Expert: Bob - 6/27/2010

Question
QUESTION: i have ADT 2004 that someone let me copy
and they gave me the serial number so i
could use it..

and now that i have learned to use the program
i would like to get a license to use it
commercially..

how do i do that and would i need to pay the
full original price for it?

or if the person i got it from is no longer
using it commercially can i get the license
from them?

thanks

ANSWER: Hi -- of course this is not an AutoCAD question, but a softwear licensing question, with legal issues. ( a hot potato ), so don't grade me on it.

I believe that if the other person had installed it on a second computer and gotten the authorization, the license might be valid -- only a guess, and something I really should stay out of. AutoCAD licenses may not be sold, nor copies given, as I understand it.

Now, I am going to answer the question you did NOT ask:
Since you fail to tell me your background and exactly what you are doing, I have to guess what to advise you.
ADT 2004 was really the BEGINNING of the evolution from the original software, which Autodesk had purchased about 2-3 years earlier. I would NEVER recommend that someone spend his time learning it, for work purposes, as it is about 1/4 as good, and 1/4 as stable, as more recent releases. ADT 2006 was the first reasonably decent release, to me, but both the underlying AutoCAD and the architectural add-on that made it ADT have improved and speeded up, immensely, since 2006

If you are really just messing with the plain AutoCAD part, for moderate use, cool.
Anyone who is going to use ADT intelligent objects, etc for work 8 hours a day is cutting his productivity in half, at best, by using the oldie.
If you have the financial resources to purchase the latest version, buy Paul Aubin's Mastering AutoCAD Architecture 2011, and follow the lessons closely.

If ADT2004 were a car, it would be a Range Rover from 25 years ago -- looks good, but ends up in the shop a lot, uses a lot of gas, not so reliable. AutoCAD Architecture 2011 would be the new Porsche Panamera sedan in comparison.

BOB

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your very insightful
and intelligent response.

I do residential design drafting
and occasionally a client requests
the drawings as a CAD file so they
can take them to their own architect
who uses CAD- (even sometimes for
hand drawing).

I just need a simple CAD program
like ADT 2004 (old Range Rover car)
to deliver those drawings.

but I am way more modern than any
CAD programs or "Panamera sedans"- I
use Revit- (Ferrari)..

Basically I just need to "dump" the
BIM file to a CAD file.

Maybe even AutoCAD 2000- (a Yugo)
would do it.

I just don't know how to obtain
a license for one of those old
CAD programs.

And I basically just want to use the
old CAD program (or newer CAD program)
to see what a mess they make of modern
virtual construction before I hand the
CAD file off to the client.

Do you know how I could get a license
for AutoCAD LT 2000? Or is that just
free to use if I can find a working
copy of it?

ANSWER: Hi--

I have to stay out of licensing stories -- I gave you the best hint I could. If you send me a private message with your email or phone number (better) I might have more help (or something in the drawer), but I gave you a good hint in the first reply.

You don't read me well -- I didnt say ADT2004 was a simple program, an old Range Rover is overcomplicated and cranky.

Revit 2011 and AutoCad's 2011 versions have MUCH more similar interfaces -- they finally realized 2 or 3 releases ago how stupid it was to have them not so.

If you are just doing a few plans in plain ACAD, any of them will do, if you dont mind wasting time using the old interface and capabilities.

If your time is valuable, buy AutoCAD LT2011 and learn the new stuff -- with a good book.  I am always leery of drawings from self-taught people, because they tend to have minefields if I need to work on them.

BOB

PS -- I personally don't think Revit is a Ferrari next to ADT2011, as each has its charms.
For instance, you dont have to install a second program to turn out the AutoCAD drawings others want --- although the latest Revits are better on that.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Bob-

I'm thinking a diaog with you would
be nice because you are apparently
old school and smart and I'm from
the new world and crazy.

Please email me at

As for installing "a second program to
turn out AutoCAD drawings"- that's just
for the old-timer consultants still left.

Revit is at 450,000 seats and increasing
100,000 each year.

McGraw Hill Construction is reporting
over half have made the transition to
the new world of architecture.

This reality cannot be dismissed..

That old Land Rover really is dying-
and it's called CAD.

Answer
All Experts filters out web addresses, so yours is missing. Mine is my name at a o l dot com.

NO INTEREST HERE IN SPARRING over Revit and "old school" stuff. Don't try to sell me. Both are valuable, but do not have equal value in every situation.

You glossed over my suggestion that I might have something here for you, and you missed my veiled suggestion of how to make what you have work.

This is my free advice service -- let me be the big dog this time

BOB