ModelSim-Altera 6.6C Fails to Launch

[Altera_Forum]

I recently installed the Quartus II 10.1 Web Edition successfully. Following that I installed the ModelSim-Altera Starter Edition. 

 When launching ModelSim I am getting the following error shown in the screen shot (attached file).  Appears to be licensing related or install path issue? Used standard install paths and have removed and reinstalled with virus protection off with same results. Docs state no license is required for starter version...  Any help much appreciated....

[Altera_Forum]

i haven't seen that one, some searching found that the Windows Registry may be corrupt: 

 http://www.edaboard.com/thread22669.html    --- Quote Start ---  Solution was Uninstall modelsim   then START>Run type regedt32  In the Registry Editor window that pops up do EDIT> Find type Model Technology Incorporated and Delete that folder  Reinstall Modelsim  --- Quote End ---  

[Altera_Forum]

Thanks for the help. 

 Ok...So after trying the above still no success.... I have tried everything I can think of including un-installing other development software (lattice, Aldec and more). Cleaning the registry with CCleaner, eliminating all unnecessary paths, uninstalling Modelsim-Altera, rebooting and reinstalling.....praying....standing on one foot and holding my breath, etc.  All attempts result in the same message.  We have been using Altera products since their very early days (DOS) and have the MAXPLUSII 10.2 software installed. We have been using that product for many years successfully. This is the first attempt using the latest version of Quartus (Which btw seems to work fine, but we need to simulate the also).  Support request was made to Altera last week with no response so far.  These things usually turn out to be something very simple but finding the solution is the challenge.  Again any further help is much appreciated...  Brooks

[Altera_Forum]

ModelSim-ASE shouldn't require a license, and the missing license error message is pretty clear about what the problem is 

 looks like you did some pretty comprehensive debugging. are you installing to a local (not network) drive? what version of Windows? do you have Administrator rights?

[Altera_Forum]

I am running XP Pro SP3 as single user and with admin rights and local drive installation. 

 I just finished requesting a license from Altera via the Quartus Tools:License Setup interface. (Even though it states that you don't need one)  In the Web page that resulted I checked the box to include a ModelSim-Altera Starter license (looks like it is something that needs to be removed if it in fact no longer applies) and the system sent me a license file. I promptly placed it's location in the LM_LICENSE_FILE environ variable with no change in the results. Rebooted, un-installed & reinstalled ONCE more with same results.  Brooks

[Altera_Forum]

Dear Fellow Forum users, 

 Well after more than a week I still have not received any useful solutions or assistance or telephone contact from Altera official support, they don't even appear to be interested in being paid to resolve the issue.  I received more intelligent answers on this forum by far....  Guess I will move on back to Xilinix products to complete this new design.  I've included the copy of my fantastic support dialog for for anyone who might think that is a viable support path. See below.......Start at bottom.  This will probably be take down as it does not reflect well on Altera support.  Rather disappointing at the least... Brooks  -------------------------------------------------------- 1/28/2011 09:51 AM From Customer Kenny,  Your answer is cryptic at best. It is completely unclear as to what you are suggesting and it is unclear where you able to determine the path information related to the product installation since I have not provided that data to you.  None the less, this is not the install path that I used, however I did attempt an install in a directory other than the default of C:\altera\10.1 ensuring no spaces were used, with no success.  WHY HAVE WE NOT BEEN TELEPHONED AS REQUESTED SEVERAL DAYS BACK TO SET UP A PAID SUPPORT AGREEMENT AND GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED?  WE HAVE EXHAUSTED 3X THE COST OF THE PAID PRODUCT PRICE IN WASTED ENGINEERING EFFORT.  WE ARE MOVING TO ANOTHER VENDOR IN THE MEAN TIME AS ALTERA CLEARLY IS NOT INTERESTED IN PROVIDING US HELP (PAID OR NOT) IN A TIMELY FASHION.  WHAT SAY YOU ALTERA SUPPORT?  Brooks ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/26/2011 05:36 PM To Customer Dear Brooks,  We had some feedback from the customer,  The error shows the installation path as F:\Program Files\Alter@\80sp1\modelsim_ae. Is this ACDS 8.0SP1 installation, or did you install ACDS 10.1 modelsim-altera at this location? Also, ACDS 10.1 installer does NOT allow users to install in any path that has spaces in it. However I see spaces in customer's installation path. Could you help to change this and see it resolve?  Thanks Best regards kenny ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/25/2011 07:18 PM To Customer Dear Brooks,  Thanks for your feedback,  I am sorry that I do not have solution yet for your issue, I had consult our development team and will feedback to you as soon as possible once they found the work around for this.  Sorry for the inconvenience cause,  Thanks Best regards Kenny ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/25/2011 07:50 AM From Customer I am using Windows XP Pro Service Pack 3. Single user on a laptop with admin privileges. I even tried requesting and installing a license from Altera for the Web version and ModelSim-Altera Version (Free) yesterday via the Quartus II licensing setup pull down with no different results.  I also uninstalled the free version, installed the paid version just to see if the error message changed, it did not. I then uninstalled the paid version.  Please review the posts I placed on the forum at: (This forum link)  We have the MaxPlusII 10.2 installed also on this machine along with other development software. This appears to be a licensing issue and we need to resolve it ASAP. I am going into a engineering meeting today to inform my customer of our lack of progress in getting this resolved.  If a service agreement for telephone support is needed to resolve this then please contact me to get it in place. We have the resources for this however we cannot delay this issue any further or we will be forced to migrate to another vendor.  Getting the correct person or persons help is crucial in resolving this issue. Again we cannot resolve this using a 24 to 48 hour ping pong of support messages as we are currently experiencing.  I look forward to hearing back from Altera shortly.  Thank you, Brooks  ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/24/2011 11:58 PM To Customer Dear Brooks,  Thanks for using Altera My Support,  May I know what operating system that you were using?  Thanks Best regards kenny ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1/24/2011 10:18 AM From Customer  This item is reaching critical mass. After spending the entire weekend uninstalling / reinstalling, clearing the registry, etc etc. We still see the issue.   We need to help resolving this issue ASAP.   We may have a conflict perhaps with our MAXPLUSII licensing that is causing the issue?  Please advise,  Brooks

[Altera_Forum]

i still don't think its a licensing issue, i think its a Tcl/Windows registry issue. i realize you've run a registry cleaner, but you can find similar search results un-related to ModelSim: 

 http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22unable+to+open+key%3a+the+system+cannot+find+the+file+specified%22+tcl&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=  i suppose a fresh Windows install will solve it

[Altera_Forum]

Brooks, 

 Have you tried installing on another machine?  I have a similar issue. I installed Quartus 10.1 (Licensed) and ModelSim ASE on my machine at work. Both programs start fine individually, but I continually get a Nativelink error "cannot find LM_License_File".   However, installing Quartus 10.1 (free version) and ModelSim ASE at home works great, no license issues.  Owkmann

[Altera_Forum]

Owkmann, 

 I was able to successfully install on a different machine, so the issue is localized to my primary workstation laptop. I use this PC extensively for development and field work so being tied to a Lab PC is not a acceptable solution.....  I'll keep stabbing away at possible solutions but I will likely move the design to my alternate source. This design is new but some of the legacy development IP was done under MAXPlusII, and I thought that it might be beneficial to be able leverage some of that IP in the migrated / new design as needed.  I'm pretty familiar with windows, but not an expert so spending hours attempting to fix an issue that should be more readily identifiable by the vendor is just down right frustrating.... OK off the soap box....  Will post my "fix" here if and when I get it resolved. Thanks for the input.  Brooks