If you or your company owns a subscription license:
Before you attempt the SolidWorks 2018 download and install process, you must prepare your Windows operating system. Rushing this step is the #1 cause of installation failures.
Cause: Windows permissions or corrupted registry. Fix: solidworks 2018 download and install
If you cannot access your old downloads, contact your local SolidWorks Reseller. They will provide a direct, time-limited download link to the 2018 installation media.
What to avoid: YouTube comments, Reddit "free download" links, or any site offering a "crack" or "keygen." These are almost universally infected. If you or your company owns a subscription
After restart, Windows may auto-launch “SolidWorks Installation Manager” again. Close it.
Now proceed to activation.
SolidWorks 2018 relies heavily on OpenGL. If you use a gaming GPU (NVIDIA GeForce RTX, not Quadro):
If using a network license, ensure the SolidWorks License Server is reachable. SolidWorks 2018 relies heavily on OpenGL