this Error looks to have been caused by the recent windows 10 update.


***** Summary *****

-157 error: Trusted Storage Compromised


***** Question *****

License checkout failed for TRACE with error code= -157

Why am I getting a -157 error?

Why am I seeing an activation error?

Error: ActSvrActivationRespProcess - (50020,41094,0)

Trusted Storage Compromised. Repair Needed. Trusted Storage is Invalid and Needs to be Repaired.

Flexnet licensing error: -157,424

Checkout failed: Trusted Storage compromised; repair needed

Trusted Storage is invalid and needs to be repaired


***** Answer *****

This error indicates that the license for the C.D.S. software is no longer trusted because too many physical components of the system have changed. This may occur if TRACE 700 has been activated on a computer and an image of that computer is used for additional computer setup and deployment. The hardware identifiers used to validate the license are invalid, so the license is no longer trusted and cannot be used.

Go to C:\ProgramData\FLEXnet and delete all of the files starting with tranecds_, then restart TRACE and reactivate the license.

Note: This location may be hidden for Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10 users.

To locate the files for deletion in Windows 7, open Windows Explorer. Click ALT to display a menu bar at the top of the screen. SelectTools>Folder options. On theViewtab, check the option forShow Hidden Files and Folders, then uncheckHide Extensions for Known File Types. You should now be able to view the ProgramData and FLEXnet directories.

To locate the files for deletion in Windows 8, select All apps>file explorer, select View and check the box for Hidden items. Or go to a Windows Explorer, select View and find the Hidden items box. You should now be able to view the ProgramData and FLEXnet directories.

To locate the hidden files for deletion in Windows 10, open This PC. Click View and select Show/Hide on the top menu to display options. Check the box for Hidden items. You should now be able to view the ProgramData and FLEXnet directories.


If deleting the files from the aboved mentioned directories fails, please check the Virtual Store folder and delete the files from:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\VirtualStore


If that doesn't work, uninstalling trace and reinstalling the program should resolve the issue as well