"coCreateInstance() failed" error when skin modifier applied

[steve]

I have a mesh that I applied a skin modifier onto it.

coCreateInstance() failed
Please check your registry entries
CLSID{F088EA74-2E87-11D3-BIF3-00C0F03C37D3} and make sure you are logged in as an administrator.

I am logged in as an administrator.

3DS Max 2011 Design 32 bit.

[lightcube]

I've run into this very same problem in Max 2015.

The things I've done the the system since the last time I used Skin a couple weeks ago:

1) Updated Max 2015 to SP2

2) Uninstalled 3ds Max 2010-2011

Now I get this error for Skin in Max.

I found this thread and hoped to fix with the commands listed above, but in Max 2015, there is no components.dll in the root folder.

[Anonymous]

Yes, uninstalling a previous version of 3dsmax causes a unregister of this OLE-component.

You need to register it again using regsvr32.exe. It`s called 'MaxComponents.dll' however and you can

still find it in the root directory of 3dsmax.

[PROH]

Got this problem today on Max Design 2014 64bit, Windows 7. Haven't uninstalled any Max versions, but had some windows updates running a couple of days ago. Wired things happens...

I'm not much of a programmer, but I hope I'll be able to fix it, with the advises from this thread. Otherwise I'll be back crying out for help 😉

Thanks

[lightcube · Accepted solution]

The problem went away after loading Max as Administrator once. (Even though my user account is an admin... you need to right-click your start-up icon and choose Run as Administrator.)

[PROH]

Hi lightcube.

Just found it wasn't MaxDesign 2014 but 2012, but anyway your tip solved the problem. Nice and easy 🙂

Thank you

[Anonymous]

Thanks!   The hotfixes totally worked!

[Anonymous]

I'm having the same issue. However, when I try to do the things others reccomend, nothing works.

I'm using 3DS Max 2014, if thats any help to anyone.

[laurence.boissieux]

Hi there, got the same using 3DSMax 2015 + W7 Enterprise, runs OK when execute as Administrator!

My 2 cents

[Anonymous]

In 2016 these same error occurs.

The run > maxcompontents.dll fix does not work either, so following the advise above I simply righ clicked on the 3ds max shortcut > ran as admin and it works fine.... phew .. Thanks all

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem and created an account especially to thanks all of you ! 😄

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello everyone!

This thread occurred before my time, but I'd like to mark the solution.  Would any of you please let me know which post # was the solution so future users can benefit from this knowledge? Thank you very much for doing so.

Best Regards,

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Thank you very much for marking the solution!

Best Regards,

[pokoy]

While the proposed workaround resolves the problem, it can in no way be the official solution. In many places, users will not get the admin password in order to run Max only to circumvent this problem. There needs to be an official fix that can be deployed by IT in places where admin passwords can't be shared with common users.

[lightcube]

Agreed. It's odd in that it's the only standard modifier in Max (that I know of) that is bound to some registry value. Seems like it should be removed from needing any registry values at all. But barring that, this is the only solution you've got as an individual user.

[Alfred.DeFlaminis]

Hello @pokoy and @lightcube,

You are not the first people to say this and you absolutely have a point.  In this case, unregistering and registering the maxcomponents.dll should fix this issue.  To top it off registering .dll's still requires admin rights to do.  In the case of this thread, that's the answer as I understand it.  If anyone is having issues, make sure to unregister it first. 

I am not an IT person, but I believe it's possible for an Admin to log in and right click on the 3dsmax.exe and go to Properties->Compatibility tab and click "Change Settings for All Users".  By giving admin access to the program from here, it should allow the program to run as Admin without the need for the admin password or login credentials, providing that this was set by an admin in the first place. At least, that's how this feature was sold when it was introduced.  If it does not work this way, your IT department may be able to force the admin rights on 3ds Max without the need to know the password using other methods.  I've worked in environments where this was the case, but I don't know enough about network administration to expand.  

Best Regards,

[Anonymous]

Thank you soooo much eicronie!

Your tip fixed my Max 2014 error.

[Anonymous]

Iam Trying this now with my max 2015

[Anonymous]

worked!