MAXtoA for 2022 - doesn't let me update

[CiroCardoso3v]

Hi everyone,

I have this weird issue, where I need to update the Arnold version.

I download the file and when I am installing it, I get this error:

And if I go to my Control Panel, there is no MAXtoA 2022 there.

I already went to C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins and there is no folder there.

Anything that I am missing

[Stephen.Blair]

Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features.

Is MAXtoA for 2022 listed? Try to uninstall..if it's already uninstalled or the uninstall won't work, you should be prompted to remove the MAXtoA entry. Then the new install should work.

[CiroCardoso3v]

Hi Stephen, no there is nothing there. Only have MAXtoA for 2021.

[Stephen.Blair]

In that case, I would get a Process Monitor log and see what's happening. Almost always it's a registry entry that is blocking the new install.

[Stephen.Blair]

To get a Process Monitor log:

• Download Process Monitor and extract it to a folder https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/processmonitor.aspx
• Start Process Monitor
• Start capturing events (CTRL+E or the magnifying glass icon)
• Start the MAXtoA install
• When you get the "later version already installed" message, go back to Process Monitor and stop capturing events
• Save the Process Monitor log to a .PML file
• Zip up the log and send it (or upload to a file sharing site like dropbox)

[CiroCardoso3v]

I isolated just the Installer event, let me know if it helps.

https://we.tl/t-oZyNRXc48C

[CiroCardoso3v]

I think this one will be more complete. Not sure if this is related to the 3ds Max hotfix.

https://we.tl/t-wxJidOzw6F

[CiroCardoso3v]

End up by reinstalling 3ds Max 2022 and solved the issue. But I am curious to know what happened.

[Stephen.Blair]

The MAXtoA installer checks a registry key. I found it by running this command in a Command Prompt:

reg query HKCR\Installer\Products /f "MAXtoA*2022" /s

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products\3E471C5A6A076144CA61DB97002BD2D4
    ProductName    REG_SZ    MAXtoA for 3ds Max 2022

End of search: 1 match(es) found.

If I remove key, then the MAXtoA installer goes ahead.
It's too late now, but we'd have to see what version values were under that key on your machine.

[CiroCardoso3v]

Hi Stephen, thanks for checking this. I think Arnold is right when tells me that the version is updated. I think the issue is with Max2022, that doesn't update the message on the Arnold Tab. I am saying this, because after reinstalling the Max 2022, I installed the new update. Now open again the Arnold tab, it tells me I have to update. Does it make sense?

[Stephen.Blair]

What are the version numbers? If it says you have 4.3.2.46, what's the new version number?

[CiroCardoso3v]

So, I installed 4.3.2.46. But it keeps me telling I need to installed it. Is there an external way to check which version I am using?

[CiroCardoso3v]

This is something interesting. There is no trace of MAXtoA 2022

Max 2021 appears, but not Max 2022. I think this is more a Windows problem.

[Stephen.Blair]

@Ciro
An Arnold log (verbosity level = Info) will tell us what version of Arnold you have installed.

Arnold 6.2.1.0 = MAXtoA 4.3.2.46
Arnold 6.2.0.0 = MAXtoA 4.3.0.78

The "currently installed version" is compiled into MAXtoA (unless I'm totally wrong about what I see in the code)

[CiroCardoso3v]

Ok, so I still have the MAXtoA 4.3.0.78, as my log tells me I am using Arnold 6.2.0.0. Interesting enough, the folder

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\ApplicationPlugins

Doesn't have a MAXtoA_2022. So in that case, where is 3ds Max picking the plugin?

I think this is due the fact that Max2022 isn't installed on the C drive. Because if I open the Plugin Manager, it says it is picking the MAXtoA plugin version 4.3.0.78 from the F:\ drive (where Max is installed).

[Stephen.Blair]

3ds Max includes MAXtoA, because it is now the default renderer. For example, on my system:
C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2022\ApplicationPlugins\MAXtoA

If you install a newer MAXtoA, it goes into ProgramData and 3ds Max uses it.

The hotfix should have included the latest MAXtoA, afaik. It did for me...

[CiroCardoso3v]

Ok, so I am going to uninstall Max2022 and install it on the C drive and see if that is the main issue.

[CiroCardoso3v · Accepted solution]

Just to start a new thread.

Reinstalled Max2022. C drive this time. Still the same issue. I try to install the latest Arnold version and tells me is already installed. I temporarily fixed the issue by copying the MAXtoA_2022 folder from my work computer to this computer. I have no idea why this doesn't work. Control Panel still tells me there is no MAXtoA 2022 installed.

[Stephen.Blair]

Can you run this command?

reg query HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall /f MAXtoA /s

[CiroCardoso3v]

Just Max2021 and 2023