Wow! Updated Windows 11 to version 24H2 yesterday. Now, I can’t run Photolab 8 anymore as DXO complains about missing licence. No hardware changed, no nothing. Just a regular update of the OS. After having typed in my licence key, the error message says: “Max. number of allowed activations has exceeded! Would you like to buy a new one?”
Suggest you contact DxO Support … I’m sure they’ll sort this out for you.
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It’s due to MS doing internal changes of identifiers in Win11 which causes DxO’s license system to see it as a different machine.
The modification have caused others apps problems too.
Contact DxO support as recommend and they’ll sort it.
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Or get a Mac 
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I can’t resist the temptation! Now now Joanna.
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I worked as the consultant and senior programmer on a large Windows application for about 7 years. After 2 years, my old Dell “luggable” was showing signs of giving up the ghost and, whilst searching for a replacement (it had to be powerful) a good friend of mine told me that I could run Windows on a Mac, using Parallels VM. It turned out cheaper to get the same spec MacBook Pro than a Windows “power” laptop. Yes, there was a learning curve, but I found macOS to be far more intuitive and Apple’s equivalent of Office was totally free, as was their Xcode development software. So, I found easy to run Visual Studio in the Windows VM in the office and revert to pure Mac at all other times.
The VM had its advantages. Once, the Windows system totally collapsed but, because I had a daily backup of the VM, it was a simple matter of replacing it and I was back up and running in less than half an hour, having only lost a couple of hours work.
Now, I can barely remember how to use Windows. Of course, YMMV 
As for me. I used to teach electronics and one day the principal came up to me and said we should do an advertising pamphlet to see if we can attract more students. He pointed to a computer in the corner. There you are, get on with it. After switching it on. I stood there with a blank look and said to the principal. It’s a Mac. Now what do I do. He just went oh! You’re a Windows man, I just nodded with a big blank look. He ended up doing the pamphlet and whether it got any extra students I could never tell.
Me being a Pascal man as well as a window man I could never get on with visual studio and still can’t. To me it’s just bloatware.
The other thing. Please stop making me laugh and nearly falling off the chair. that’s twice now in short succession.
I am sorry, this is not about “Hey, my Mac is the much better computer and far superior to any PC”. This is about a licence issue caused by an outdated process DXO still relies on.
All my other apps like Affinity or DaVinci Resolve do work like a charm even after the Windows update, but Photolab doesn’t.
And yes, I got in touch with DXO support - without any response so far. Very professional.
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Nonetheless, I note that you don’t feel that Microsoft has any part in this, even though it was their update that caused the problem.
Also, you must realise that this is a user forum, where all you are doing is moaning to other users who may or may not have the same problem. You have been a member here for over two years and must be aware of how things work (or not).
Consequent light banter about OS choice is pretty much par for the course and breaks the frustration and annoyance we all feel.
As others have said, many times, go to the source and report it to DxO.
Nonetheless I would like to know if everybody upgrading to 24H2 has that problem. I’m still on 22H2. I don’t know why.
George
I have upgraded Win11 to 24H2 and didn’t have any problems with PL8. I didn’t have to re-enter activation key either, but I have installed PL8 on one PC only. No problem with PL7 either, which I have installed on two PCs, but the second one has Win10.
Thanks for not having read my post. As I stated clearly: I did reach out to DXO support. But haven’t got any answer after two days. So, thanks for the advice.
BTW: I didn’t seek help here. I just reported my experience as a user with the licence system implemented by DXO. Didn’t know that this would offend you.
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I had a lot of problem’s with a Dell laptop that needed a second reinstall. The only programs that needed messing about with for the reinstslls was DXOs. Yes Dell was the cause of all this but only DXO added to the stressful process by the needed to keep geing them to reset activations
Until 2024, licenses for DxO products were registered in this folder:
C:\ProgramData\DxO Labs\Licenses
Licences were then in the form of .lic files.
Now, it seems that DxO has changed its approach and .key files can now be found in the folder:
C:\Users\[user name]\AppData\Local\DxO\Licenses
Is it worth trying to rename or move these files so that DxO can no longer find them and restart a new 30-day trial period or authorise a request to enter the activation key?
Just long enough for support to respond…
Did you check how many installations you’ve left?
I’m on win10 with this pc. Maybe that’s the difference.
George
I don’t see such option in my DxO account.
How to do it?
I don’t want to bother the service with this…
It used to be there.
George
Just to add to some of the comments:
- I had no problem with the Photolab licence after upgrading to Win 11 24h2.
- I have (thank you Microsoft) had other problems after the 24h2 upgrade.
- Please keep the light-hearted tone to the forum - it certainly brings the occasional smile to my face.
- George, I’m surprised that you’re still on 22h2 - I would have expected the Windows updates to have forced you to move on - are you sure you’ve not blocked subsequent updates?
Best wishes
Malcolm
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24H2 is a win11 update. I’m still on win10 on this pc.
George
No problem with the Photolab licence after upgrading my laptop Asus ProArt to Win 11 Pro 24H2.