How to update Linux Mint without losing your CAD license

Tip

 

A reader writes:

Some time ago I bought ARES Commander and I use it on my Linux Mint. As the Mint upgrades every 6 months, I was asking Graebert for a new activation code every time. Well, the last time they said that I ran out of activations. Can you tell me how can I transfer ARES to the newest long-term Linux Mint 17 without this code or with the code I used before? I don't need to update or anything, just to be able to use my ARES the way it is.
      - N.R.

Mint Linux has risen to the top of the charts as the most popular variant of Mint, after Ubuntu went nutso with the Unity interface, an all-encompassing interface they figured would work equally well on desktop and on tablet. Um, no.

Anyhow, I have used Mint Linux as well, even though it has a singular flaw: updating a major release means re-installing it, wiping out the previous installation -- along with installed programs, license files, data. There is a workaround, but it is too complicated for me to bother with, and so I generally stick with one version. Major updates are not all that major nowadays.

This, however, does not solve Mr R's problem, so I asked Graebert tech support for help. This is their response:

The licensing files are saved in the Linux folder:
                       /var/opt/graebert-gmbh/ares-commander-edition/licence
You can save them via a USB stick and restore them after the ARES Commander Installation again.
             - C.K.

Mr R is happy.

 

Comments

[Mr. R]

I am this Mr. R... I am now dealing with yet another problem regarding ARES Commander and Linux Mint 17. I actually can not install ARES because of this error:
Error: Dependency is not satisfiable: libtasn1-3 (>=2.2-1)
Although libtasn1-3 is installed on the system. DraftSight and Bricscad work just fine so I am inclined to say that there is something different with ARES Commander. Does anyone has any idea to fix this?