Monthly Archives: March 2024

Installing 32bit AutoCAD 2016 on Windows 11

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These instructions solve issues around installing/running your 32bit AutoCAD 2016 on 64bit Windows 11. Some common issues are error messages like these

  • “This operating system is not supported by AutoCAD® 2016”
  • “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® 2016. It cannot be installed on 64-bit Windows”
  • FATAL ERROR: (0x7ffb71c40005) C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2016\acismobj20.dbx

You can solve these problems using our Longbow Converter App, it fixes and manages the AutoCAD 2016 installation so that you can be up and running again… Follow these instructions:

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 – here’s how. 

How to install AutoCAD 2016

  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. Obtain your purchased copy of the Longbow Converter here
  5. Start the Converter App and note the user interface
  6. 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
  7. Once the conversion process is complete
    1. click Install/Run Setup to start setup
    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”
  8. Now run your AutoCAD as normal

Troubleshooting

  1. 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 2024 (c) Longbow Software

AutoCAD/AutoCAD LT 2014, 2015 and 2016 on Windows 11 – random crashes on startup/open

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Affecting all versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT 2014, 2015 and 2016

Random shutdown on startup or opening of DWG files. AutoCAD may restart after a few attempts. You see errors like:

Unhandled Exception 4 (Access violation reading 0x0014) at address 70DC63A9h

Unhandled Exception 4 (Access violation reading 0x0014) at address 70DC63A9h

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional error texts:

  • INTERNAL ERROR: Attempt to register class ‘AcViewNavigation’ twice
  • Error handler re-entered. Exiting now.

Issues are caused by the forced shutdown of AutoCAD components. You can fix the problem using the Longbow Converter App (you need version 12.61 or newer), steps to fix are as follows:

  1. 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…
  2. Double click the zip file to open it and install the TLC application as normal. By the way, TLC stands for The Longbow Converter
  3. Start the Longbow Converter tool
    1. Select the 3nd tab named “Old AutoCAD Program Reviver“
    2. Using the “…” button
      1. pick the path to your acad.exe file (or for AutoCAD LT it’s acadlt.exe) 
        1. TIP: you can find the path by right-clicking the AutoCAD shortcut, clicking Properties and noting the ‘Target’ property e.g. C:\Program Files\Autodesk\AutoCAD 2016
    3. Click “Fix Old Program”
  4. Now start AutoCAD. problem should now be solved. If not, please contact Longbow Support

Copyright 2024 (c) Longbow Software

Installing Autodesk Mechanical Desktop 4 on Windows 11

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Installing Autodesk Mechanical Desktop R4 on Windows 11 is not normally possible, you will run into lots of problems including the error message shown below…

Windows 16bit setup error - This app can't run on your PC

Windows 16bit setup error – This app can’t run on your PC

The following document will walk you through how to install your Autodesk Mechanical Desktop R4 (otherwise known as MDT 4 and built on the AutoCAD 2000 platform) on Windows 11 32bit or 64bit…

Ransomware Protection Windows 11 and AutoCAD

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 MDT R4 (2000)

A quick word of advice: please follow the instructions below precisely as documented including using the same folder names and paths. This will significantly reduce the risk of having any problems…

  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, pick 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 setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal, except when you get to the installation folder, **it’s vitally important to make sure you install to c:\mdt2000 (not .\MDT as usually prompted)**

    MDT 4 select the Browse button

    MDT 4 select the Browse button and update path to c:\mdt2000   MDT 4 Select Install path to c:\mdt2000

     

  6. Now carry on with the install, please read all of the following tips while your installation is running so that you are prepared…
    1. Do not reboot once the install is complete.
    2. Ignore any errors related to not being able to create the shortcut folder “Mechanical Desktop 4”, you will have to create a shortcut on your computer Desktop pointing to your c:\mdt2000\acad.exe by hand.
    3. If you see errors stating errors with objectdbx.z or dao2535.tlb – please reboot your machine and re-do all of the steps above.
    4. Once you click “OK” to setup not being able to create your shortcut folder “Mechanical Desktop 4” – setup may now try to install Acrobat Reader 3.01. If this happens, you will see a blue Mechanical Desktop 4 screen with nothing on it, it will sit there for maybe 60 minutes, just let it do its thing and be patient. Eventually, you will see the Acrobat setup appear, install accepting all defaults.
    5. When the MDT 4 setup asks if you want to “Install the Mechanical Desktop Migration Assistant” say
  7. Once the setup has completed…
      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 and that SUCCESS!! is displayed
  8. Finally, reboot your PC.
    1. Now you are ready to run your AutoCAD, simply run c:\mdt2000\acad.exe using Windows Explorer.
  9. If you find that you are running in raw AutoCAD mode, to enable your Mechanical Desktop features, carry out these next steps, either…
    1. Add a shortcut (recommended) to c:\mdt2000\acad.exe making sure that the Target Property of the shortcut is set to (including quotes) “C:\mdt2000\acad.exe”  /p “C:\mdt2000\desktop\desktop.arg” and the Start In Property is set to the same path as the .arg file e.g.

      Creating a shortcut to Mechanical R4

      Creating a shortcut to Mechanical R4 making sure the Startin property points to where the .arg file resides

      1. For the Power Packs use a new shortcut with the Target set to either
        1. “C:\mdt2000\acad.exe”  /p “C:\mdt2000\acadm\mdtpp.arg”
        2. “C:\mdt2000\acad.exe”  /p “C:\mdt2000\acadm\acadmpp.arg”
          …with both Shortcut Start In: properties set to and the C:\mdt2000\acadm
    2. or update your AutoCAD support path by hand…
      1. At the AutoCAD Command line, type the command ‘Preferences’, add new Support path folders c:\mdt2000\acadm and then also c:\mdt2000\acadm\support, now click ‘Apply’ and then ‘OK’ out of the dialog.
      2. Next, restart AutoCAD.
      3. When you are back in AutoCAD, type ‘Menuload’ at the command line, click browse, then navigate to C:\mdt2000\acadm\support, change the file filter at the bottom to *.mnu, then open acadm.mnu, finally click Load, then pick Close.
      4. Now restart AutoCAD
  10. Now you can happily run your Autodesk Mechanical Desktop 4 – but we do recommend you install the following Service Packs…

Installing AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack 1

  1. Obtain AutoCAD 2000 sp1
  2. Unzip your newly downloaded sp to folder path c:\Autodesk\sp
  3. Start the Converter, select the 2nd tab named “Old AutoCAD Installer Reviver“,
    1. pick the c:\Autodesk\sp\AutoCAD 2000 sp1 folder and click ‘Run Old Installer’
  4. Wait for the setup to appear, it could take up to 45 minutes, then install as normal

Installing AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack 2

  1. Obtain AutoCAD 2000 sp2
  2. Unzip your newly downloaded sp to folder path c:\Autodesk\sp
  3. Start the Converter, select the 2nd tab named “Old AutoCAD Installer Reviver“,
    1. pick the c:\Autodesk\sp\AutoCAD 2000 sp2 folder and click ‘Run Old Installer’
  4. Wait for the setup to appear, it could take up to 45 minutes, then install as normal.

Installing AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack 3

  1. Obtain the AutoCAD MDT R4 sp 3
  2. Unzip your newly downloaded sp to folder path c:\Autodesk\sp
  3. Start the Converter, select the 2nd tab named “Old AutoCAD Installer Reviver“,
    1. pick the c:\Autodesk\sp\AutoCAD 2000 sp3 folder and click ‘Run Old Installer’
  4. Wait for the setup to appear, it could take up to 45 minutes, then install as normal.

Installing AutoCAD 2000 Service Pack 4a

  1. Obtain the AutoCAD MDT R4 sp 4a
  2. Unzip your newly downloaded sp to folder path c:\Autodesk\sp
  3. Start the Converter, select the 2nd tab named “Old AutoCAD Installer Reviver“,
    1. pick the c:\Autodesk\sp\AutoCAD 2000 sp4 folder and click ‘Run Old Installer’
  4. Wait for the setup to appear, it could take up to 45 minutes, then install as normal.

Troubleshooting

Copyright 2024 (c) Longbow Software

Installing Autodesk Land Desktop 2002 (LDT 2002) on Windows 11

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Follow these instructions to solve issues around installing/running your legacy AutoCAD LDT 2002 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 2002 on 64bit OS. European or locked US support 2002 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 2002

  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. This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is ProblemSolved-1.pngStart the Longbow Converter tool
    1. Select the 2nd tab named “Old AutoCAD Installer Reviver”
    2. Using the “. . .” button, pick your LDT 2002 CD ROM
      1. Now click the “Run Old Installer” button
      2. Next, just follow the Converter’s instructions.
    3. Once the AutoCAD setup starts, stop and read the next step
  5. In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal, except when you get to the installation folder **it’s vitally important to make sure you install to c:\ldt2002 (not Program Files (x86)\Autodesk Land Desktop 3 as usually prompted by default)**
    1. Now carry on with the install as usual
    2. Do not reboot if asked to do so
  6. Once installed…
    1. Be sure to completely close the setup application
    2. Now go back to the Converter app and make sure it’s completed the final stage of processing using the “Old AutoCAD Program Reviver” tab, it should say “SUCCESS!!”
    3. Finally, reboot your PC and run your AutoCAD as normal
  7. Now you can happily run your LDT 2002!

Installing LDT 3 Service Packs

You must first install sp1, followed by sp2…

LDT 3 sp1 – software lock/unlocked with html documentation

LDT 3 sp2 – software lock/unlocked with html documentation 

  1. Unzip the sp1 into a folder called c:\Autodesk\LDT3 sp1
  2. Next, start the Converter, select the 3rd tab “Old AutoCAD Program Reviver” select the c:\Autodesk\LDT3 sp1 folder, then click Fix.
    1. If asked if this is a service pack by the Converter tool, say yes.
  3. Now run the sp1 as you need from Windows Explorer.
  4. Repeat for sp2

Installing Civil Design 3

Using the Longbow Converter solution, you can also install the Civil Design add-on to LDT 3.

  1. Using Windows Explorer, copy your entire Civil Design 3 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Civil Design 3 
  2. Start the Longbow Converter tool, select the 2nd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Civil Design 3 folder, and click Run. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK. Once the setup starts, stop and read the next step…
  3. In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal
  4. Now your Civil Design 3 is up and running with LDT.

Installing Survey 3

Using the Longbow Converter solution, you can also install the Survey add-on to LDT 3.

  1. Using Windows Explorer, copy your entire Survey 3 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Survey 3 
  2. Start the Longbow Converter tool, select the 2nd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Survey 3 folder, and click Run. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK. Once the setup starts, stop and read the next step…
  3. In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal
  4. Now your Survey 3 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 3.

  1. Using Windows Explorer, copy your entire Survey 3 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Raster Design 3 
  2. Start the Longbow Converter tool, select the 2nd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\ldt2002 – Raster Design 3 folder, and click Run. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK. Once the setup starts, stop and read the next step…
  3. In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal
  4. Now your Raster Design 3 is up and running with LDT.

Troubleshooting

– 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 2024 (c) Longbow Software