Like any USB flash drive, dongles can eventually wear out or suffer electrical damage. Step-by-Step Solutions 1. Perform a "Cold Boot" of the Dongle Before diving into settings, try the simplest fix: Close the software entirely. Unplug the dongle. Wait 30 seconds.

Check your Device Manager for any entries labeled "Virtual USB Bus" or "USB Emulator" and remove them. When to Contact Support

If none of the above works, the issue might be internal to the dongle. Hardware keys can fail over time or become corrupted by static electricity. Most software vendors have a "Dongle Viewer" utility you can download to see if the computer even sees the serial number. If the utility says "No Dongle Found," the physical key likely needs to be replaced by the manufacturer.

If you are working with high-end CAD/CAM software, specialized engineering tools, or legacy accounting systems, you’ve likely encountered the dreaded "The hardware information does not match with your dongle" error.

Most high-end professional software (like CAD tools, video suites, or industrial controllers) uses a physical USB key called a "dongle" to prevent piracy. The software checks two things:

Most dongle errors are driver-related. If you recently updated Windows, your old drivers might be broken.

Identify your dongle brand (usually printed on the side, e.g., ).

Some older dongles are sensitive to USB 3.0 (blue) ports and require a USB 2.0 (black) port to function.

Occasionally, aggressive antivirus software flags the dongle’s communication protocol as a security threat. Temporarily disable your firewall or antivirus. Try launching the software.

Look for "Dongle Drivers" or "Runtime Environment" downloads. Install the latest version and reboot.