Monthly Archives: February 2023

Installing Autodesk Land Desktop 2004 on Windows 11

Posted on by

Follow these instructions to solve issues around installing/running your legacy AutoCAD LDT 2004 on Windows 11. It requires the purchase of our Longbow Converter App which provides the framework to allow your old AutoCAD to install and run natively on Windows 11.

NOTE: We currently only support US unlocked versions of 2004 on 64bit OS. European or locked US support 2004 is limited only to 32bit Windows 11.

Ransomware Protection Windows 11 and AutoCAD

Just before we start note that Windows 11 comes with a Ransomware Protection which includes Controlled Folder Access. Controlled folder access blocks applications from writing to your Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, Public and Favorites folders. AutoCAD versions all the way to AutoCAD 2021 write to certain user Public folders and are therefore blocked by this feature. This can cause issues with all sorts of things including activating your AutoCAD license and even running AutoCAD. Ransomware Protection is an important feature of Windows 11 but it will affect your AutoCAD unless you allow AutoCAD and its dependent applications access to the controlled folders.

How to install Autodesk LDT 2004

  1. If you don’t yet have a copy of the Longbow Converter App you can purchase it here or click on the download link we sent you via email in order to download the Converter App to your PC.
  2. Before installing the Converter App, make sure the files downloaded from our site are not blocked by Windows SmartScreen… Windows 11 is finicky, click the TLC zip first to make sure it’s fully selected then Right+click the file and select Properties. Be sure to check the Unblock checkbox as shown below and Click OK…
  3. Double click the zip file to open it and install the TLC application as normal. By the way, TLC stands for The Longbow Converter
  4. Start the Longbow Converter tool
    1. Insert your AutoCAD CD into your CDRom drive
    2. Select the 2nd tab named “Old AutoCAD Installer Reviver“
    3. Using the “…” button, path the to your AutoCAD CD
    4. Click “Run Old Installer”
      1. Read and follow all the prompts
      2. Once the AutoCAD setup starts, stop and read the next step…
  5. In the AutoCAD setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal, with these exceptions…
    1. Some problem NOTES to read before stepping through the setup:
      1. if you cannot move past the first screen in the setup, see Trouble Shooting below
      2. When you click the Install link from your AutoCAD setup you may see a dialog box appear saying – “This program has compatibility issues” – simply check the “Don’t show this message again” and then click the “Run the program without getting help”.
      3. Now onto the setup…
    2. When you arrive at the installation folder path setup dialog…
      1. **it’s vitally important to make sure you install to c:\ldt2004 (not Program Files (x86)\Autodesk Land Desktop 2004)**.
    3. While installing…
      1. If you see an error in install “.NET Runtime Optimization Service has stopped working” – simply ignore by clicking the “Close Program” button
      2. Do not reboot if asked to do so
    4. Once installed
      1. Do not reboot if asked to do so
      2. Make sure to fully close the setup program when the installation is complete.
      3. Back in the Converter app and make sure it’s completed the final stage of processing using the “Old AutoCAD Program Reviver” tab
  6. Finally, reboot your PC and run your AutoCAD as normal
    1. NOTE: When starting AutoCAD, if you see a warning dialog when you run saying “This program has known compatibility issues”
      1. Click “Don’t show this message again”
      2. then click “Run the Program…”

Installing Civil Design 4

Using the Longbow Converter solution, you can also install the Civil Design add-on to LDT.

  1. Using Windows Explorer, copy your entire Civil Design 4 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\ldt2004 – Civil Design 4 
  2. Start the Longbow Converter tool, select the 2nd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\ldt2004 – Civil Design 4 folder, and click Run.
    1. The Converter will ask if this is a normal application CD, it is not, it’s a plugin CD so click ‘No’
    2. Input Civil 2004 and click OK
    3. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK.
  3. In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal
  4. Now your Civil Design is up and running with LDT.

Installing Survey 4

Using the Longbow Converter solution, you can also install the Survey add-on to LDT.

  1. Using Windows Explorer, copy your entire Survey 4 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Survey 4 
  2. Start the Longbow Converter tool, select the 2nd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Survey 4 folder, and click Run.
    1. The Converter will ask if this is a normal application CD, it is not, it’s a plugin CD so click ‘No’
    2. Input Survey 2004 and click OK
    3. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK.
  3. In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal
  4. Now your Survey is up and running with LDT.

Installing Raster Design 3

Using the Longbow Converter solution, you can also install the Raster Design add-on to LDT.

  1. Using Windows Explorer, copy your entire Raster Design 4 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Raster Design 4 
  2. Start the Longbow Converter tool, select the 2nd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Raster Design 4 folder, and click Run.
    1. The Converter will ask if this is a normal application CD, it is not, it’s a plugin CD so click ‘No’
    2. Input Plugin 2004 and click OK
    3. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK.
  3. In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal
  4. Now your Raster Design is up and running with LDT.

Installing Autodesk LDT 2004 Sp2

The LDT 2004 sp2 is optional, most users don’t need it but in case you do…

  1. Download LDT 2004 sp2 from here 
    1. Copy the file into c:\Autodesk\sp
  2. Start the Converter
    1. Select the 3rd tab named “Old AutoCAD Program Reviver“
    2. Pick the c:\Autodesk\sp folder
    3. Now click the Fix Old Program button.
    4. Install as normal

Troubleshooting

– If you are unable to activate your product, or the activation process crashes immediately on startup:

– If you have crashing problems using the File->Open or File->Save dialogs inside of AutoCAD please read this blog entry on the File->Open or File->Save Crash in AutoCAD

Copyright 2023 (c) Longbow Software

Installing 32bit AutoCAD 2010 on Windows 11

Posted on by

These instructions solve issues around installing/running your old AutoCAD 2010 on 64bit Windows 11. Some common issues are error messages like these

  • “This operating system is not supported by AutoCAD® 2010”
  • “You cannot install this product on the current operating system”
  • “You are attempting to use a 32-bit installer on a 64-bit operating system”
  • “This is a 32-bit AutoCAD® 2010. It cannot be installed on 64-bit Windows”

You can automatically solve these problems using our Longbow Converter App, it fixes and manages the AutoCAD 2010 installation so that you can be up and running again… Simply follow the instructions below:

IMPORTANT NOTE: Autodesk no longer supply License Activation codes for this version of AutoCAD. The best way is to transfer your existing license to the new PC but there are other options, we document them here

Ransomware Protection Windows 11 and AutoCAD

Just before we start note that Windows 11 comes with a Ransomware Protection which includes Controlled Folder Access. Controlled folder access blocks applications from writing to your Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, Public and Favorites folders. AutoCAD versions all the way to AutoCAD 2021 write to certain user Public folders and are therefore blocked by this feature. This can cause issues with all sorts of things including activating your AutoCAD license and even running AutoCAD. Ransomware Protection is an important feature of Windows 11 but it will affect your AutoCAD unless you allow AutoCAD and its dependent applications access to the controlled folders.

How to install AutoCAD 2010

  1. If you don’t yet have a copy of the Longbow Converter App you can purchase it here or click on the download link we sent you via email in order to download the Converter App to your PC.
  2. Before installing the Converter App, make sure the files downloaded from our site are not blocked by Windows SmartScreen… Windows 11 is finicky, click the TLC zip first to make sure it’s fully selected then Right+click the file and select Properties. Be sure to check the Unblock checkbox as shown below and Click OK…
  3. Double click the zip file to open it and install the TLC application as normal. By the way, TLC stands for The Longbow Converter
  4. Start the Converter App and note the user interface
  5. Select the 1st tab named “AutoCAD 32bit Installer Converter“
    1. Using the “. . .” button, selection your AutoCAD installation CD
    2. Next, click the “Convert“ button and follow instructions
  6. Once the conversion process is complete
    1. click Install/Run Setup to start setup
      1. if you see a dialog stating “An App on your PC needs the following Windows Feature: .NET Framework 3.5 (includes .NET 2.0 and 3.0)” be sure to click “Download and install this feature” as this must be installed in order for the setup to run.
    2. Simply install as normal, remembering to…
      1. Close the setup program when the installation is complete.
      2. Back in the Converter app and make sure it has completed the final stage of processing using the “Old AutoCAD Program Reviver” tab – it should be green stating “SUCCESS”
  7. Now run your AutoCAD as normal

Installing AutoCAD 2010 Service Packs

We recommend that you download and install the latest Service Packs from Autodesk which can be found here

Troubleshooting

  1. If your AutoCAD crashes while interacting with the Ribbon click here
  2. If you are unable to activate your product, or the activation process crashes:
    1. Try uninstalling the July 2014 Microsoft security update
    2. Try downgrading your Internet Explorer (IE) from version 11 to version 10 by following the instructions detailed here
  3. If you have crashing problems using the File->Open or File->Save dialogs inside of AutoCAD please read this blog entry on the File->Open or File->Save Crash in AutoCAD
Copyright 2023 (c) Longbow Software