AutoCAD LT with Parallels crashes with plot command

[abnriver]

I use AutoCAD LT 2014 on a mac using the Windows Parallels software. When i am in a drawing file and enter "plot" then press return I get the spinning wheel of doom and a few seconds later the program goes into "not responding" mode. we have tried uninstalling the plotter drivers in both the Parallels and mac enviornments to no avail. We tried installing the HP Universal driver for the HP 1055 plotter in our office- also did not work. I don't even get as far as the plotting dialog box. Our office tech guy whose speciality is Mac's is convinced it is an AutoCAD issue NOT an issue with the OS or the Windows Parallels. This problem started a while back when I was using Autocad LT for MAC directly (Parallels uninstalled) and I tried copy clipping a ctb file developed in the AutoCAD for Windows into my mac hardrive. Computer has since been stripped and reinstalled with a newer version of AutoCAD LT for Windows. Same issues prevails. FULLPLOTPATH has been changed to 0 per some other forums I came across and did not do anything for me. I have seen no other posts with this exact issue.

[pendean]

What's the Windows version?
Is the problem one file, some files, all files?
Even if you start a blank new file?
Can you print to that driver in any other application installed in Windows? Find out, it's important.
Can you start a new file, use PAGESETUP command to set that HP Windows driver then PLOT?
Can you repeat the above but select the default PDF driver then PLOT to it?
Did you search for your problem with a Google Search? There are hundreds of posts with hundreds of solutions to try: what have you tried other than the draconian solution of putting Windoze on a beautiful MAC?

[abnriver]

1) Windows 7

2) All .dwg files opened in Acad LT- when attempt to plot get spinning wheel- "not responding" have to quit program and restart and drawing recovery etc.

3) yes, even with blank new file

4) since we work on macs at the office (I work at office, not my own business) the only other programs loaded on windows besides Acad is Explorer. I just opened explorer and printed from the internet the page in view- it sent and came out fine on network printer.

5/6) not yet will try

7) yes I googled and the only stuff that I see come up are these Autodesk forum none of which have this particular problem mentioned as far as i can tell.

thanks for your suggestions. I will repost after trying 5/6

[pendean]

Another test: unplug from your network then try to plot, does Windows still hang?

[abnriver]

Just to be clear - the setup of windows parallels on mac was a confirguration provided to me by my employer, prior to which my drafting experience was "limited" to cad on pc's- so the interface between the 2 is not something I am versed in. I have been tasked with searching for a solution since proper full tech support from Autodesk require the expensive subscription my employer is not interested in buying. I believe buying a new computer is a more desirable route than paying for that added package. but i digress. that all said I am probably the least equipped individual in the chain of command to be tackling this since my understanding and knowledge of the mac's or windows workings  is quite limited.

[pendean]

Sadly with remote assistance someone at your end needs to do all the work and all the testing. Please do so.

The reason for the crash usually is an invalid driver or a corrupt driver, or a network connection to the driver that's gone bad.
You need to confirm the plotter driver works in Windows either by opening the driver and running a test page or by printing something to it from another application installed in Windows (IE will do nicely).

[abnriver]

PAGESETUP command also freezes the program. Dialog box comes up but I go to "modify" I get spinning wheel, the same as when I enter PLOT [return]

so I cannot follow through with your suggestion around changing to a PDF driver to test plot

[abnriver]

This is the problem description that AutoCAD LT provides (I just un-hid the details- for first time).

Description:
  A problem caused this program to stop interacting with Windows.

Problem signature:
  Problem Event Name:    AppHangB1
  Application Name:    acadlt.exe
  Application Version:    25.1.108.0
  Application Timestamp:    52216c79
  Hang Signature:    1e5c
  Hang Type:    0
  OS Version:    6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.48
  Locale ID:    1033
  Additional Hang Signature 1:    1e5cb39deadc239cdced2eec9aaf5522
  Additional Hang Signature 2:    4b12
  Additional Hang Signature 3:    4b12478e3ed5cb5a3273d2a12dce11e5
  Additional Hang Signature 4:    1e5c
  Additional Hang Signature 5:    1e5cb39deadc239cdced2eec9aaf5522
  Additional Hang Signature 6:    4b12
  Additional Hang Signature 7:    4b12478e3ed5cb5a3273d2a12dce11e5

Read our privacy statement online:
  http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=104288&clcid=0x0409

[pendean]

And if you unplug from your network? Does it still hang?

[abnriver]

I have yet to try that~ I need guidance from our in house tech support for that- again- am not tech saavy. Will post when I am able to do that.

[abnriver]

AFter unplugging the plotter from network and plugging directly into my workstation comp there is no change in outcome. exact same "hang" as when I plot from network wireless

[pendean]

Did you remember to turn off your wireless too?

Grab a freeware called PROCESSMONITOR and start it before you stat AutoCAD's PLOT command and see what it reports is happening behind the scenes.

PS: plotting wirelessly is never a good idea from AutoCAD IMHO.

[abnriver]

I tried again- turned off wireless. hard wired the plotter to the computer. had the freeware running the whole time. Same outcome- not sure what I should be looking for in the freeware report. I saved a few copies which I will attach here. Plot attempt was made between 3:38pm & 3:40pm--

attachment attempts have failed

[abnriver]

38:49.7 acadlt.exe 4004 RegOpenKey HKLM\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT\R20\ACADLT-D001\Variables\*HPBOUNDRETAIN NAME NOT FOUND

[CADdaddy.com]

Hi there,

I have been having similar problems so I searched and I ran into this thread.  I was wondering if there was any resolution over the past 8 months?  I've found that the source of our crashing was due the the CAD files being stored as a network share on a Mac machine.  As a test we moved a project folder to a network share on a Windows machine the problem went away...along with a multitude of other seemingly unrelated issues!  I know that Autodesk officially supports parallels on Mac so I'm hoping that it may be possible to fix the parallels problem and continue working from the Mac share.  Has anyone else run into this?

James

[pendean]

Looks like you found the fix.

Autodesk doesn't really support or offer many tips in a parallels setup since they offer a 100? compliant MAC variant of AutocAd/LT: consider sliding over to that (free I believe if your current Windows version of LT has an LT for Mac variant).

[CADdaddy.com]

I'm still calling it the cause....not the fix.  Anybody else?

[abnriver]

James' solution was not an option for us. Our entire office runs on Macs. So no, there was no resolution for our situation. WE ended buying a new computer and stripping the one that was giving us the problem after hired help (mac specialists) did all they could to figure out the issue between Parallels and the mac. It was a real drag.

[CADdaddy.com]

Thanks for that.  Looks like we'll switch to a PC file server.