Installing AutoCAD R13 on Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10

Installing your AutoCAD R13 on Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 can be very easily defined in these short steps…

NOTE: These steps do not bypass normal Autodesk licensing/authorization, you should expect to use your own serial numbers in the normal way.

A quick word of advice: best to follow the instructions below precisely and to the letter, including folder names and paths, that way you will reduce the risk of having any problems…

How to install AutoCAD R13

Obtain your copy of the Longbow Converter here
Using Windows Explorer, copy your entire AutoCAD R13 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\acadR13
Start the Longbow Converter tool, select the 2nd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\acadR13 folder, and click Run. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK. Now, I know it’s unheard of these days, but at this point expect to wait at least 45 minutes for your AutoCAD R13 setup.exe program to appear. Once the setup starts, stop and read the next step…
In the setup program, navigate through each setup dialog as normal
Now carry on with the install… Ignore any errors
Once installed, go back to the Converter tool, select the 3rd tab, pick the newly installed c:\R13 folder and click Fix.
Now you can happily run your AutoCAD R13
1. Create a shortcut on your Desktop pointing to c:\R13\acad.exe (working folder c:\R13)

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

Tags: AutoCAD R13InstallThis app cannot run on your PCWindows 10Windows 7Windows 8Windows 8.1

10 years ago

simonbooth

I just joined the Longbow Software team as a Software Engineer, and I have gladly offered to post some informative blogs for you all to read. Check on the left there, for all my blog entries...

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View Comments

David K says:

June 10, 2015 at 2:45 pm

WOW, I am one happy surveyor.
Copy the install disk, this took several hours, ran install reviver, this did take about 45 min.
Installer pops up, Chose new install, follow directions, install complete.

Now if you are like me you have custom settings, (toolbars, fonts, menus, Lisp, programs that run in cad, and so on)
This will require another step.
Do not run old program reviver at this time, Copy all files and folders within your original R13 folder, (do not copy the R13 folder, just the files and folder inside the R13 folder) now paste them to your newly installed R13 folder, you will see something like "This file already exist, do you want to replace it" chose replace all.
When complete, run old program reviver, Launch new R13 and vaaaalaaaa, all of your settings, preferences, fonts etc. You will not have to go through the time consuming process of SETTING UP YOUR CAD THE WAY YOU LIKE IT, Its DONE!
This complete process did indeed take A LONG TIME (Patience Grass Hopper).

Over all performance of cad is better than expected, pointer and zoom box is kind of choppy, but no crashes, sharp resolution, all is working fine, may try some different compatibility settings but overall very pleased
Steven Stanley says:

March 20, 2016 at 9:10 am

I have followed the steps listed above and have the setup.exe program stage. But when I direct it to the c:\Autodesk\acadR13 folder, it cannot find what it is looking for and says it cannot find the correct file or path.
The Install, Setup and Setup32 files are in the c:\Autodesk\acadR13 folder but are still 23bit.

Am I missing a step somewhere? Please advise.
- simonbooth says:
  
  May 15, 2018 at 1:46 am
  
  The Converter app runs setup automatically for you, please restart the process by following the instructions above again; step by step.
- Sasha says:
  
  February 7, 2022 at 9:55 pm
  
  Hi Steven,
  
  Did you ever figure this out? I'm new and it seems I must not be understanding the instructions correctly, because there is something that is assumed, that I do not assume. I get to where you are and when I direct it to the folder it says it can't find the acad.exe and has a fatal error.
  - Sasha says:
    
    February 7, 2022 at 10:01 pm
    
    To clarify, it appears that the installer starts almost automatically, and then I get a prompt to choose "New Install" or "Update." I choose the New option and then it directs me to choose a path and says "Please insert the disk labeled: Personalization or Installation Disk" with a Path that starts out on the A:\\ drive. I browse to the AUTOCADR13 folder on the C drive to find the acad.exe but to no avail. Is this where I'm supposed to be waiting 45 minutes for the acad.exe to magically show up? If not, where is the 45 minutes? I have to choose "New Install" or "Update" correct?
    - simonbooth says:
      
      February 7, 2022 at 11:20 pm
      
      Hi Sasha
      
      probably, the confusion is because there are 2 disks with R13, the setup CD and the personalization disk. The Converter is working with the setup CD, and executes setup; once setup starts Autodesk's setup is running for which you need to use the Personalization disk; once you have pointed Autodesk's setup to the Personalization disk you need to refer to the Converter instructions above to finish the install. Does this help?