"Unhandled Access Violation Reading 0x0048 Exception at e7e0c846h" AutoCAD Architecture 2018, Win10

[robin.grafCHSKM]

Hello,

I've got an unusual issue on a machine of one of our users, and there are some things that I don't understand here:

IT deploys a Autocad 2018 version (as architecure) and a former admin has applied a solution that gives every user an Autocad desktop link that provides a special .arg File. This is usually NO issue and works fine. I just mention it here to narrow down the issue.

Problem: user starts Autocad ACA2018 german.  First strange thing is that ACA immediately opens a 'Zeichnungs1.dwg' file and gives errors about shx (font) files, and warnings about an older version etc.   In the end one can see that something is dreadfully amiss as the ribbon bar cannot be loaded and the user gets a system fault (see thread title). ACA then closes.

I presume the main issue is caused by the loaded .dwg but cannot determine why and how ACA is loading this file.

More facts:

the issue does not seem to be user related, as another user on the same machine has the same issue.

Also I've completely reset ACA by following my usual procedure (IT does not deploy the 'reset autocad' tool in the start menu): renaming %localappdata%\Autodesk\ACA 2018 ; renaming %appdata%\Autodesk\ACA 2018 and renaming/deleting Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R22.0\ACAD-1004:407  ... this all doesn't help in this special case.

I was able to get the user back to productive by (completely uinstalling everything autocad related and) installing AutoCAD MEP instead!  This would suggest this is no graphic driver issue either, like proposed in other forum posts.

The ACA software deployment is also ok, this works perfectly well on any other machine, so updating ACA shouldn't be the solution either.

Since MEP delivers ACA as well I used the other desktop link to start ACA2018 again, and although MEP starts well, ACA brings the very same issue again although I have 'cleaned up' every possible thing I know of...

I do not need a solution desperately, as at least MEP works on the machine for now, but as an admin I'd like to get a better understanding of the system (I'm better in other CAD Systems)... so if anyone can help I'd be grateful (at least for finding out why this old drawing gets launeched immediately....)
Regards

[natasha.l]

Hello @robin.grafCHSKM, 

Based on the information you have shared its seems like a corrupt file. If the behavior is only present and associated with a particular file, then there is a corrupt file present on the machine that should be deleted, avoided or repaired.

Is AutoCAD Architecture 2018 functioning properly with other files? Have you tried opening a new dwg file in AutoCAD Architecture 2018 and are you presented with the same behavior? 

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

[robin.grafCHSKM]

Hello @natasha.l 

thanks for your answer so far.

Well, I'd presume the same.  The problem is:

- on that particular machine I cannot check whether ACA is able to start other files, as ACA 'crashes' on startup. I cannot enter options, file open dialog or anything.

- I need to find out why this toolset (ACA; as I've mentioned MEP works fine now) is directly entering a file (dwg). I just see the file name in the title bar, but don't know where the file actually is either. I haven't found it in the user 'documents', on the other hand every user on that machine gets the same effect, which is something I don't understand. How can I find out? (May seem a dumb question for a CAD admin, but I come from other applications.)

[pendean]

1) reset ACA https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-r...
or remove and reinstall it the hard way (this will affect all AutoCAd variants on the PC) https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Recommen...
2) Look this up in HELP https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2021/ENU/AutoC...

[robin.grafCHSKM]

Hello @pendean ,

1) I've done this already as mentioned in the initial post. The reset does nothing more than deleting/moving to folder paths in localappdata and data and a registry branch under CURRENT USER.  Resetting did not help. Also the issue is NOT user related, the same happens under another windows user on this computer.   AND: yes, I've also completely uninstalled and reinstalled Acad (this is why the user can work now with MEP), but ACA still doesn't want to start (probably because of the drawing it's STILL loading on startup).

2) Thanks for the variable help. This help entry says the variable STARTUP is stored in the registry.... but where exactly.  I cannot look this up in ACA (as it does not start), and searching for Startup in the reg brings you dozens of possble entries. 
Is it in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R22.0\ACAD-1004\Variables ?

Is it in Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R22.0\ACAD-1004:407\Profiles\{WhateverYourProfileNameIs}\Variables ? ...

Is it even reading Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R22.0\ACAD-1001\Variables although using ACA? 
Can anyobody tell me where to look exactly or why, how and which .dwg gets loaded on startup?
Also I don't get why this is a global (non-user-related) issue on this machine, and why this persists when completely re-installing the application...

[pendean]

@robin.grafCHSKM
1) Rip out the HD, reformat it and duplicate/mirror an HD of a working PC, start over with this one problem unit/PC: life's too short for all of us. Your IT should be set up to do this all the time already, if not, here is a good time to start.

2) Turn off the entire functionality is what I was recommending you do: you are looking for a file that does not exist, but you can set ACA up to either start with none (my suggestion) or create your own always-start file.

HTH

[robin.grafCHSKM]

@pendean 

I appreciate your comments, although:

1) letting IT rebuild the whole machine should be the last resort in my opinon. I was expecting that someone could answer this fairly easyly how to determine why acad loads a drawng, and which one exactly from the 'outside' of acad (without starting it, as it crashes). As I've mentioned in the very first post, this is NOT about solving the issue, I've done a workaround already by enabling the user to use MEP instead (he doesn't care). This is about ME as cad admin wanting to understand the system better and learn!

2) Well, somehow this fails to help me. How do I tell ACA not to load the drawing?  By the way, the drawing exists, I can see elements appearing on the ACA screen before it crashes. I just need to find out which one and where it is, presumably, if I then move/delete it I presume the system will start up fine again...  On the other hand the whole process of letting ACA load a file during startup should be user dependend, shouldn't it? But the effect is the same for all users on this machine...

[pendean]

1) "someone" did answer , you just don't like the answer.
2) For 30+years users have searched, still no answer. I posted how you can take control by starting your own DWG or none at all. Again, you opted to not like the answer.

Good luck.

[robin.grafCHSKM]

2) no, I didn't opt out to not like your answer. I didn't understand your answer. You gave me a link to a help file where I get told that a variable in the registry is set. But the article doesn't help me HOW to change this acutally, and WHERE the variable is set...

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> I just need to find out which one and where it is

You might use RessourceMonitor (started from Windows TaskManager) or ProcessMonitor (from Sysinternals/free) to watch/find the files read during your ACA start process.

- alfred -