Unable to Reset to Default Settings

[LandArchLand]

I've been having several issues that I've been told can be resolved only through resetting program to default settings. I've tried for 2 days with no luck. I tried going through the Windows Start menu> AutoCAD 2020>Reset Settings to Default  Regardless of whether CAD is running or not, I get the same dialog box that pops up on screen and says: "Reset Settings - Application is Currently Running" with a big red X. There's an OK button. I've tried leaving the dialog box open for a few hours, I've tried hitting OK. Nothing happens. I've also tried going through the options menu inside CAD and had no luck there either. Researched this and can't find anyone with the same issue. Would greatly appreciate any help.

Computer Setup Specs:

PC version of CAD 2020 on a 2018 MacBook Pro - macOS Catalina 10.15.4, 2.6GHz, Intel Core I7, 32 GB RAM 

--- running Windows through Parallels 15 virtual machine

Windows 10: has 16 GB of RAM available, 64 bit OS, X64-based processor

I have virtual machine strictly for CAD because Mac version is terrible. I've run it this way for a long time without issue. My computer is quite powerful and plenty of RAM is allotted to the virtual machine running Windows.

[dmfrazier]

You need to be able to see if any AutoCAD/Autodesk processes are running and stop them.

On a Mac with Parallels, how would you "kill" running programs? (What's the equivalent of Task Manager?)

[pendean]

Any reason you can't just restart the computer, then go the reset?
or am I missing something?

[dmfrazier]

If you can't get Reset to Default to work, another alternative is to do a Repair or Re-install.

[LandArchLand]

I've reset the computer several times. Shut down for long periods, forced quit the program, you name it. Nothing changes the result of selecting 'Restore Settings to Defualt: I get the same dialog box  

[LandArchLand]

I had no experience with this. Thank you. It seems like a really good suggestion. On a Mac it's called the equivalent of Task Manager is Activity Monitor. But I scoured that thing and saw no sign of any operations or tasks being performed by AutoCAD or Autodesk. Shoot! That seemed like such a great and simple solution! 

[dmfrazier]

From your original screenshot, it's unclear what "application" is being referred to. Can you look at running tasks when this message is on the screen?

What do you see?  (Can you show us?)

Edit: be sure you are looking at the processes that are running in "Windows".

[LandArchLand]

If I uninstall & reinstall the program (which is my last resort & have been dreading!) is there a way to keep all of my preferences? I have a lot of custom Dim Styles, Linetypes, etc. and really don't want to lose all of that. I began learning CAD about 20 years ago but discontinued with it because it was constantly crashing and so buggy. I have to say, I'm having the same experience now. It has the potential to be a very powerful program but I've worked with a lot of memory-intensive graphics and 3D rendering software as a designer and nothing holds a candle to the instability and issues I've had with this program. And using it natively on a PC proved no better for me than running it on Parallels. It's so frustrating!

Thank you all for your help and advice. I'm grateful as I'm really in a bind here.

[dmfrazier]

Try Repair first (assuming that's still an option - not sure).

Do a Reinstall without uninstalling. This will not remove your customized files. (If you're nervous, make a copy of the folder that contains your "roaming" Windows profile data - not sure if this applies in your Mac/VM scenario. You'll have to do a little research on your own.)

[LandArchLand]

Went to the Task Manager in Windows & got this. (see screenshots) This doesn't seem good. The behavior here  is what CAD has been doing & the reason I wanted to reset to default in the first place - I can grab a pull down menu, but there's nothing in it. CAD is the only program I use in Windows. If I scroll over the empty pull down menu, it will populate, so I did hit 'end task' in Task Manager but I can't see which task I'm ending. 

[dmfrazier]

It seems like your problems may have more to do with Parallels than with AutoCAD. (But I'm out of my league here.)

Edit: Maybe graphics, too.

[LandArchLand]

I think you might be right. I'm contacting Parallels support right now. 

What do you mean when you say 'graphics'? 

[pendean]

Let me ask my fellow EE @maxim_k who may have more experience with your type of setup to chime if if he can.

[dmfrazier]

By "graphics", I mean perhaps a graphics driver issue - based on the apparent inability to render the screen properly. Perhaps there is a driver update available.

[LandArchLand]

Thank you both. I will look into the graphics driver issue. Do you think that would be a driver in Windows, Parallels or Mac OS?

[dmfrazier]

I would look into Mac OS driver updates first.

I don't think there would be separate graphics drivers for a virtual Windows setup (but what do I know?).

[maxim_k · Accepted solution]

Hi @LandArchLand,

It appears that you are running Parallels Virtual Machine in Coherence mode, try to switch it to Full screen mode. This will reduce the load on Mac graphics system.
About Resetting AutoCAD for Windows settings - your problem is on Windows side and not related to macOS. You need to try to kill AutoCAD with Task Manager before trying to Reset Settings to default. I hope that switching VM to Full screen mode will help you with task manager graphics glitches you showed in one of your posts here.

[LandArchLand]

This totally makes sense. I will change the setting right away. I'm next in line for support chat w/Parallels support (in Safari) so will try your suggestion as soon as I can close this browser. Thank you all for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. 

[LandArchLand]

So I set the virtual machine back to full screen mode. It still didn't work but I think it would have had Windows not gone all crazy. I reinstalled another Windows 10 virtual machine fully expecting to have to install CAD on that one. But, just for fun, I checked my original buggy virtual machine (Windows wouldn't/couldn't open the desktop or 'My PC' app--I just got a list of files. Something was very wrong.) and it worked! Windows was back to normal, and, most importantly, CAD was back to normal, displaying all text in pull down menus and other strange issues I was having (you can see my problem from a few weeks ago) were gone. So I don't know what downloading another copy of Windows on another machine did, but it fixed it. Maybe it somehow reset the original? I don't know but wanted to share it in case anyone else runs across this seemingly unsolvable problem. 

Thanks to everyone who offered advice. I really appreciate your time. Have a great weekend and stay safe out there.

[John.sproul]

I have no reset on AutoCad 2021 LT back to default settings, I have also tried for two days,

After every action the application freezes for about  30 seconds and to build this drawing is taking forever. Its not the computer memory, this started happening after AUTOCAD PERFORMED AN UPDATE, now the program is screwed.