Software Protection Failure for PowerSCADA Expert 8.1 or 8.2 runtime in Windows 10

Issue

When starting the runtime in PowerSCADA Expert 8.1 or 8.2, the runtime will crash after a minute with a "Software Protection Failure" error. This occurs even after confirming a software or hardware key are set up correctly.

Product Line

PowerScada Expert 8.1, 8.2

Environment

PowerSCADA Expert runtime

Cause

There is an incompatibility between Windows 10 and the citect32.exe program built into PowerSCADA Expert 8.1 and 8.2

Resolution

The incompatibility has been corrected in PowerSCADA Expert 8.2 Update 6. To get the runtime to work in PowerSCADA Expert 8.1, the citect32.exe program can be configured to run in compatibility mode for Windows 8 which has been validated to resolve this issue.

Compatibility Mode is available within the Compatibility tab of the Properties dialog (see image below) for Citect32.exe. Depending on your configuration, it may be necessary to use the Change settings for all users option at the bottom of the dialog box.

Released for: Schneider Electric Canada