Opening autoCAD LT 2016 drawings in autoCAD LT 2017

[Anonymous]

I've recently change laptop and upgraded my cad license from Autocad LT 2016 to AutoCAD 2017 and none of my old drawings will open....tried to back save them but this still wont work!  I know I should have to do this as I'm going from 2016 to 2017?  Any ideas why all my old drawings wont open .... file is not recognise by my new license? Seems like it has lost the route to drawings but drawings are saved on an external hard drive? Screen shot attached. Thank you

[pendean · Accepted solution]

There is nothing to prevent LT2017 from opening 2016 files: your Windows File Explorer is looking for the wrong software, perhaps the 2016 that you removed.

Read all about it here https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-...
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Double...

[john.vellek]

HI @Anonymous,

Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

If you start AutoCAD 2017 and use the file open process and then select the file, does it open?

If you go into Windows explorer, rt-click on the file and select Open with, can you select the AutoCAD DWG Launcher, will the file open?

The last thing I suggest is a repair to your AutoCAD 2017 but if it can already create new drawings and open new drawings then that won't make any difference.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[john.vellek]

Hi clareJCYRJ,

I was hoping to see an update on your post regarding opening the 2016 files in AutoCAD LT 2017. Has your problem been resolved? Please update your post with the status of your issue.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.  Yes sorry for the delayed response been busy drawing. Problem solved, I reset AutoCAD LT 2017 as the defualt as it was trying to find path of my old autocad so Dean and John that was a great help.  Thank you.