The SOLIDWORKS Installation Manager or 3DEXPERIENCE Launcher can be blocked if it lacks permission to modify the Windows hosts file
Outbound Rules: If SOLIDWORKS is unable to connect for activation, a new outbound rule may need to be created in the Windows Firewall to "Allow the connection" for the specific program executable.
In the case of SolidWorks, a popular computer-aided design (CAD) software, the installation process may be blocked by modifying the hosts file. This can be useful in environments where SolidWorks is not allowed to be installed or used, such as in a company with strict software usage policies.
What happens when you block SolidWorks installation
The Windows hosts file is a local plain-text file that maps hostnames to IP addresses, bypassing the standard DNS.
