Unlocking LCQ Advantage MAX MSⁿ¶

Description¶

Unlike other LCQs which I’ve met, on LCQ Advantage MAX it is not possible to perform MSⁿ experiments with a default installation. Moreover, neither “Activation Q” nor “Activation time (msec)” can be set. However, all these features can be activated by “easy upgrade to MSⁿ performace.”[1] I am unsure, if there are some hardware changes, but MSⁿ gets unlocked if a correct license key is present in the Instrument Configuration.

Procedure¶

Unfortunately, if the correct key is provided through the Instrument Configuration utility, it is not accepted and an error message pops-up. To Address this issue, regedit value must be copied from a working installation.

Steps:

• Copy regedit value from a licensed installation. On licensed installation type WinKey + r, type regedit. Then go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Finnigan/XLic/LCQ and copy the “License” value.

• Paste the license value to a non-licensed installation onto the same place in regedit.

• New installation should be now working as a licensed one.

Disclaimer¶

As we own the license, this procedure only helps us to practice our rights. No other party rights have been violated. This guide does not in any way encourage to violate any legal rights.

Notes¶

MAC address of the instrument was the same on both machines Instrument Configuration. The same applies for the instrument name, for HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Finnigan/XLic/LCQ/License2 regedit value and for a license key of the XCalibur installation itself. It has not been tested what happens if these values differ.