AutoCAD MEP

[#1]

Here is the latest information that
is available regarding the MAX and DRF file corruption issue.

Tony Michniewicz

Autodesk Professional
Services

ISSUE

Autodesk® has confirmed that Microsoft® Hotfix
823980, which is contained in the Windows® 2000 Service Pack 4, causes the
corruption of MAX and DRF files resulting in the inability to open MAX or DRF
files that were saved after either of these Microsoft Windows Updates had been
installed. 

The following Autodesk products are affected by
this issue:
Autodesk® Architectural Desktop 2004
Autodesk® Building
Systems 2004
Autodesk® VIZ 4
3D Studio VIZ® R3i
3D Studio VIZ®
R3

The following operating system configurations
will experience MAX and DRF file corruption:

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Windows 2000 Service
Pack 3 or lower + Microsoft Hotfix 823980
Windows XP Professional + Microsoft
Hotfix 823980
Windows XP Home Edition + Microsoft Hotfix 823980

Note:  It was previously
reported that this problem affected Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 6 but further
testing confirmed that this issue does not affect users Windows NT
4.0.

SOLUTION

For those of you who have updated to Microsoft®
Hotfix 823980 or Windows 2000® Service Pack 4, Microsoft has developed an
early-version Hotfix to resolve this issue.  To acquire the early-version
Microsoft® Hotfix, you can contact Microsoft at 800-936-4900 and request “Hotfix
- Q824136 for Windows 2000 or Windows XP.”  You will be asked to provide
your name, e-mail address and zip code after which an approximately one Mb file
will be sent to your e-mail address.  The early-version Microsoft® Hotfix
will only install if you have previously installed Microsoft® Hotfix 823980 or
Windows 2000® Service Pack 4.

Note:  The early-version
Microsoft® Hotfix is for English language versions only.  If you are
working with other language versions and encounter this problem, you should
follow the temporary instructions included below:

Temporary Instructions for Microsoft
Windows Hotfix 823980 Configurations
If you have installed the
Microsoft Windows Hotfix 823980, Autodesk recommends that you uninstall this
Hotfix, which will allow existing or recently saved/corrupted MAX and DRF files
to be opened without any errors.

To determine if you have installed the Microsoft Windows Hotfix 823980,
access your Add/Remove Programs dialog box from the Windows Control Panel. 
If this Hotfix has been installed, there will be an entry with a title similar
to "Windows Hotfix 823980".  To uninstall this Hotfix, select the "Windows
Hotfix 823980" entry and click Remove.

Note:  It is highly recommended that you back-up
any critical data before uninstalling Microsoft Windows Hotfix 823980.

Important:  In all cases, you should disable
automatic windows updates through WinUpdate to eliminate the possibility of
inadvertently reinstalling the Microsoft Windows Hotfix 823980 before the new
Microsoft Windows Hotfix becomes available.

Temporary Instructions for Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Configurations

Method #1
1. Uninstall the Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4.
2. Use the Merge command, located on the File menu, to
retrieve data from the corrupted MAX or DRF files and then save the
files.

Note: If you have Render Effects or Atmospherics in your
MAX or DRF file, use the Merge button in the respective dialog
boxes.

Important: Some data may be lost if you use this method
to work around this issue and Autodesk recommends that you retain original
copies of any corrupted MAX or DRF files until a final resolution to this
issue is identified.

Method #2
1. Uninstall the Windows 2000 Service
Pack 4.
2. Open the corrupted MAX or DRF files from a Windows XP
system that does not have the Microsoft Windows Hotfix 823980 installed.

3. Save the files and return the files to the system on which the
Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 has been uninstalled.

Note: It is highly recommended that you back-up any
critical data before uninstalling the Windows 2000 Service Pack
4.