Activation impossible

[[gbx]Knubbler]

I got a new computer recently but can't activate Z3ta+ 2. The server kicks back my key saying I need a Cakewalk account with an associated email address, or something to that effect. I apparently never made a Cakewalk account, because none of my emails are in their system on their website. I can't create an account because "new account creation is currently disabled." Did they go bankrupt or something? Why am I even locked out of the software in the first place when I clearly own a legitimate license?

[[gbx]Knubbler]

Oh. After a quick google, I learned that they shut down in 2017. Great. This was my favorite wavetable synth. I hope I can get a refund, but I just wish they disabled the server authentication process before shutting down.

[pshell]

I had the same problem - I have a new PC and can't activate Z3TA bc I don't have an account on the cakewalk web site. I tried calling the Cakewalk support phone number several times but it's busy every time. Did you find a way to solve this problem gbx or did you ask for a refund? It seems pretty senseless to make it impossible for paying customers to register their product, even after going out of business.

[[gbx]Knubbler]

Originally posted by pshell:

I had the same problem - I have a new PC and can't activate Z3TA bc I don't have an account on the cakewalk web site. I tried calling the Cakewalk support phone number several times but it's busy every time. Did you find a way to solve this problem gbx or did you ask for a refund? It seems pretty senseless to make it impossible for paying customers to register their product, even after going out of business.

As a matter of fact, I did get it working but only because I eventually remembered the right email address for my old account, and when I used that while launching from Steam, it unlocked the software.

The main obstacle for me was that I went to the Cakewalk website to try and figure out which old email address I used to make the account, but the website account services were all shut down, so I was left in the dark and gave up, for a time.

In your case, if you didn't previously have a Cakewalk account at all, I don't know if you'll be able to unlock it. But if you used this software in the past, I assume you would have been required to make a Cakewalk account, but I could be wrong. So if you can remember any of the login credentials you might have used for throwaway accounts back then, it might be worth trying. Just make sure to try it inside the software itself, and not the Cakewalk website. Good luck

[pshell]

I tried what you said gbx - stopped worrying about the cakewalk account and tried an old email address of mine when activating Z3TA and it worked! Thanks so much!

[Swooce]

I have today activated it successfully without a legacy account. It involves using the new BandLab assistant app. The steps are outlined in the 'offline' section of this article: https://help.cakewalk.com/hc/en-us/articles/900006210046-Activating-Cakewalk ... Output an offline activation file (.crq) in Z3TA and process it with the new BandLab app. Cheers!

[Othrandur]

Thanks Swooce! You brought my beloved Z3TA+ 2 back from the dead!