Installing AutoCAD 2004 on Windows 11

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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.

Follow these instructions to solve issues around installing/running your legacy AutoCAD 2004 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 2004

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 2004 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:\acad2004 (not Program Files (x86)\AutoCAD 2004)**. Now install…
      2. 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
      3. 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 AutoCAD 2004 Sp1

To install the sp for your AutoCAD…
  1. Download your AutoCAD 2004 Sp1
  2. Copy the service pack exe installer to folder path c:\Autodesk\sp
  3. Start the Converter App
    1. select the 3rd tab named “Old AutoCAD Program Reviver“
    2. Using the “. . .” button, pick the c:\Autodesk\sp folder
    3. click “Fix Old Program“.
  4. Now you can run the service pack exe installer from Windows explorer 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
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