3ds Max 2011 trial will not start after install

[Anonymous]

I just installed the current copy of 3dsmax 2011 on my xp sp3 comp which exceeds all the specs required for install but when i click to start for the 1st time nothing at all happens. If I check task manager, i see the prog 3dsmax.exe appear for a few milli seconds then vanishes. I've checked the event viewer ant there are no *errors* or any mention of max or autodesk. I have uninstalled and reinstalled at least 6 times and cleaned out all registry entries I could find that related to the app (even used revo uninstaller to be sure everything was taken out) but the exact same thing happens. I've disabled both my AV and firewall apps with no success. I've updated my video drivers to the latest versions WHQL. The installation files are fine .. if i install on a completely new fresh install of xp and everything works but there is something on my main box (where I want to install it) that max does not like and I cannot track it down. I would expect at least some kind of error message if the thing wasn't happy. Does anyone have any ideas? I'm completely stumped (and more than a little annoyed actually).

[Anonymous]

I'm sorry to hear you've given up on Max, I had hoped the fix for my issues would help you also.  It really didn't take much time at all to fix the problem, it just took me a lot of time and digging to figure out HOW to do it. 

Obviously this wan't a Max issue, it was a .NET Framework issue (read: MY fault, not Max's).  Getting the .NET Framework in order needed to be done for more reasons than just installing Max.  I'm sure it would have caused other software issues along the way, like you said. 

I didn't have to uninstall/reinstall Max after fixing up the .NET Framework, which is great because that's what was taking so much time...the verification tool is a tiny little download and a quick 'run' to verify the versions, plus you get a nifty log identifying the problems if you have any. And surprisingly, uninstalling versions of .Net from the command line was a lot faster than uninstalling through add/remove programs. So, that leaves reinstalling whatever .NET you may need with Windows Installer, which I'm sure you're aware, takes only a few minutes. All in all, had I known from the start what to do, I could have had Max running in half an hour.

Ahhh...I'm sounding pushy now, aren't I? Haha..well I hope the tools I found will be useful to you anyway.  And if you decide to have a go at Max again, let me know if this helped you out. 

[Anonymous]

Actually after following your procedure I found that all my .NET's verified without ANY issues - so in my case the problem would not have been resolved. I ran the verification tool and it said all was well - I could see no value in re-installing them. Having said that, I am convinced, as I was at the time i was having the problem, that the cause is no doubt buried deep in the registry somewhere and is probably connected with something microsoft related but it is something AutoDesk should find and resolve given the price they charge for their products. I have not seen any contribution from them to help me and the others having this problem. So essentially I'd be back as square 1 - I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has used your approach and managed to get things to work.

[Anonymous]

Wow.  Sorry about that.  I'd hoped for better news.

You're probably right about it being registry issues. I did receive a reply from Autodesk to my plea for help yesterday, but it was too late, as I'd already muddled through on my own. I'll paste the email below in hopes it contains help for someone else along the way.   Here is what they suggested:

Can you please verify that .Net Framework Runtime 3.5 SP1 is on your system?

You can do a search on www.microsoft.com for it.

Also verify you have done a full update to service packs and hot fixes for Windows.
What version of Windows are you using?
Is it 32 or 64 bit?

Verify you did the proper uninstall procedure for max.

-uninstall 3ds Max 2011 with Add/Remove programs

-Manually remove the residual 3ds max folder in:

C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2011

-empty trash

...........

rename the enu folder to enu.old

in XP

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\<version>\enu

in XP 64 bit

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\3dsmax\2010 - 64bit\enu

in Vista

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsmax\<version>\enu.

in Windows 7

C:\Users\YOUR_USER_NAME\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2011 - 64bit\enu

C:\Users\YOUR LOGIN NAME\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\2011 - 32bit\enu

...........

-reboot

-login true Administrator Account with full admin privileges.

-disable all firewalls, spyware

-please remove temporarily any antivirus program on your system ( its kind of important as some have conflicted with max installs in the past)

Do all updates here, as some are for licensing issues.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/index?siteID=123112&id=2334435&linkID=10381720

After that start max and let me know if all is well.

If not, verify you have updated the graphics drives for your card ( backup originals for safety)

[Anonymous]

Interesting - I actually did all that with no success. But even if it did manage to work, there is NO way I would sacrifice my virus app and firewall and anti-adware/spyware programs JUST to get max to work. Only an idiot would be so foolish or someone who has a standalone non-connected PC would do this. I know that people would say just replace the conflicting app ... but I'm quite happy with those apps and would be reluctant to change any of them - again - JUST to get max to work. This may all seem a bit trivial given that it was only a trial I was playing with but the point is no other app including Maya or C4D or any of the apps i use or tried behave like this - only max. So to me it makes sense that it is max that needs to change not everyone else. I must thank you for your contribution tho - I'm sure there will be SOME out there that will get it to work using your approach and they'll be happy. As you said, reinstalling max is a pain at best and I'm tired of doing it over and over and over again. I just hope they solve the issue for subsequent potential customers (and the existing ones too).

[Anonymous]

I understand and agree. I wouldn't sacrifice my security software for Max, either.  I just disabled mine through all of this on the off chance that it was causing problems.  As it turns out, it was not, and the two are working together happily.  I'm using the free version of Comodo security suite, by the way.

[DouglasLauritsen]

To thexennon

Stopping all background and foreground applications and installing as an Administrator are Best Practice recommendations. Antivirus and firewalls can be turned back on after installation. Sometimes executables need to be added to exceptions lists in Antivirus and firewall applications. Sometimes ports need to be opened in firewalls.

These Best Practices apply to Autodesk applications as well. Applications with a heavy installer like Autodesk products that install many additional components or prerequisites (MS .NET Framework, MS Visual C++, MS DirectX, etc.) are likely to fail with the antivirus and antispyware slowing things down or altering files as the installer tries to write or install them.

Sometimes the best way to install is to use the MSCONFIG command to reboot to Diagnostic Mode. This mode does not load many Windows Services (including those for networking), drivers, and other background applications such as the antivirus, antispyware and firewall.

Generally any failure of an Autodesk application to start is because of a problem with licensing or a problem with one of the prerequisites. Usually the prerequisite with the problem is .NET. Therefore this forum topic focuses on the CascadeInfo.cas and ProductInformation.pit files for Licensing and .NET as a common prerequisite that may have problems preventing applications from working.

Can you provide specific error messages or log files relating to the failure of 3ds Max to start? Are there .log files in the ADLM folder? Are there events in the Windows Application Event Logs? Is an error message displayed at startup of 3ds Max? Can you upload .log files and screen shots of errors?

The ADLM folder can be found here:

     Windows 7 or Vista:

            C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Adlm

     Windows XP:

            C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\Adlm

[Anonymous]

Well I finally found out how to resolve the problem I had. The school I work for was running Symantec Endpoint Protection. I thought it could be 1 of 3 things. DirectX became corrupted, Framework .net was corrupted, or Symantec was doing something.

I ruled out the first 2 right away. Thinnking about it, I knew if it were remotely one of the first 2 I would have gotten an error message. This never happened. This then pointed me directly to the Antivirus.

I disabled the antivirus and did a reinstall. When I ran max it ended prematurely not even starting up at all. In the task manager it would show for a blink of an eye then end. I think ran the PC in diagnostics mode and installed a new copy in safe mode. I started it up and 3ds max starts and ends prematurely without even a splash screen. I thought about the way it was being handled through the task manager and also saw even though I disabled the antivirus some of the components to Endpoint were still running. I went into the Add and Remove Programs under the Control Panel. I then went into Symantec and chose Modify. Under Modify it brought up a list of all installed components of Endpoint. I then saw Application and Device control. It seemed like a dead give away so I then clicked on it to disable it by selecting the red X. I then restarted the PC and started max 2011 and bam...3ds max started right up. Hope this helps if someone is running Endpoint. *cheers*

MeowMeowXiao >^.^<

[Anonymous]

Because I run Symantec's Endpoit Protection myself (v12.x) I immediately got excited that maybe you nailed down the problem but when I checked my *components* I do not have an option for "Application and Device control" so that can't be the issue with me. I do remember specifically disabling everything - firewall, AV etc. And I even tried to install in safe mode, which failed with some error about not being able to run in safe mode. I did not however try the MSConfig - diagnostic mode but I did check that none of the AV or firewall components were running via task manager although symantec is notorious for running a LOT of services and modules but I'm confident I didn't see any. I might go through the exercise one more time and see if I have any luck but I suspect that the state of my registry is such that something is interfering with the execution. The install went through without errors every time i tried it ... it was the initial startup that failed - no splash screen and no error popups. Since reinstalling windows is such a pain to do with everything I have installed and configured - I am reluctant to even consider that option which I think would more than likely solve the problem. If I do try again, I'll report back here with my experiences and efforts.

[Anonymous]

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that I was getting NO error messages either during install or at first launch.

After deleting some files (as advised by others) the issue persisted. The event log showed no *events* relating to Max in any of the log sections (applications, system etc).   I also mentioned (i think) that I installed the 64 bit version in windows 7 (and XP 64) without issue whatsoever - it installed and started up perfectly.

So to answer your queries ...

Can you provide specific error messages or log files relating to the failure of 3ds Max to start?

- No. No errors were reported at install or startup. The logs (from what I could see) gave no mention of any errors or problems.

Are there .log files in the ADLM folder?

- I think there were log files there but they were only related to the install. I didn't see any logs that referred to startup status or problems.

Are there events in the Windows Application Event Logs?

- No, nothing relating to Max or Autodesk showed up there.

Is an error message displayed at startup of 3ds Max?

- No, nothing appears on screen at all. No splash screen and no errors. task manager shows a *blink* of the application loading then it vanishes from the list of running modules immediately.

Can you upload .log files and screen shots of errors?"

- No, not now. I've completely removed max and all traces of it. I would need to reinstall it to see if those logs show up again. If i get inspired to try another install I will try to submit those files you mentioned.

(edit: For some reason my posts are NOT being formatted as I type them in - the system mashes everything together into 1 paragraph.  I'm sorry if that makes it hard to read.)

[DouglasLauritsen]

Hi,

Upload the logs when you want or need to. Typically we troubleshoot licensing first when applications fail on starting them. The logs in the ADLM folder are the logs for the FLEXnet license service.

System Utilities (Antivirus, Firewalls, etc.) can cause startup problems as well. Try adding the applications executable to the exceptions list for these utilities.

.NET problems seem to be a never ending source of crashing. Try troubleshooting .NET with the .NET Framework Setup Verification and .NET Framework Cleanup Tools.