Several scenarios can trigger this mismatch:
Real dongle emulators that worked on Windows 7 often break on Windows 10/11 because of kernel security changes (PatchGuard, Hypervisor-protected code integrity). Set autodata.exe to run in Windows 7 mode and disable data execution prevention (DEP) for that executable.
To understand the mismatch error, one must first understand the intended validation workflow.
2.1 The Hardware Dongle The dongle acts as a physical cryptographic key. It contains encrypted data that the Autodata executable queries during the initialization phase. Unlike simple file checks, the dongle communicates via specific I/O ports (USB or Parallel) to return handshake codes. Several scenarios can trigger this mismatch: Real dongle
2.2 The Validation Logic
When ad_inst.exe or the main executable initiates, it performs a three-stage check:
The error "Hardware information does not match" indicates that Stage 3 has failed: the dongle is present, but the computer it is plugged into does not match the specific hardware configuration the dongle was authorized for.
Error: Autodata 345 – The hardware information does not match with your dongle To understand the mismatch error, one must first
Cause:
The dongle’s unique ID doesn’t match what the software expects.
Possible fixes:
It is imperative to note that Autodata 3.45 is proprietary software. The circulation of "dongle free" versions constitutes software piracy. The error "Hardware information does not match" indicates
Even paying customers can hit this error. Common legitimate causes include:
Subject: License validation failure — hardware information mismatch (Autodata 345)
Body: Hello, My Autodata 345 installation (license ID: [INSERT]) fails to validate the dongle-free license with the error: "hardware information does not match with your dongle free." Reported on April 9, 2026. System details:
Thank you, [Your name/Company]