Missing scripts issue located to ENU

[ncls_pln]

Hello everyone,

I recently reinstalled Windows 11 on my PC and installed 3ds Max 2024. I was previously using the 2023 version, but I took the opportunity to upgrade to 2024. Everything was working fine until I started manually installing some scripts I used previously.

When I reopen 3ds Max, I see the message "Missing: script_name". It's strange because I encounter the same issue with Phoenix FD in the Quad Menu. After some research, I found that others have faced the same issue and resolved it by moving the "usermacros" folder from ENU to another folder or by making the AppData folder visible. Apparently, it seems 3ds Max is having trouble accessing this part of the system.

Thinking it might be a 2024 version issue, I decided to go back to 3ds Max 2023, which I still have on my render server with all my scripts and settings. When I launch 3ds Max 2023, everything opens correctly, and I retrieve my UI, but the same issue persists: all my buttons pointing to scripts display "Missing: script_name". So now I’m wondering if it’s a Windows issue instead.

Does anyone have a solution? I’m out of ideas at this point… Thanks in advance!

EDIT 1: Reinstalled W11, not working yet... I'm trying with Rufus.
EDIT 2: Reinstalled W11 with Rufus and a correct user. Not working :'(

[ncls_pln · Accepted solution]

I found solution on Chaos's forum. This this a post from "max_schramp"

Sorry for the necropost but I've been trying to figure this out all week and finally got it. I'm on Windows 11 and 3dsMax 2024, the steps I used to fix it were:

1. Open command prompt (as admin if it isn't working)
2. cd %USERPROFILE% (to navigate to your user folder)
3. attrib -h AppData (to unhide AppData)
4. cd AppData (change directory to appdata folder)
5. attrib -s Local (remove the system attribute from the Local folder)

Not sure why this is a thing, but it works for me now. If the steps above don't work just check every directory along the path to your ENU folder for h (hidden) or s (system) attributes (by typing attrib /d to list directory attributes)

[RobH2 · Accepted solution]

Wow, that's an odd one. It just started happening to me. I saw every script as missing, like 20 of them. I reinstalled them and received no errors. As soon as I launched Max again, they were all missing again. I retrieved an older ENU and replaced my current one, reinstalled all scripts and they looked great. Restarted Max and "boom" ...gone! 

Your solution fixed it though, for now. Must be a Windows update thing. Odd, but going again. I'm bookmarking this post should it come back. 

Thank you. 

[spacefrog_]

The solution in the second post makes it look  a bit overcomplicated
Simply enter the following in a command prompt ( dos shell ) and hit enter

attrib -s %LOCALAPPDATA%

that should do the trick, changing the hidden attribute on the whole AppData folder should'nt be necessary nor would i advice to do so...

Reason for the issue is that beginning with W11 24H2 update, Microsoft sets the system attribute on  users's AppData\Local folder,  and 3ds Max ignores system folders when loading Maxscripts ...

There also already other threads about it, but i can'T find it curently ...

[RobH2]

So then how do we change it back and then just do the one I need? Just use 'attrib -r %LOCALAPPDATA%' ? Then do it again properly?

[spacefrog_ · Accepted solution]

to restore the hidden attribute on the AppData folder you would use

attrib +h %USERPROFILE%\AppData

Note the plus before the h option, this actually enables the hidden flag, while minus ( -h ) effectively removes the hidden flag. I'm not sure whats the default for that flag on %USERPROFILE%\AppData, but i assume its set to be hidden by default ( +h ). I would'nt mess with any of the other flags on that folder at all  ( r  , x  etc .. )

The only command really necessary is ( i verfied that on my machine )

attrib -s %LOCALAPPDATA%

this removes the "system" flag from the correct folder ( %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local )

PS: i wrote flag everywhere above, in fact the correct term would be "attribute"

[RobH2]

Perfect and great explanation. Ran them both and Max is behiving as expected. Thanks again..   We non-coders sometimes struggle with properly handling things like this and it's good to get some guidance...  Now if we can get Windows to stop throwing wrenches into the crankcase...lol...!

Thanks Josef