Tag Archives: AutoCAD LT 2004

Installing AutoCAD LT 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 LT 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 LT 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 LT 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:\acadlt2004 (not Program Files (x86)\AutoCAD LT 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…”

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 2025 (c) Longbow Software

Installing AutoCAD LT 2004 on Window 7, Windows 8 and Windows 10

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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 7, 8 and Windows 10.

Installing AutoCAD LT 2004 on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 32bit or 64bit 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.

  1. Obtain your copy of the Longbow Converter here
  2. Copy your AutoCAD LT 2004 CD to your hard drive, to a folder path c:\Autodesk\acadlt2004 
  3. Start the Longbow Converter tool
    1. Select the 2nd tab ‘Old AutoCAD Installer Reviver‘
    2. Pick the c:\Autodesk\acadlt2004 folder
    3. click the ‘Run’ button.
      1. Read and understand all the prompts before pressing OK. Once the setup starts, stop and read the next step…
  4. 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:\acadlt2004 (not Program Files (x86)\AutoCAD LT 2004**
    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
  5. Once installed
    1. go back to the Converter tool, select the 3rd tab ‘Old AutoCAD Program Reviver‘,
    2. pick the newly installed c:\acadlt2004 folder
    3. click the ‘Fix Old Program‘ button.
  6. Now you can run happily your AutoCAD LT 2004 in Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10 both 32bit and 64bit.
    1. NOTE: If you see a warning dialog when you run saying “This program has known compatibility issues”, simply click “Don’t show this message again” and then click “Run the Program…”
Installing AutoCAD LT 2004 Sp1a
To install the sp for your AutoCAD…
  1. Download your AutoCAD LT 2004 Sp1a
  2. Copy the service pack exe installer to folder path c:\Autodesk\sp
  3. Start the Converter, select the 3rd tab, pick the c:\Autodesk\sp folder and click Fix.
  4. Now you can run the service pack exe installer from Windows explorer as normal
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 2016(c) Longbow Software