• How to download the necessary files for installation of Zemax
• How to install the Sentinel key driver
• How to install the Zemax software
• How to open Zemax
• How to ensure that the latest version of Zemax is installed

Please note that this article refers to the Single-User (standalone) key. For instructions on how to install the multi-user network key see this article.

This article is also available in Japanese.

Downloading the files needed for installation

BEFORE YOU START:

1. It is important that you do not plug in your Zemax hardware key until you have been told to do so later on in this article. You should also disconnect security keys for any other software that you have while installing Zemax.

2. This article refers to installing the single-user key. If you are using the multi-user network key then see this article instead.

When installing Zemax on a computer for the first time, you will need to download three files from the downloads page of our website. The three files that you will need are: (1) the Sentinel key driver, (2) the RZ Prerequisites package, and (3) the Zemax program itself.

There are two versions of the RZ Prerequisites package available on our website: _x86and _x64. You should download the package corresponding to the operating system for the computer on which you are installing Zemax (i.e. download the _x86 package for a 32-bit operating system and the _x64 package for a 64-bit operating system).

Installing the Sentinel key driver

It is important that you do not plug in your Zemax hardware key until you have been told to do so later on in this article. Make sure that no other security keys are plugged in as well.

Now that you have downloaded the files necessary to install Zemax, you can begin the installation process. The installation involves running the three files that you just downloaded from the Zemax website. Install the key driver first by double-clicking it. An installation wizard will then open, guiding you through the installation.

When you are asked to choose between Complete and Custom installations, always choose "Complete" install and then click "Next":

A screen will also appear asking for your permission to modify the firewall settings of your system to allow remote users on your network to access your Zemax key using Remote Desktop. If you want to authorize this click "Yes", otherwise click "No" (If you ever want to change the setting, just re-run the installer).

If you plan on running Zemax remotely from your machine using Windows' Remote Desktop capability, click on the "Yes" button. Otherwise, click "No". The necessary files will then be installed after which you should see a completion screen. Click "Finish" to close the installation wizard.

Installing the RZ Prerequisites package

Now it is time to install the RZ Prerequisites package. Start by double-clicking on the RZ Prerequisites executable (.exe) file. An installation wizard will then open, guiding you through the installation.

The RZ Prerequisites may be installed for every user on the computer, or for just the logged-in user:

The installation process may take some time, as a number of Microsoft runtime files that are used by Zemax need to be downloaded and installed (if the necessary files have already been installed on your computer, i.e. as a part of installing another software package, then the installation of the RZ Prerequisites package will be quite fast!).

It is important that your computer remains connected to the internet during the installation process, as the necessary Microsoft runtime files will be downloaded directly from the internet during installation.

At this point, you can plug in the Zemax hardware key as well as any other software security keys that you have.

Installing the Zemax software

With both the Sentinel key driver and the RZ Prerequisites package now installed, you can proceed to install the Zemax software. You can start the installation process for Zemax by double-clicking on the Zemax installation file that you downloaded from our website. The file name will start with "Zemax_". The rest of the file name will include the year-month-day when that particular version of Zemax was released and the bit version of Zemax (“_x32” or “_x64”) being installed. Once you have double-clicked on the installer, you will see an installation wizard guiding you through the installation process.

Click "Next >" to continue the installation. The License Agreement screen will then appear:

Read over the terms of the license agreement. If you agree with the terms, click the "I accept the agreement" radio button and then click "Next" to continue. You will then see a screen reminding you to close any existing copies of Zemax and the Zemax manual (in Adobe Acrobat):

You will then be given an opportunity to specify where Zemax should be installed:

The default directory of C:\Program Files\Zemax (for 32-bit installations on a64-bit operating system the default directory is C:\Program Files (x86)\ Zemax) is recommended, but you may specify a different location if you desire. Once done, click "Next >" to proceed. You will then be prompted to specify a Start Menu folder name:

Specify the name of the Start Menu group you wish Zemax to be installed into and then click "Next >". You will then be given a couple of more options before installation is completed:

If you wish, the installer will place a Zemax icon on your desktop and in your Quick Launch bar. Choose the options that you want and click on "Next>". This will bring up a screen summarizing the installation choices that you have made:

Click on "Install" to continue. The installer will then copy the necessary files to install the Zemax software. Once all of the files have been copied, Zemax support contact information will be provided to you for future reference. (This information can also be accessed at any time within Zemax by pressing the F10 key):

Click on "Next >" to continue. The installer will then bring up the installation completion screen; click "Finish" to close the installation wizard.

Opening Zemax

Now, with all programs installed (Sentinel key driver, RZ Prerequisites package, Zemax), you are ready to run Zemax. Before doing so, make sure that your Zemax hardware key is plugged in.

You can open Zemax by:

• Double-clicking on the Zemax icon on the desktop (if present)
• Clicking on the Zemax icon in the Quick Launch bar (if present)
• Clicking on the Zemax icon in the Zemax Start Menu group

Zemax should then open.

If you see the following message:

then make sure that you have installed the Sentinel key driver and that your Zemax hardware key is plugged in. Once you have corrected the situation, try running Zemax again.

When you open Zemax, you may see a window like the one below, requesting that you enter your license code:

If you see this dialog box, your copy of Zemax is correctly installed, and the key driver is working properly, but you do not have a license code that allows Zemax to run with the key that is plugged in. Take a screenshot of this dialog box (e.g. using Alt-Print_Screen) and paste it into an email to support@zemax.com.

Please do not call technical support for a license code! License codes are complex multi-character strings and cannot be reliably given over the phone. Emailing the screenshot of the dialog box to us is the quickest, most error-free way of getting your license code.

If you see any other error message when trying to start Zemax, and the message appears to be issued from Windows rather than Zemax itself, it is very likely that you forgot to install the RZ Prerequisites package. If that is indeed the case, please go back and install the RZ Prerequisites package and then re-install the Zemax program.

Keeping Zemax up-to-date

New versions of Zemax are released on a regular basis. Versions of Zemax are identified by a version number (e.g. “Zemax 12”) as well as by the date on which they are released. Zemax includes a feature which can assist you in ensuring that you have the latest version of Zemax installed on your computer. The menu option, "Help > Check for updates" will check the Zemax website to see if there is a newer version of Zemax available:

If you see the following message, you are running the latest version of Zemax:

The following message indicates that a newer version of Zemax is available for download from the Downloads & Updates page of the Zemax website:

After downloading the new Zemax program, follow the instructions listed above to install the new version of Zemax.

If you see the following message, a newer version of Zemax is available but the support for your Zemax hardware key expired before the new version of Zemax was released:

As such, in order to run this new version of Zemax, you will need to renew your support. You can do so via the web online or by contacting the Zemax sales group at Radiant Zemax LLC (sales@radiantzemax.com; 425-822-3406).

Zemax can also automatically run the “Check for updates” feature. You can control how often Zemax performs this check via the Files…Preferences…Miscellaneous dialog:

Summary and References

This article has demonstrated how to get Zemax up and running on a new computer. In summary:

• Three installer files (Zemax program, RZ Prerequisites package, and Sentinel key driver) need to be downloaded from the Zemax website
• Once these files are downloaded, they need to be run so that the Sentinel key driver, RZ Prerequisites package, and Zemax program are installed properly
• License codes are required to run Zemax and can be downloaded from the Zemax website
• The "Check for updates" feature in Zemax can be used to ensure that you have the latest version of Zemax installed