AutoData 3.45 is an industry-standard automotive diagnostic and repair software, known for its extensive database of vehicle parameters, wiring diagrams, and repair times. However, many users attempting to run repacked or cracked versions of the software on modern Windows systems (Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11) encounter a frustrating barrier: upon launching the program, they are met with the error message:
Autodata relies on virtual dongle drivers (Sentinel or HASP).
The Autodata 3.45 repack relies on a virtual "dongle" (an emulator) that tricks the software into thinking a physical USB security key is plugged in. The "Hardware Information Does Not Match" error usually triggers because: The Hardware ID (UID) has changed: AutoData 3
Some versions of Autodata 5.47 or 3.45 found online are known to be unstable or contain malware. Always verify your source if the installation continues to fail. Sentinel USB Key Not Recognized? Here's How to Fix It 20 Aug 2025 —
Follow these chronological steps to align your hardware ID with the software emulator and eliminate the error loop. 1. Completely Remove Conflicting Drivers and Emulators The "Hardware Information Does Not Match" error usually
: Many users have fixed the error by forcing the program to run with elevated privileges. Right-click the ADBCD.exe file (usually found in C:\ADCDA2\ ) and go to Properties > Compatibility . Check the boxes for "Run this program as an administrator" and set "Compatibility mode" to Windows XP (Service Pack 3) .
A dongle repack is a re-packaged version of the dongle, which is often used to bypass the original license verification process. However, using a dongle repack can sometimes lead to compatibility issues with the software, resulting in errors like "The hardware information does not match with your dongle repack." Here's How to Fix It 20 Aug 2025
Add the entire Autodata installation directory (e.g., C:\Autodata3.45 ) to your antivirus and Windows Defender exclusion lists so files are not deleted during routine scans.
The most frequent cause of this error is that Windows Defender has quarantined the or the crack files (often labeled as adkey.exe or ndongle ).
Under the "Administrative" tab, ensure the "Language for non-Unicode programs" is also set to English (United States). Final Troubleshooting Tips Disable Antivirus Temporarily:
The error is almost exclusively associated with "repacks"—unofficial, cracked versions of AutoData 3.45 that have been modified to bypass the official licensing system. These repacks typically attempt to replace the physical dongle with a software-based "dongle emulator". A dongle emulator is a piece of software that acts as a fake hardware key, tricking the program into thinking a legitimate license is present.