Solidworks Upgrade

Owned by Matthew McCauley
Last updated: Sep 26, 2024 by Jack Rubacha
3 min read

We use Solidworks 2024. This doc still provides info on how to upgrade to a new year.

It’s time to upgrade! Here is our internal summary of how to install/upgrade to Solidworks 2023.

CONTENTS

Install/Upgrade Instructions

Here’s a broad “Get Started” guide for installing Solidworks 2023!

This is assuming you are a COE student. If you are not you will have to request a license.

  1. Navigate to the NU COE SEK download page: https://coe.northeastern.edu/computer/coe-solidworks-download/

  2. Click “Please Login” if it doesn’t automatically sign in

    1. This will bring you to the single sign on (SSO) system.

    2. You’ll probably need to approve via 2FA

  3. Click “Add Answer”

     

  4. Select “Yes” and click “Next”

  5. You now have your code! Please save this somewhere in case you need it in the future (and for right now).

  6. Download the SEK installer from SolidWorks

    1. Go here: https://www.solidworks.com/support/community-download#no-back (solidworks.com/sek)

    2. Fill out your info

    3. Indicate that you have a serial number and select the “2023” version

    1. Click “Request Download”

    2. Click Agree

  7. Once downloaded, opening the installer will yield and unzipper, and once unzipped, the Solidworks Installation Manager will open!

    1. If it asks you to restart your computer, do this, then re-run the installer

  8. From here just follow the steps and enter your serial number when prompted. If a serial number is already present from a previous installation, make sure to update it to the 2023 serial number you received.

    1. Note, you will only need to enter the serial number next to “SOLIDWORKS” in the 3D design tab, and it will automatically unlock the add-on products without additional serial numbers

  9. You may get this warning. Just click next

     

  10. Under installation Options, choose to Upgrade if you already have an existing SolidWorks 2022 installation. If it’s your first time downloading SolidWorks on your computer then select “Create a new installation”

  11. You should be prompted with a Summary page. For the next step, click “Change “ next to “SolidWorks PDM options” to navigate to the SOLIDWORKS PDM Client Options page.

Configuring PDM

By default, SolidWorks Installation Manager (IM) wants to install PDM Pro. This is what we use now, so keep that selected. Your configuration should probably match the following:

Click “Back to Summary” once you’ve confirmed the PDM setup is correct.

SQL 2016 Required Error

If this pops up, it’s caused by SolidWorks Electrical. For now, we aren’t using SWE, so we can just disable it:

  1. Next to “Products” click “Change “

  2. Uncheck “SOLIDWORKS Electrical”

     

  3. Click “Back to Summary” and continue configuring & installing as normal

  4. You may get this warning when starting the install. Choose to continue with the install: