I purchased a Steinberg UR44 as a backup for my rack mounted Octa-Capture and to use with on-site recordings.  The UR44 installed OK and initial tests in Sonar are OK.  However, the included software activation was a nightmare.  The e-licenser Control Center application supplied and the one on the Steinberg downloads would not allow any activations and was only looking for an e-licenser key (USB dongle).  I finally found a fix on the Sweetwater site with a download of a different version that allowed "software" activations.  This allowed entering the activation code for the included "Basic FX Suite", however the VST3's in the suite still were not activated when I tried one in Sonar.  I finally had to download and install Cubase AI8 (included with the UR44) and activate that.  Running Cubase AI, the Basic FX Suite VST's finally got activated and I was able to use them in Sonar.  I don't really want Cubase but had to install it to get all the included software working.
 
End of Rant.

Interesting, sorry you had to go through that.  I just bought a UR22 (also for a backup) and haven't installed yet, but have an e-licenser so I'm guessing that "should" prevent those issues.  It's strange you had to install Cubase.  If I were paranoid, I might think Steinberg was being sneaky...

I have a UR44 and had to get Support to help me with the soft install. I did not have to install Cubase but did afterwards.
Once it is installed, I think it works very well. 
 

Glad I decided to read this thread. Won't be any Steinberg products on my BF/CM or Xmas lists. Ever.
 
Geez, I hate dongles. I've been fighting (with) them since the original LPT: and COM: (RS-232) dongles back in the 80s. They have NEVER been problem-free. My latest hateful experience was with the iLok (a USB stick like your e-licensers). Made by PACE. The same fargin' bastidges who made the original POS dongles I mentioned above. I have a pretty standard PC (Dell XPS 8500). The iLok worked maybe 10% of the time on Win7. It never worked on Win10. I've totally written off my investment in Slate Digital plugins. That GAS gave me some serious gas. 
 
End of rant.

I don't use a dongle with my UR44...
 
And the UR44 is one heck of a good unit. What it can do is amazing for the price. PC and iOS support, cue mix, 4 mic inputs, zero monitor latency.... on and on. 

Rimshot
I don't use a dongle with my UR44...
 
And the UR44 is one heck of a good unit. What it can do is amazing for the price. PC and iOS support, cue mix, 4 mic inputs, zero monitor latency.... on and on. 

Same here, except I leave the dongle in as I have plenty of USB slots.  It's only needed for the FX, which I never actually use anyway, so I could yank it.  My UR-44 has been stellar.

Hey mixmkr,
 
You don't need a dongle for anything UR44 related. I use their eLicenser for all of it. 
 
I even use the VST's it comes with in my DAWS. 

eLicenser is superior to Pace.  I can't imagine needing a dongle to use this unit. I'm thinking of getting a UR22. Supposedly these are nice low latency units for the price.

Well if longevity and taking Steinberg at their word is important look on the Steinberg forum for the thread "mr816 and Windows 10". After 6 months of promised win 10 drivers and absolutely zero response to owners I won't buy another Steinberg product. 

The latest UR44 drivers are Win 10 compatible (I'm using Win 10 Pro 64 bit).
You don't need a dongle, the e-licenser will allow "software" activations, if you have the right e-licenser version - which was the crux of my install problems.