Knowledge Base

Problem

EthoVision does not open or shows an 'unlicensed' error because the USB hardware dongle (HASP/Sentinel key) is not recognized by Windows.

Details

Affects any EthoVision XT version using a USB hardware dongle license. Symptoms: EthoVision opens in demo/unlicensed mode despite the dongle being plugged in; Device Manager shows the dongle as an unknown device or with a yellow warning icon; the dongle LED may or may not illuminate. Can occur after a Windows update, a driver removal, or when installing on a new PC where the dongle driver was never installed.

Solution

1. With the dongle plugged in, open **Windows Device Manager** (right-click Start > Device Manager) and look for an unknown or warning device under 'Universal Serial Bus controllers' or 'Other devices'.
2. Install or reinstall the Sentinel/HASP dongle driver:
- Download the latest Sentinel Runtime (HASP HL driver) from the Noldus support page or directly from the link provided by Noldus Support.
- Run the installer as Administrator and follow the prompts.
3. After installation, unplug and re-plug the dongle. The LED should illuminate and Device Manager should show it without warnings.
4. Launch EthoVision—it should now detect the license.
5. If the dongle is still not recognized after driver installation, try a different USB port (prefer a direct port on the PC chassis rather than a hub).
6. If the dongle remains undetected across multiple ports and the driver is correctly installed, the dongle may be faulty—refer to the 'Broken or Faulty USB Hardware Dongle – Replacement Procedure' KB article.