I am an early adopter with a daw offline.

I installed activated build 252 through the offline activation method.

I installed build 254 and can't get it to activate after exporting the activation request and import the activation response from the store.

It stays in demo mode, even after a restart.

Did you try in Admin mode?

Yes, like I said, build 252 activation worked, build 254 activation isn't.

Aarghh! This is frustrating!

Hi Gustabo,
 
Sorry for the trouble with this. 
 
We'd like to rule out if this is indeed specific to build 254 or if it is present if you role back to build 252. I understand that your computer is offline, and therefore you will need to obtain a direct installer to build 252. Do you have it archived? If not I can send you a direct link over PM.
 
Can you try uninstalling build 254 and installing build 252, then trying the offline activation?
 
In addition, can you send us your .crq file that is generated from SONAR? Instructions are here: http://www.cakewalk.com/Documentation?product=SONAR&language=3&help=Introduction.28.html#1445928
 
Please send me your file over a private message. If you need a file hosting service please let me know and I can send you details to our dropbox.

I updated to 254 just now. I installed it over the 252 installation and it did not need to activate again.
 
Hope you get it sorted. 

I was able to install build 252 (early adopter) with a dl from the store and activate it offline using an activation request file and activation response file.

Followed the same procedure for build 254 and it won't activate whereas build 252 did.

Yes, I did create a new activation request file and used the new activation response file for build 254.

Thanks. I definitely understand your explanation. To diagnose though, I'll need to rule out the build as well as obtain your .crq file. If you need to send any private details please send me a private message so we can follow up.

If you are seeing demo mode unexpectedly, please look at help about and report any code that appears after the Build number in parens (nnnn,n)

Come to think if it my normally offline computer was connected to the net when I ran the update. Perhaps that is why it did not ask to activate.
 
If the computer is offline will each update need to the activated?