3ds Max Installation error: "Unhandled unknown exception; terminating the application"

[paulo.duarte20]

Hi!

I tried do install the trial version of 3ds Max on my new computer and I can't open the installation setup. When I run the trial installation .exe, I get this error: "Unhandled unknown exception; terminating the application".

Can you help me? I've got Windows 10 64-bit with all updates.

Thank you!

[natasha.l]

Hello @paulo.duarte20, 

Thank you for creating your own post. I am sorry to hear that you are receiving the unhandled exception error unfortunately does not provide the specific cause. All we have to go on, is that the error occurred while trying to launch the downloaded .exe file. 

Below I have included some helpful steps you can take to prep your system for a successful download 
& installation, along with a direct download link. 

1. Reboot the computer, make sure apps are not auto running in the background 
2. Log in as Administrator (check your permissions, full control) or create a new profile
3. Make sure you have an uninterrupted high-speed connection to the internet & try adjusting your LAN  & proxy settings etc.
4. Clean up the TEMP folder. To open the TEMP folder, type %TEMP% in the search bar by the Windows Start Menu and hit Enter, then delete unnecessary (Windows)
5. Temporarily disable/disconnect security features such as Antivirus, Firewall, VPN & UAC on your Windows operating system.
6. Use this direct download link of 3ds Max 2020 (it will expire in 30days)
7. After installing launch 3ds Max & follow the prompts to begin the trial 

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

[nathanC384X]

Same issue here on two systems - One is my old (Gen 6 i7 32GB RAM current work system with a 2070 Super) system but fully updated Windows 10 including nVidia drivers - on which I've been able to use 3DSMax without any issues - I'm reinstalling it as I've got a project on right now that needs it.

The other is a brand new Ryzen 3900 with a 2080ti and 32GB RAM.  Haven't started using this as a work system yet as I can't get 3DSMax 2021 to install on it.  This machine is fresh and also completely updated.

I'm trying the direct download link now and will update if that changes anything.

One note of interest - If I watch task manager while this process starts I see the Autodesk Desktop app and another process pop up temporarily before the installer crashes out with the Unhandled unknown Exception error.

I have:

Uninstalled everything Autodesk related.

Tried to install the Autodesk Desktop app separately - this appears to have worked but won't do any updates etc. and won't install 3DS Max

Disabled UAC, antivirus and firewall.

Rebooted with no other apps running.

Reg cleaned the old PC

Searched for hours online for solutions...

I have not:

Reinstalled windows (it's only just been installed on the Ryzen)

Tried the direct download version from the link provided

Additionally - I've never got any other response than the error mentioned - and the error dialog box is EXACTLY the same as the error posted by another user regarding the installation of Maya.

I'll check back in once the direct download finishes.

Cheers all,

Nathan.

[nathanC384X]

Hi @natasha.l ,

This is the result from the 3DS Max 2020 direct installer "Product download consists of multiple files. At least one file is missing or has not been downloaded yet.

Screen shot attached.

EDIT: Additionally - I tried the Maya direct download from the other post and it appears to at least self-extract properly.  I'll try installing it to see if it runs.

EDIT 2: Maya installation starts ok, then fails with error 1603. I've attached the error screenshot.  I've also checked out the error log - and wierdly enough it references a drive that I'm not using - the files were extracted to C drive and executed from C drive, with C as the destination folder, however F is referenced in the error log as the target. A few examples pasted below.

MSI (s) (CC:C4) [10:21:09:096]: Command Line: REBOOT=ReallySuppress ADSK_ODIS_SETUP=1 ARPSYSTEMCOMPONENT=1 INSTALLDIR=C:\Program Files\Autodesk CURRENTDIRECTORY=F:\ CLIENTUILEVEL=3 MSICLIENTUSESEXTERNALUI=1 CLIENTPROCESSID=12080

MSI (s) (CC:C4) [10:21:09:098]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding CURRENTDIRECTORY property. Its value is 'F:\'.

MSI (s) (CC:C4) [10:21:09:128]: PROPERTY CHANGE: Adding ROOTDRIVE property. Its value is 'F:\'.

Nathan.

[Anonymous]

Mine as the same. 

"Product download consists of multiple files. At least one file is missing or has not been downloaded yet." 

[nathanC384X]

Just adding I have just tried it on a newly built Windows 10 Gen 10 i5 with a Radeon GPU.

Same exact results, 3DS Max installer fails with the "Unhandled unknown exception" error.

I can't try out the offline installer until I can get a version that will decompress/extract properly.

Cheers,

Nathan.

[Anonymous]

See this:

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Error-...

[nathanC384X]

The link still only brings down one file - but I noticed something in the filename of the download, where it has 001_002 in its name.

Assuming it was a part 1 of a 2 part download, I changed the filename in the link - and got the second file - and... it's extracting now.  🙂

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2020/3DSMAX/519D393B-EFBD-4714-B627-F8BC87BEA59A/SFX/Auto...

EDIT: you will need the file from the dopwnload link from the original support post too. And I've fixed the link. And it still didn't install... but at least the intaller ran properly and I got an error log 🙂

[nathanC384X]

GOT IT TO INSTALL - Finally....

Ok - by using the link I provided above for the second part of the installer download - then running an updater for the Autodesk licencing service and checking the service was running, I've finally got 3DSMax 2020 installed.

Now to go pay for a month of use... 😞

Cheers all I hope this gets someone else up and running too.

[Anonymous]

You are a superstar! Got mine installed and running using the links posted in this thread. Official 3DS Max installer gave me unhandled, unknown exception no matter what I did on a month-old, fresh Windows 10 up-to-date install on a brand new Lenovo C730 with RTX 1660/i7/16GB.  I reformatted and reinstalled Windows 10 Pro 64 bit from the Microsoft store (new license) the day I got the machine, just to avoid issues like this one.

Broken installer: Autodesk_3ds_Max_2021_EFGJKPS_Win_64bit_wi_en-US_setup_webinstall.exe

If devs are looking at this, all I have installed are:

MS Office Suite 365 E3

Plex Media Server

Handbrake Encoder

Steam Desktop Client

Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop - Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign

Slack Desktop Client

Windows 10 Power Tools

TeraCopy File Transfer Tool

That's it. I am not joined to a domain, this is a stand-alone machine. I am the only admin on the machine.

[paulo.duarte20 · Accepted solution]

Thank you @natasha.l 

I tried your solution but I got the following error: "Product consists of multiple files. At least one file is missing or has not been downloaded yet."

So I searched for this error and I was able to install 3ds Max 2021 using AVA 

[Anonymous]

I had same issue. chrome was blocking popups which stopped 3 of 4 files from downloading. 

[Anonymous]

So if I download your link and the above link and click run it should work? 

Is there a step I am missing?

Thanks! 

[nathanC384X]

Hi @Anonymous 

Yes - in theory 🙂

You should end up with two files that have almost identical filenames, one has a 001_002 in it - and the other has 002_002 in it.

The installer will run, but if it fails about halfway through with a bunch of 'red x' not installed errors you may need the next step.

Update your Autodesk licencing service (this was a problem with my machine possibly, I found that the Autodeske licensing service wasn't running on my system)

A google search found the Licencing Update thing for me for me I can't remember exactly where I got this from as the problem-solving process was a bit of a blur.

[Anonymous]

I have tried everything listed in this post, & I still recive errors & neither 3ds max 2020 nor 3ds max 2021 trials will install

[kasabian120]

I had the same problem as all of you because I only downloaded part 001 of the 4 parts. Then the following options appeared in mozilla firefox when trying to download 3ds max 2021.

My options are in Spanish, but the order is the same, so they choose the first option.

And finally the 4 parts of the 3ds max program appear. After downloading the 4 parts, we double click on any of the 4 parts of the download and the program will install.

Hope it worked for you.

[Anonymous]

I've tried everything here and still not beeing able to install it.

Could you please share the download link you are using to get the 4 parts?

all I get from the autodesk free trial download link is this one "Autodesk_3ds_Max_2021_EFGJKPS_Win_64bit_wi_en-US_setup_webinstall.exe"

[nathanC384X]

I believe people are getting the four parts of 3DSMax 2021 using AVA, I only have direct download links to installers for 3DSMax 2020.

If you want both parts of the offline installer for 2020, they are:

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2020/3DSMAX/519D393B-EFBD-4714-B627-F8BC87BEA59A/SFX/Auto...

and 

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2020/3DSMAX/519D393B-EFBD-4714-B627-F8BC87BEA59A/SFX/Auto...

There are only 2 parts to the offline installer for 3DSMax 2020.

Just download both to the same folder and run one of them.

Sorry I don't have links for 2021.

[kasabian120]

 Hello, you are choosing this option.

You have to choose this option so that the 4 parts of the 3ds MAX program appear.

https://www.autodesk.com/education/edu-software/overview?sorting=featured&page=2&filters=individual

Search for the 3ds MAX program, click on get product, after that you log in and choose the option that I wrote you lines above.

[Anonymous]

Good idea. It looks like with this entire thread, I'm able to install it. Thanks!