Punch! Home & Landscape Design and Architect 3D: Common Issues
Solutions to the upgrade and activation issues we hear about most, straight from real support cases.
Upgrading from Express to a full edition, and activation can’t find your existing install
When upgrading from an Express edition to a full edition (for example, Express to Architectural Series, or Express to Home Design), activation sometimes shows a message that it can’t locate your existing installation information. This happens because the new license needs the old Express license cleared first — it isn’t a sign anything is broken.
What to do
1. Open the Express edition you currently have installed. 2. Get into the main design screen (choose “Create a New Design” if the Quick Start / Welcome screen doesn’t offer a direct path in). 3. Go to Edit → Preferences → System. 4. In the text box, type `PUNCH_CLEAR` and click OK — you’ll see a confirmation that the registration information has been cleared. 5. Close and restart the application. 6. Enter your new (upgraded) license when prompted. If a second registration window appears, enter your original Express license there to complete the upgrade linkage.
If step 3 isn’t reachable from the menu on your version, a full uninstall and reinstall from a fresh download link resolves it the same way — your license keys stay valid either way, so this never puts your purchase at risk.
Checking whether your Architect 3D license is still active
If you’re not sure whether your license has expired or simply want to confirm it before reinstalling, the fastest path is to send us your serial number or order details and we’ll check its status directly — this is quicker than diagnosing it from the installer side.