Problem installing Max 2020

[eodeo]

I installed Max 2020 successfully and everything was working fine. After a restart, Max would fail to start. The startup logo would show up, but soon it would disappear and all traces of it even trying to start would disappear too. Naturally, I thought to uninstall and reinstall the program. Uninstall went smoothly, but reinstall... I must have tried to reinstall it at least 20 times. It would work for a while, but would eventually show that it was unable to install Max 2020 for a generic reason 1603. I've discovered it's a generic error message after Googling it.

I found online helps suggesting to remove all traces of Max 2020 on my computer and try again after that, but Max simply won't install. Is there help or do I need to format C and reinstall windows from scratch?

I'm attaching both the error Max generates as well as the zip file that Autodesk Diagnostic assistant made.

Help is much appreciated.

[hagen.deloss]

@eodeo 

Thanks for bringing your question to the forums! I moved your post to the Installation and Licensing forums hoping that you could get some more specialized help.

Perhaps @DarrenP @Mark.Lancaster or @natasha.l could provide some assistance! I hope this issue gets sorted out 😄

[Mark.Lancaster · Accepted solution]

@eodeo 

Your failure is related to the new licensing mechanism.   Go here: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing right mouse click on the uninstall exe that's there and run as admin.   Try installation again.

[natasha.l]

Hello @eodeo, 

The setup log indicates Windows permission restrictions. The software needs Administrator rights during installation & at first launch after installation.

Please find each folder indicated in the log highlighted in red(listed below)  and change it to Administrator permissions (full control) by right click & select properties. 

Users must have Full Control permissions you will need read/write to this folder locations:

• C:\ProgramFiles
• C:\ProgramFiles(x86)
• C:\ProgramFiles\CommonFiles
• C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\CommonFiles

Additionally, users must have Full Control permissions to all registry keys and values:

• HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Autodesk

If you continue to have an issue:

• Sign in as Administrator or Create a New User Profile (Full Control user)
• Locate the installer & run it again C:\Autodesk\Autodesk_3ds_Max_2020\Setup.exe 

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

[eodeo]

Thank you @hagen.deloss  for moving my question to the proper section. I didn't see it offered when I was submitting the thread- and I wanted to place it in the proper section.

@Mark.Lancaster I think you are spot on. During the initial installation, Max asked that some random stuff be allowed to start with the computer. Naturally, I blocked everything. I don't want anything to start with the computer, that isn't essential for the computer to run. 3ds Max isn't essential for the computer to run, let alone Max satellites. I really hate that every program today thinks it's the center of my universe and deserves to be started with Windows regardless if I'd use the program or not during that session.

I couldn't find how to allow the stupid thing the permission to start with the computer after I blocked it once, during the following reinstall attempts. I merely prevented it from auto starting with Windows once and it was enough to case me so much problems... Had it complained again at any point in time, that it needs more permissions I'd have given it, reluctantly..

@natasha.lI did allow the installation admin privileges every time. I will try both of your and Mark's suggestions early next week and will let you know if it worked.

Thank you very much for your quick help!

[eodeo]

As I suspected you were right. Max is working fine again. Thank you!

You wouldn't happen to know who knows how to set up Arnold to render matte/shadow/reflection material properly for integrating 3d with live footage? The more I look into it, it still appears that Arnold simply can't do it and is not a good replacement for mental ray, even if it is faster. I skipped Max 2018 and 19 for this reason.

Getting shadows to show up is doable, but not Max-like easy. It's Maya-like messy. However, getting proper reflections appears to be above Arnold's pay grade. I'm hoping it's not really impossible, just really unintuitive and complicated.

[hagen.deloss]

@eodeo 

I would suggest posting your new question back in the 3ds Max forums, or the 3ds Max lighting & rendering forums this time 😄

[Anonymous]

Hey guys, I ran into the same issue and tried the mentioned solution. But I'm still not able install. Adding the log.

Can someone please help.

Thank you

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

Most likely its the new licensing mechanism.   But to confirm I need to see this log file "3dsMaxInstall64.log"

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster have added the log

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

As I suspected its related to the new licensing mechanism..

What do you see here "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Autodesk Shared\AdskLicensing\"?   Meaning what sub-folders are listed there...

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancasterplease see the added screenshot

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

Right mouse click on the uninstaller that's there and run as admin.    Reboot your machine and try the installation again.  If it fails then provide the log files again.

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancasterhave followed the steps as you mentioned. At the installations screen got license error and max did not install. added screen-grab and log files.

Thank you!

[Mark.Lancaster]

@Anonymous 

Go to Windows services and locate this service and see if you can get it started

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster  I couldn't start the service

[Anonymous]

@Mark.Lancaster 

Was able to run the service by following option 3 in the below link

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

Tried installing max after it. It worked out.

Thanks for helping !