordered for a different key, or when the computer uses an older key than the one you renewed.

Solution

Option 1: Keep your current version

Select Quit installation. Your current version stays installed and your backups keep running. You can upgrade later, after you renew.

Option 2: Renew NovaCare or buy a subscription

  1. Select Quit installation.
  2. Renew NovaCare for your license key, or buy a NovaBACKUP subscription. Contact NovaBACKUP Sales or Support with your license key if you are not sure which option fits.
  3. Run NovaBACKUP 22 setup again.
  4. If setup asks for a license key, enter the license key of your renewal or new subscription.

Option 3: Enter another license key

If you already have a license key with active NovaCare, for example a new subscription, select Enter another key and enter it.

Important: Avoid Continue as evaluation on a computer that you back up in production. NovaBACKUP 22 then runs as a trial version until you activate a license key with active NovaCare.

I renewed, and I still see the message

Contact NovaBACKUP Support and include:

  • The license key you entered in setup, and the license key from your renewal email if it is different
  • The order reference number from your renewal email

We will check the license key and correct it if the renewal has not been applied. You can then run setup again.

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