Re-Installing programs is incredibly confusing and irritating - 3DS Max & AutoCAD

[milanvidovic]

After fiddling with some software I found some applications were uninstalled, including AutoCAD and 3DS Max. I have both on a student License and 3DS Max in particular is on an educational license so it's good for 3 years. I reinstalled AutoDesk Desktop App because it was also nuked. Naturally I just logged into my AutoDesk Account and under My Account I went to Products and Services. 3DS Max shows my activation key so all seemed well. I choose "Install" directly from the AutoDesk site and all I get is an option to install the 3DS Max SDK.

I then chose the second option which requires the AutoDesk Download Manager. It downloaded 8.2GBs and I run the thing and in the installer it just shows I have the 3DS Max SDK installed. ?

It's 8.2GBs of NOTHING, it seems. What the hell is happening and how can I reinstall Max?

[mdavis22569]

What year ... and it's possible something is blocking it from extracting maybe?

Do you see it extracted by chance in your C:\Autodesk\3ds max folder?

[milanvidovic]

 

That is what i'm looking at. I just deleted all residual files and folders. It's Max 2020. As if it isn't confusing enough. It's saying Max SDK. Then when it gets expanded it's 3DS Max 2020, as you can see in the screenshot. I won't even bother installing unless I know that's what it's supposed to be. 121MB doesn't sound right. Max is a fairly large install. I really don't know what to do.

EDIT: Yeah definitely not right. It just says it successfully installed Max 2020 SDK. And on the products page I specifically chose my 3DS Max 2020 as it still shows I have that license.

[milanvidovic]

I also noticed Max and AutoCAD are still in my Add/Remove programs list in Windows 10. I completely cleared the registry and did a restart. This is VERY annoying.

[milanvidovic]

???????????????????????????????????????

I just did it again. Did the method with AD Download Manager. 8.17GB. And look at the install window that opens. 129MB...

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?! Am I getting TROLLED?!

 

[mdavis22569]

Why are you using the download manager ... 

Clean out your download folder ... clean out your C:\Autodesk\3DS MAX  folder

Then clean out your %temp% folder

Then use only these files:


https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...

[milanvidovic]

Why WOULDN'T I use the Download Manager? 😐 I could also ask "why would I use those files". Especially considering I explained exactly what I did. Common sense. I didn't see a special "THIS IS ACTUALLY HOW YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO INSTALL THE PROGRAM" button anywhere. I went into "My products" and "3DS Max" under which I have an active license. And it was the 2020 version.

And btw all of those links are the same. Part 4 of 4.

[mdavis22569]

WHY ... because apparently it's not working for you properly the way you're doing it.

I'm giving you the BROWSER method ( just the links to download them quicker) vs the "download Manager or install manager which depending on your network - internet speeds - permissions can have issues.  (Like you are experiencing) 

Just trying to make it a tad easier by giving you the FULL offline installers.... 

[mdavis22569]

You can also ignore my help too .. 

[milanvidovic]

Come on now, any help is appreciated. This is just very frustrating. Like I said, I went into my Products list and there she is; 3DS Max, under a student License. I still have 2 years left. So I should be able to access it. And your link are only giving me the 004 file. All 4 links. So 🙁

[mdavis22569]

I agree .. try me, you check around, I'm hard on Autodesk about licensing and installation. But also why I'm on this forum more than others .. to help 

Oops
https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...


https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto..._004.sfx.exe?authparam=1618377971_7d92a870345ba8f4056b6f5f3257ebf3&SESSION_ID=1616577971675_4&ext=.exe&_ga=2.188548395.2000018048.1617018444-1804997571.1617018444

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...

[milanvidovic]

The link for Part 3 seems to be broken still.

[mdavis22569]

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/3DSMAX/B2EF7E27-4824-3656-A115-BFF401F11F7C/SFX/Auto...

So you just need to copy any and change the number for the 00X_004   to that number .. (this is for all Autodesk software) 

Sorry for the delay

[milanvidovic]

I just had one question, what exactly is the procedure for installing with these separate self-extracting parts? Just one at a time? I only installed up to Part 2. It gave me an installation path option for part 1 and not for part 2; i'm assuming it automatically went into the chosen install path from part 1?

[mdavis22569]

you only need to download all of them and then click on any of them .. I usually say 001_004 then it'll extract it all for you. 

[mdavis22569]

you only need to download all of them and then click on any of them .. I usually say 001_004 then it'll extract it all for you. 

[milanvidovic]

Oh 🤔 ... wow. Dang. That's pretty confusing and misleading. I never would've guessed. Now what about AutoCAD? Eh, I might hold off on that until I get AutoDesk's Student evluation completed. It was so much simpler 1-2 years ago.

[mdavis22569]

Just one link for AutoCAD:

https://efulfillment.autodesk.com/NetSWDLD/2022/ACD/1E7D4EF7-A28E-3D3E-BA3C-C6FAE4AAB2E0/SFX/AutoCAD...

[milanvidovic]

Well, I installed the software. But I still can't use it. 😂

Me being logical, I just went back to my products page on my AutoDesk account and used the serial key I have there. And it's invalid. 😂 I guess it's just too much to ask for from AutoDesk. Common sense and simplicity where it's needed. At this point I should have my 3-year student license renewed from the beginning for all the trouble this crazy-arsed install and activation process has caused. I appreciate all of the help, but it looks like I can't proceed any further. 😐

EDIT: I was fiddling around on my AutoDesk account and navigated to My Products again and the activation process was simply bypassed and the software is working now. 🤣

I guess all is good? I'll see if it kicks off after a month or if my Student License continues. So far so good. Thanks for the help @mdavis22569 😂

And AutoDesk. I really hope you read these forums. 🤣 Please, do us a solid. Come on... And make this whole process a LOT less complicated and painful than it needs to be. And while you're at it, make the 3DS Max scenario the exact same as AutoCAD. My CAD teacher even told me, yes; "YOU WILL GO TO JAIL IF USING THIS VERSION OF THE SOFTWARE FOR PROFESSIONAL USE". As people likely know already. Max should really be free for students, with the hugely glaring disclaimer that 'IT IS A STUDENT VERSION'. Even printed onto files when they are plotted, in the case of AutoCAD. I see no distinction between the circumstances for Max.

[mdavis22569]

You should be all set ... (and not Autodesk Jail for you)