AutoCAD 2016 Safe Mode

[Paddy-G]

So, I have had a lot of weird things happen since installing 2016 but by far the strangest is AutoCAD randomly going into Safe Mode and disabling graphic accelleration.  I find out by the baloon at the lower right that is has been turned off and going in to turn it on, I see the message in red that it can't be turned on in safe mode.  Restarting is the only way to remedy it.

My system specs are:

HP Elite 7000 desktop

Core i7 2.8gHz

8GB RAM

Samsung 250GB SSD

64bit Win 7 Pro

ATI Radeon HD4650 1GB video

Thoughts?

Thanks!

[MishaBelilovskiy]

Thank you for your question.

I am not sure exactly what is going on with your specific system, but we are aware of the issue with the older AMD video drivers.  As a result, I highly recommend you to update to the latest driver from AMD or Autodesk.com/hardware web sites and see if the issue is still reproducible.

Thanks again,

Misha Belilovskiy

AutoCAD Engineering

[Paddy-G]

I actually thought of this and double checked that I had the most current.  We have another workstation with this same set up, same video driver and it doesn't have the graphics accelleration, safe mode issue.

I read about this being a DirectX issue with 2013 but with Win7, you cannot manually install DirectX again to repair any files that may be corrupt.

[MishaBelilovskiy]

I will check with the experts here in house when they get in to work (it's still not yet 7am here on the West Coast) and reply when I find something out.

Thanks,

Misha

[Paddy-G]

Great!  Thanks!

As a side note, I have also read some about SAFEMODE (System Variable) on AutoDesk's website but it appears to be not related to AutoCAD actually running in Safe Mode (if in fact AutoCAD is or just the graphics processing is).  If I am correct, this is a VERY confusing use of the phrase.  My variable is set to "0" but still indicated running in Safe Mode.

Unlike Windows Safe Mode that has to be manually started, it appears AutoCAD Safe Mode would indicate some issue AutoCAD has had happen and instead of giving a Fatal Error, it goes in to Safe Mode to continue working with limited capability.

The confusing bits from knowledge.autodesk.com:

Applies to AutoCAD 2016, AutoCAD Architecture 2016, AutoCAD Civil 3D 2016, AutoCAD Electrical 2016, AutoCAD MEP 2016, AutoCAD Map 3D 2016, AutoCAD Mechanical 2016, AutoCAD P&ID 2016, AutoCAD Plant 3D 2016, AutoCAD Structural Detailing 2016, and AutoCAD Utility Design 2016

Indicates whether executable code can be loaded and executed in the current AutoCAD session.

(Read-only)

Type:	Integer
Saved in:	Not-saved
Initial value:	0

This system variable is controlled by the /safemode startup switch, which should be used only in emergency situations for disabling malicious code.

0	Allows executable code to be executed
1	Prevents executable code from being executed

Note: Disabling executable code will prevent Express Tools and some AutoCAD command tools from running. It will also prevent copying and pasting AutoLISP code into the Command window.

[MishaBelilovskiy]

Yes, in this case SAFEMODE indicates a protected mode, where non-core apps are prevented from loading in AutoCAD.  It has nothing to do with the downgrade of the graphical capabilities but is rather related to the protection of the product against malicious applications.

Thanks,

Misha

[Paddy-G]

Understood correctly then.  Quite confusing actually, to use the same term regarding two completely unrelated functions.

I hope to hear something later that solves or at least gives me a direction to go.

Thanks

[MishaBelilovskiy]

Just heard from one of my colleagues and he needs more info. Your situation is an unusual one.

If you can email me at misha at autodesk dot com, I will get you in touch with the right people.  Will see if they can help you.

Thanks,

Misha

[Paddy-G]

Awesome!  On the way!

[dan908 · Accepted solution]

As it sounds like you had read, sometimes Windows Direct X 9 has trouble with video cards and lock/ sleep/ screen savers. Basically, the computer wakes up before the video card and you probably used to see a message like “your Heidi driver stopped working” or “your video card has stopped responding”. The video card usually wakes up eventually, but AutoCAD needs the video card to always be there. So, it used to be that when this happened, AutoCAD would usually crash. The details all depended on the card and the computer, but it was enough trouble that there are quite a few articles on it.

So, about 2 years ago, we added this safe mode state and also support for Direct X 11 which is supposed to have resolved the problem. But, some graphics cards can’t support Direct X 11, like the one you have, so it stays as Direct X 9. So that is the fuller explanation of what is going on.

To fix it, your solutions are really to stop your computer from sleeping, locking, turning on the screen saver, and sometimes even just pushing control alt delete while ACAD is running OR to get a DX11 capable video card. Really, the first solution is not that bad and even if it happens, you know it would just go into safe mode.

[Paddy-G]

Thanks for all the help Dan.  Sounds like I have a direction to go at least.

[dan908]

Oh, and for anyone else that reads this, sometimes the other cause of this is a video card that is dying of old age or has a loose power connection. Then, buying a new video card or a little trouble shooting is needed.

[Paddy-G]

I came across this old thread and thought I should probably update what fixed the problem. It was in fact and older video card that didn't support DX 11, so we did an across the board video card upgrade to Nvidia Quadro K420 cards and recently configuring new machines with K620 cards. No issues.

[Anonymous]

Hello All,

I am unable turn ON Hardware Acceleration in AutoCAD 2015 installed on Windows 10 Enterprise 64 Bit with Intel i7 processor and 16 GB RAM with 2GB graphic card. HP manufacturer Model: HP ZBook 17 G3

Direct X version 12 has installed and also I have updated all graphic Drivers. it has hardware setup find in attached image. Graphic cards Intel and NVIDIA Quadro M3000M.

Is AutoCAD 2015 supports Direct X 12 version ?,

we are unable turn, it through error that AutoCAD is in safe-mode. when I have tried, 3DCONFIG and also tried with /safemode or /nohardware in start properties but no use.

Please can any one help with this issue.

Thanks in Advance.

,

[Paddy-G]

Try uninstalling DX 12 and installing DX 9. With a Quadro M300M video card, it is likely the DirectX 12 causing the Safe Mode operation in AutoCAD.  This is not a fault of the card but a limitation in AutoCAD.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34429

Also, read Dan's reply, just above, as you may end up having to replace this laptop with one that has an Autodesk approved video card(GPU). Which was my solution.

I also notice the video card shown in the Graph. Acc. settings window is a very basic Intel GPU and not the M3000M.