Local licenses VS the license server
  • The server is still up and running, only for the benefit of already installed licenses and the attached PCs.
  • The server is obsolete and not relevant for new TopSpin installations.
  • New TopSpin licenses are acquired via the option to generate an educational license key, which in turn is stored locally on the PC.


Installation of TopSpin 1.4.3 on Windows 10

Prerequisites

  • Windows 10 PC - managed
  • Windows 10 ist up to date and must NOT install updates after the TopSpin installation
  • Logged in as local administrator: user rights or installation via user and "install as administrator" are NOT sufficient
  • Topspin 1.4.3 exe saved to a local directory, preferably on "C:\Source"
  • JAVA
    • A recent Java installation ist already installed or
    • Open Java install file saved in the same folder as TopSpin,
      • Microsoft Open JDK works fine
  • Internet Browser, z.B. Firefox, installed
  • TopSpin education account to generate a license key:
    • A license can be generated via the Admin installing the software or
    • directly by the user

Steps

  • Log in to Windows 10 via a local admin account
  •  make sure Windows 10 has all its updates and / or does not update while installing and configuring TopSpin
  • Navigate in the file system to "C:\Users\*username*\
  • Set view options to "view system  files" and "view hidden files"
  • Search for, and then rename any folder with "TopSpin" in the name. Best practice is to add *.BAK* to the name
  • Search for any folder containing Java cache or temp files in the "AppData" folder and the subfolders.
  • Delete or cut out and backup the temp and / or cache files.


ONLY for managed Notebooks:
  • Navigate to "C:\Windows\System32\"
  • Add a folder named *.topspin*
  • in this folder create another folder named *prop*
  • right click on the folder *.topspin*
  • in the pop-up window search for security
  • look for permissions
  • go to change permissions
  • give all users /groups there FULL permission to this folder and subsequently the subfolder *prop*


  • navigate to the install ".exe" file of TopSpin
  • right click on the TopSpin install file and choose "install as Administrator" or just install if the first is not available
  • Follow the instructions, you can always just click on "forward" and "OK"
  • TopSpin will start to install. The process will last for a long time, up to an hour, depending on the speed of the computer.
  • Every few minutes, TopSpin will ask you to click "forward" and "OK", please do so.
  • you will be asked to set up an admin account. Use the account that the installer is offering.
  • Set the admin password, write it down, and DO NOT LOOSE IT!!! If the password is gone, you have to basically do a complete reinstall of the software, because resetting it, is a real pain, if even possible!
  • REBOOT: When the installation is finished, restart the computer immediately,
    • log off - log on is not enough for everything to funcion properly.

Post-Install and licensing

  • Log on to Windows with the admin account you previously used

  • Start the notepad program to store the license key

  • Save the notepad file as "topspin-license.txt" in "C:\Source\"

  • Keep the notepad file open

  • Start TopSpin as an admin: Search for TopSpin in the Start-menu, right-click on it, use "start as administrator"

  • Follow the instructions

  • when given the choice, click "request free education license"

  • A webpage opens up, log in with your account and click on "request license

  • A license key is generated

  • Copy the key into the previously opened notepad file

  • SAFE the file!

  • Go back to the TopSpin pop-up window

  • Click on "Import license file"

  • A browser window opens, this is the license server management suite of topspin

  • Search for the field "install license ticket"-

  • Paste the license key into the misnamed field

  • Choose "import ticket"

  • Set to import the license on the PC and NOT a dongle.

  • Wait for the import process to finish

  • In the meantime: pray!

  • After the licensing was successfull:

  • REBOOT! The program will not yet function without restarting the machine

First Run of TopSpin

  • Log on to Windows with the same admin account.
  • Start TopSpin as admin
  • TopSpin should start now
  • A message will appear, informing you, that TopSpin needs to do some Voodoo magic.
  • Agree to the pact with the devil and choose to configure TopSpin for data processing
  • Follow the steps by pressing "Forward", "OK", etc.
  • Take a close look at the info bar at the bottom right corner of the TopSpin window.
  • There you see if the software is still doing some configuring.
  • Do NOT close the window until everything is finished and there are no more messages in the info bar.
  • CLOSE TopSpin
  • Open TopSpin without admin permissions and see if the program opens up normally.
  • REBOOT!

User configuration

  • The user with high hopes of using TopSpin may dare to log on to Windows now.
  • Remove the user from the keyboard ASAP.
  • Navigate to the users home folder
  • Repeat the process of removing old TopSpin and Java files for the user.
  • Open TopSpin as admin (no admin preference this time)
  • TopSpin should now, with the power of the admin, create folders and set permissions.
  • When everything is done, close TopSpin
  • Now cross your fingers and start TopSpin without admin permissions.
  • When TopSpin starts and everything works fine, the process is over.
  • If TopSpin is not working properly: Rinse and repeat with your already acquired license key OR:
  • Get creative and check the folder permissions, temp files, cache files, etc.
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