3ds Max 2017 and 2018 won't start

[Judith.Hageman]

Hi,

I had a working 3ds Max 2017. Since last week I have a non-working 3ds Max 2017 and non-working 3ds Max 2018!

I almost envy the people who have a splash screen, since I don't even get that. Since Max doesn't start and therefore can't crash, there is no opportunity to sent in a crash report.

For the last 4 days I have been trying every mentioned option/solution on the Forum to get one of the two starting, but nothing works so far.

• Uninstall  Max 2017 and 2018, and reinstall again.
• Uninstall all Autodesk products (2017 and 2018) and reinstall it again.
• I run Windows 10 1703 and have .NET Frame 4.7 which can't be uninstalled.
• Installed AIDA and got a Log file (see attached)
• Attached also my event view logs as suggested.

Can someone please help me to at least start 3ds Max 2017 again!

Thank,

J.

[Otto]

Hello Judith.Hageman

It looks like you're experiencing issues with launching your product. The following link(s) should help you resolve the problem:

Troubleshooting why a program does not open

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Judith.Hageman

Netframe 4.7 is your issue.  Have you reviewed the information in this article.

[Judith.Hageman]

Hi @Mark.Lancaster,

Thanks for your quick answer. The answer is: "Yes, seen it". Isn't useful unfortunately because it stops at Windows 10 version 1607, I have 1703. Can't roll back to the previous update any more.

Our other workstation works fine with .NET Framework 4.7 and 3ds Max.

J.

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Judith.Hageman

The funny thing about this netframe 4.7 update..  It doesn't impact everybody in the Autodesk community...

For me the latest Windows update took my entire latop down and killed my Autodesk products..   I had to return back to a restore point.

[natasha.l]

Hello @Judith.Hageman,

If you can no longer uninstall the update on your Windows 10 OS, several Microsoft customers have conducted a System Restore to have the update removed. It has been reported that 3ds Max & Maya have issues running with the  Microsoft Creators 1703 update. 

Let us know how it turns out. 

Please "Accept As Solution" if a reply has helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[Judith.Hageman]

Hello @natasha.l,

No, I can't uninstall the update any more. Windows 10 1703 is in use from beginning of June.

Unfortunately your option for a System Restore doesn't get me anywhere either. I only have one option, and is from this afternoon (see attached file)... 

Any other suggestion?

J.

[Mark.Lancaster · Accepted solution]

@Judith.Hageman

When you stated earlier..  You uninstall/reinstall..  Did you actually perform a clean uninstall or just a normal uninstall from Windows Control Panel?

[Judith.Hageman]

Hi @Mark.Lancaster,

Sorry to hear about your laptop.  I think that I may call myself lucky with "just" a Max problem...

Lucky for me, both Inventors (2017 and 2018) just work fine, same goes for the two versions AutoCAD Architecture and AutoCAD Mechanical.

• First attempt: an uninstall with the Autodesk Uninstall Tool, then installed again.
• Second attempt: uninstalled ALL Autodesk products with Uninstall Tool, and installed them again.
• Third and last time attempt: a clean uninstall as I had read in the footer of @natasha.l, but did that just for 3ds Max 2017. It is the same page you refer to.

Since I only have the problem with Max, I thought that would be enough, but still nothing happens.

J.

[natasha.l]

Hello @Judith.Hageman,

The update consists of Microsoft Virusla C++ & .NET Framework 4.7. 

The Microsoft Visual C++ can also be a contributor to this issue locate your Control Panel for Microsoft Visual C++ have properly installed (try repair or uninstall & reinstall. 

If the .NET Framework is the issue & you can not conduct a System restore, try to change the .NET Framework your OS is running. This is not the preferred way to go about this because you may have another issue the next time you launch but this can help isolate the issue for you to determine if .NET Framework 4.7 is the cause. 

To work around the .NET error, do one of the following:

• Edit the registry to change the system's .NET version:
  1. Press WINDOWS-R on the keyboard to bring up the Run window, enter REGEDIT and click OK.
  2. Navigate to and select the following:
     HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Client
  3. On the right pane, make note of the value of the Version key.
  4. Double-click Version and change the value to 4.6.2
  5. Close the Registry Editor and then install your Autodesk software.
  6. Once finished, go back in to REGEDIT and change the .NET version back to what it was.

Problems caused by improperly editing the Windows registry could render your computer operating system unusable. Microsoft provides a wealth of critical information that you need to know about the registry in the Microsoft Knowledge Base. Use the Microsoft Registry Editor only at your own risk and only after backing up the registry as outlined for your operating system in the Microsoft article How to back up and restore the registry in Windows and in the related solution How to backup the system registry. Additional information about the registry is also contained in the Help topics in the Microsoft Registry Editor.

Let us know how this turns out. 

Please "Accept As Solution" if a reply has helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[natasha.l]

Hello @Judith.Hageman,

Other general & common issues related to crashes are listed below: 

1. Make sure you have an updated graphics card driver by checking the manufacturer's website (Assign the correct Graphics Card - Step #8)
2. How to reset to defaults
3. Check the Operating System needed & the required updates by reviewing the system requirement for the software 
4. Update your product with the latest service pack or Hotfixes by visiting the Autodesk website or account
5. Locate the install log or Control Panel for Microsoft Visual C++ have properly installed (try repair or uninstall & reinstall)
6. Reboot the computer
7. In Windows Start, delete unnecessary items in the Windows Temp folder, but do not delete the Windows Temp folder itself. You can locate the Temp folder by entering %TEMP% in the Search bar of Windows Start
8. Temporarily disable antivirus & firewall, use Task Manager to "End Task" feature to end the anti-virus software or other items that could be running in the background
9. If the above does not resolve the issue continue & try Clean Uninstall of the product and try a browser download via Autodesk Virtual Agent (download all the parts) and install the product again

Let us know how it goes. 

Please "Accept As Solution" if a reply has helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[natasha.l]

Hello @Judith.Hageman,

Have you tried any of the following suggestions or are you up & running? Let us know how it's going. 

Please "Accept As Solution" if a reply has helped resolve the issue or answered your question, to help others in the community.

[Judith.Hageman]

Hello @natasha.l,

Thank you very much for all your suggestions!

I had already tried a couple of them without success, like deleting unnecessary items in the Windows Temp folder, and disabling antivirus.

To be honest I am not going to try the Microsoft Visual C++ nor will I edit my registry. Both those options I find to tricky to try.

I simply can't afford missing my computer at this moment. 3ds Max isn't my core business, I just use it to make nice renderings from our Inventor models. Inventor is my core business, and since Inventor works fine at this moment I think the risk of trying just to isolate an issue is too much.

One of the workstations in my render farm can still run Max 2017, I have tested that this afternoon, so I have an other (saver) option for rendering.

I will give it one more try before giving up and waiting for an update from Microsoft or Autodesk that will fix these problems.

I am half way a clean uninstall for both 3ds Max 2017 and 2018. I have one article with some other, less risky suggestions that I will try. Got that from @Alfred.DeFlaminis an hour ago. I will let you know what the results will be.

Thanks again!

J.

[Judith.Hageman · Accepted solution]

Hello @natasha.l,

Solved the starting problem with 3ds Max 2017, it works again!

While performing the clean uninstall for 3ds Max 2017 and 3ds Max 2018, I decided to uninstall 3ds Max Interactive as well, just to make sure.

During installing Max 2017, Alfred.DeFlaminis pointed me out to another thread where people are having problems with the DCC Link from 3ds Max Interactive. So I guess I was just lucky...

Will install Max 2018 tomorrow and let you know if that works as well.

Thanks again for your support.

J.

[Judith.Hageman]

Hi @natasha.l,

I couldn't wait until tomorrow, too curious.

Installed Max 2018 and try to run it, it launches!

So far my problem is solved. Thanks again for your support.

J.

[natasha.l]

Hello @Judith.Hageman,

That's great! Glad to hear it & thank you so much for letting us know. 

[Anonymous]

Nothing in this thread has helped me it wont load. Its gets to the point of the splash screen where it says starting 3Ds max then crashes. 2017 and 2018 nothing works. I am dead in the water here. I am a teacher and am falling behind I need the program to work so I can create lesson plans and activities. Someone please help!