# Rhino deletes License Manager HKLM registry key during update

**URL:** <https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/rhino-deletes-license-manager-hklm-registry-key-during-update/195935>\
**Category:** Rhino for Windows\
**Tags:** windows, rhino7\
**Created:** [December 3, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/rhino-deletes-license-manager-hklm-registry-key-during-update/195935 "2024-12-03T18:01:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lorenz\_Lois\_Winkler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/lorenz_lois_winkler/32/672007_2.png) [@Lorenz\_Lois\_Winkler](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Lorenz_Lois_Winkler)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:01pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/rhino-deletes-license-manager-hklm-registry-key-during-update/195935/1 "2024-12-03T18:01:04Z")

</div>

I have been noticing a similar problem as described here for years: [Rhino 7 delete (Zoo) license file on upgrade](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/rhino-7-delete-zoo-license-file-on-upgrade/119073)

The problem persists, and I keep reporting it to the licensing and tech email addresses, but it apparently remains unresolved.

Most recently, I verified it again during the update from version 8.10 to 8.13!

During the installation of version 8.13 over the existing version 8.10, the registry string **‘server’** in the key **HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\McNeel\Rhinoceros\6.0\License Manager** is deleted.

In my opinion, the registered license server should absolutely not be deleted during an update. It should remain untouched!

**When will this annoying problem finally be resolved? It’s been going on for years!**

Here are the steps performed (sample from a later update):

1. Version 8.9 was installed with this command line:  
`rhino_de-de_8.9.24194.18121.exe -package -passive -norestart LICENSE_METHOD=ZOO ZOO_SERVER=zoo-lizenz.uibk.ac.at SEND_STATISTICS=0 ENABLE_AUTOMATIC_UPDATES=1 INSTALL_DE=1 INSTALL_EN=1 EULA_AGREE=1`
2. Existing ‘server’ string in regsitry key → Start of Rhino 8.9:

 ![8.9-PreUpdate](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/1/b/8/1b83d2002e5080b63949af5e821913a3f828cf0b.png)

1. Check for Updates:

 ![8.9-PreUpdate2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/f/4/4/f44f88056284696c32fa957cd1e4795a77c01ac3.png)

1. Result of update check:

 ![8.9-PreUpdate3](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/4/a/a/4aa7d161e5ef1db64efa45067e022a2b1f9ffb7a.png)

1. Closing Rhino starts update dialog (‘server’ string still existing):

 ![8.9-PreUpdate4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/c/d/f/cdfb9baa35c1295b2b337db55382e6a2c14529ed.png)

1. Click on ‘Yes’ starts 8.10 installer:

 ![8.9-Update](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/8/d/1/8d1d1740253f1c0cc5e7d694a6ac59a1247b7f7f.png)

7._Note well! At about one-third of the installation, the string ‘server’ is then deleted!!!_\*

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![wim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/wim/32/747482_2.png) [@wim](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/wim)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2024, 12:15pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/rhino-deletes-license-manager-hklm-registry-key-during-update/195935/3 "2024-12-04T12:15:17Z")

</div>

Hi -  
I’ve put this on the list as [RH-85020](https://mcneel.myjetbrains.com/youtrack/issue/RH-85020) Installer: Registry Key is Deleted  
-wim

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Lorenz\_Lois\_Winkler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/user_avatar/discourse.mcneel.com/lorenz_lois_winkler/32/672007_2.png) [@Lorenz\_Lois\_Winkler](https://discourse.mcneel.com/u/Lorenz_Lois_Winkler)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2025, 1:42pm UTC](https://discourse.mcneel.com/t/rhino-deletes-license-manager-hklm-registry-key-during-update/195935/4 "2025-05-08T13:42:41Z")

</div>

Thank you very much. The issue has finally been resolved. Although the entry is still deleted during the installation process, it is added back some step after. In the end, the entry remains!

 ![Rhino8.16-PreUpdate](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/1/f/a/1fa92084e66db4cd1feaf93a8e010c55a8ad949d.png)  
 ![Rhino8.16-UpdateNotify](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/d/b/8/db866d58f61b4c05537230a6cb260055d720f9e7.png)  
 ![Rhino8.16-DuringUpdate1](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/5/f/5/5f50eb110409204f01e40bbcbd44cf6e1945f7ed.png)  
 ![Rhino8.16-DuringUpdate2](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/mcneel/uploads/default/original/4X/4/2/b/42bae09f855a3b4af0c97eb0996bbc82c98a2bb1.png)
