here is a screen shot of the file in both locations listed by the support files

Thanks for the help, Tim.

• Was this working previously? No. I have a full registered version of production premium on 3 other computers, and haven't needed the non royalty bearing mode before. We are growing and need more render support from node computers.
• If it was working previously, do you recall if the splash screen during AE launch displayed "RENDER ENGINE"? - It worked before the trial ended. But yes, it did show the splash screen when it worked.
• How long has AE CS6 been installed on the machine? 6 months or so, but I just updated it with bridge>help>update
• When you installed it, did you install as trial mode? Or did you provide a serial number or sign in with a Creative Cloud Membership ID? Trial
• Is the machine connected to the Internet? Yes

For kicks, let's try clearing the prefs. Go to:

C:\Users\Jesse\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\After Effects\

and move the 12.0 folder to your desktop. Launch AE and see if that changes anything.

There is no 12.0 Folder-- just 11.0?

And, here is my trial expired screen:

>> Interesting. Just yesterday I updated Bridge on a Render Engine machine without causing a problem, but this is worth pursuing.

>>> I don't believe that it was the update that caused the problem, it didn't work prior to the update either. I updated and restarted per a recommendation I saw on a forum, in case this was a problem that was resolved with an update.

I also started dropping the ae_render.txt file in the appdata>roaming>adobe files, no luck! I've restarted the computer, and tried using the cntrl+alt+shift open trick. I get nothin.

>> Hmmm... I'll have to check with engineering, but it's possible the Render Engine mode doesn't read or write preferences. It has no need of them. So unless you'd have launched the full UI of AE at some point, the 12.0 folder might not exist. In any case, probably not worth pursuing for this problem, it was just one of the normal troubleshooting tricks.

>>> The 11.0 folder also was not replaced, because I can't get past the trial expiration screen.

>> If you uninstall and reinstall AE, does the problem continue?

>>> I was hoping to resolve without having to do that -- but I'll give it a go.

I'm getting the feeling that since I didn't put the .txt file in the proper location prior to my trial expiring, the software never even gets to the point that it can check for it.

This is the correct order:

* Installed the trial

* Ran the trial until it expired (it functioned up to this point, I rendered lots and lots of animation)

* Added the .txt file but it's not working

I didn't need to figure out the whole 'ae_render.txt' file situation, because the trial version was working just fine for me (for 6 months or so). I also assumed that it would act like Bridge, and still function even after the trial ended. (I would like to recommend to Adobe that the Render Engine work that way in the future)

And, I'm assuming it will still work fine, if I can just get it to let me past the trial screen, and into the render engine.

my user account is part of a network, if that matters. I have checked to make sure that my admin authorization is local, however. And, also -- when I go to other users' "/documents", there is no adobe folder to place the .txt file. I've placed it in both the public adobe folder and my own user account...

I went to Folder Options, and it is checked.

Oh WOW -- it was named ae_render_only_node.txt.txt -- Good "stupid hunch"! Hopefully you can get a note about that added to the help files?

But, I had also just uninstalled and reinstalled, so ... now I'm not even sure if the .txt file does work, because I'm back on a trial. 

Thanks a ton, Tim!

It maybe gave me a new trial because this time I installed just AFX, and not the production premium suite.

Again, thanks a ton. hopefully you can get a note about that scooted into the help files for other future derps like me.