Install AutoCAD 2000i on Windows 11

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Follow these instructions to solve issues around installing/running your legacy AutoCAD 2000i on Windows 11

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 2000i

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 2000 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 AutoCAD setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal, with these exceptions…
    1. When you arrive at the installation folder path setup dialog…
      1. **it’s vitally important to make sure you install to c:\acad2000i (not Program Files (x86)\AutoCAD  2000i which is normally default)**
      2. Once setup completes…
        1. Do not reboot if asked to do so
        2. Make sure to fully close the setup program when the installation is complete.
  6. Back in 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!
  7. Finally, reboot your PC and run your AutoCAD!

Installing the AutoCAD 2000i sp2 service pack

  1. download the locked AutoCAD 2000i sp2 from here or download the unlocked AutoCAD 2000i sp2 from here
  2. Next, unzip and save the service pack file to c:\Autodesk\sp – do not install yet
  3. Go back into the Converter, select the 3rd tab, select the c:\Autodesk\sp folder and click Fix.
  4. Install the 2000i sp2 by running either the c:\Autodesk\sp\u090_u181p.exe for unlocked or c:\Autodesk\sp\u090_u181p_swl.exe for locked
  5. Once your sp is installed, start the Longbow Converter tool again; we are going to repeat some of the steps from the original installation before. Select the 2nd tab, pick the copy of your AutoCAD 2000i CD on your hard drive which last time was in c:\Autodesk\acad2000i folder, now select the 3rd tab, select the install folder c:\acad2000i now click Fix.
  6. Now, you can happily run your AutoCAD 2000i with sp2 on Windows 10, Windows 7 and Windows 8.

Troubleshooting

 

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