Why does Windows have to configure SOLIDWORKS every time it is launched?

If you see this annoying Windows configure message with every SOLIDWORKS launch — you can try the following solutions to solve the issue.

Windows message upon SOLIDWORKS launch

Solution #1

It is possible that you do not have permissions to the following registry keys:

HKEY_Local_ MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\Licenses\Serial Numbers
HKEY_Local_ MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SolidWorks\Licenses\Serial Numbers

To resolve this issue, follow these steps:

1. Open the Registry Editor utility.
2. Click on ‘Start’ > type “Regedit” > press Enter.
3. Go to ‘HKEY_Local_ MACHINE\SOFTWARE\SolidWorks\Licenses\Serial Numbers’.
4. Right-click on the ‘Serial Numbers’ key > ‘Permissions’.
5. In the ‘Permissions for Serial Numbers’ dialog box, click on ‘Add’.
6. Under ‘Enter the object names to select’, type “Everyone” > click on ‘Check Names’ > ‘OK’.
7. Under ‘Permission for Everyone’, select the ‘Allow’ options for ‘Full Control and ‘Read’ > ‘Apply’ > ‘OK’.
8. Go to ‘HKEY_Local_ MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\SolidWorks\Licenses\Serial Numbers’.
9. Report steps 3 through 6 for this registry key.

Solution #2

Certain xml components may be failing during the installation process. 

Try installing MSXML 4.0 Service Pack 2. Reboot the machine, and then go to the web page listed below and download the msxml.msi file.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3144b72b-b4f2-46da-b4b6-c5d7485f2b42&displaylang=en#filelist

Close all applications, including applications that cannot be seen like Norton Anti-virus, or spyware monitoring tools like Spy Sweeper or Spybot. Double-click the newly downloaded msxml.msi file.  This will install the xml components that seem to be failing at the end of the SOLIDWORKS install.