crash on changing layout

Hi all,
we have a system that we can make crash at will simply by switching
layouts.

We are using AutoCAD 2004 16.0.0.124 (Sp 1a), on a dual Xeon 64bit
3.2GHz with 1GB memory (Video driver: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200), running
XP Pro. The system uses raided SATA raptor drives. That should make
file access really quick we reckon.

The problem can be resolved by diabling on-access virus scanning
(McAfee VirusScan Enterprise 8.0.0).

It appears that the anti-virus is interfering with AutoCad accessing
the cached viewports or layouts.

It is to say that none of the other machines has his problem, but then
they have a different spec. None of them is a dual or has SATA
raptors. That leads to the conclusion that the system is simply too
fast.

All information we get from AutoCAD is 'Unhandled exception'.



Has anybody had a similar problem, or knows a way to make it work?

Thank you for any suggestions.

Ben

 

It seems to me you answered your own question: Disable your virus checker.
If everything else works that way, then the problem is with McAfee, not
AutoCAD.
___

 

Yes, but there is a reason for running virus checkers. Also, it is
ACAD that throws the exception, i.e. it admits not handling it. My
understanding is this is something the developers did not
foresee/handle. This in turn gives room for a patch/fix. That's how I
see it anyway. McAfee is not complaining.

Cheers, Ben

 

About 3-4 years ago, we had AutoCAD 2002 LT and McAfee... when we went to XP
we updated McAfee... but there was a major issue with AutoCAD (I can't
remember the 'exact' issue now).

But it took McAfee at least a month to 'confess' that They were the ones
causing the issue... then about 2 more months to 'fix' it. We eventually went
to Norton.

Bruce F

 

That means nothing. As I said, if everything runs normally without McAfee,
but fails when McAfee is running, the problem is with McAfee.

If you unplug a lamp, the plug won't complain, but the lamp won't light.
___

 

Sounds like Dylan...

 

It does, doesn't it? Did you watch 'no direction home'?

Thanks to Paul and Mr.B. Sadly, switching to Norton is no option.

Looks like we have to disable virus scanning for the time being and
see how future versions of AutoCAD and McAfee will work together.

Cheers, Ben

 

Have you tried changing the "Layout Regen Options" in the System Tab of
Tools->Options?
Try "Regen when switching layouts". Difference isn't really noticeable if
regen times are small.

<snip>

 

There are seeral freeware antivirus programs available. Uninstall McAfee
and install one of those. Your machine will run faster and be more
secure. (McAfee has become the worst choice in antivirus software)

 

Have you heard or read anything about Avast? I have Norton 2005 installed
and my system is much slower than it was with 2002. I was thinking to try
McAfee but I think this thread changed my plans.

 

Says who?

Anything to back that up?

According to our network security officer, any paid-for software will
have had more resources gone it into development and also gathering
up-to-date virus databases. I too belief that it defies logic to
assume any virus checker is better that McAfee as long as it is free.

As you will have guessed, switching virus checker is no option, as it
is out of my hands. I have to live with it, and find a fix.

Cheers anyway,
Ben

 

Hi Chris,
thanks for the tip, I will try it out as soon as I have finished
testing my current fix.

I have applied a patch from Microsoft. So far, everything goes well.
AutoCAD doesn't crash anymore, and it seems as if we could have
stumbled upon the solution. But we don't count our chickens (yet).

In the machine's system log I found this entry:
'The redirector failed to determine the connection type.'

A website suggested applying WindowsXP-KB884020-x86-enu.exe as a cure.

I gave it a shot, downloaded it from microsoft's website and we
haven't had a problem since.

Hope this is useful to others,
Ben

PS: I will let you know should we have any more of these ACAD crashes.

 

Simply my own experience. I have several computers at home , and
several I manage at work (Not officially IT, simply resident geek). My
wife's came with a free copy of McAfee, and it behaved worse than any of
the others, removed McAfee and replaced it with Norton, which strangely
enough had install files in a "bonus" directory on her computer, and it
sped up at least 2x, Norton isn't my favorite, but I wouldn't leave her
unprotected, and that was what I had available at the moment. My
personal preference is TrendMicro's PC-Cillin, which is currently
top-rated by several magazines.
Another issue is that McAfee will not allow you to run alternate
anti-virus software without an uninstall. I have an alternate program
that I run system scans from (but don't load to background monitor)
after disabling Norton, that will not run if McAfee is installed even if
it is disabled.
I should amend the comment about McAfee, since I forgot that I had
received a copy of Kaspersky as part of a system maintenance suite, and
that was even worse. AMD-64 3400 dropped to 486 speed and internet
accessibility became intermittent. Fortunately the uninstall for that
piece of junk ran relatively cleanly although it was slow (computer
running at a crawl) and computer recovered nicely.
As far as paid-for software having more resources, that is a
theoretical statement. Compare the ice capades to olympic skaters.
Someone who loves what they are doing can run circles around someone who
does it for the check at the end of the week.
I assumed that buying would be out of the question, but since they
allow you to disable in order to run cad, you could permanently disable
McAfee and load some alternate software as long as no one had to pay for it.

 

Hi Jerry,
thank you. I can not tinker with the virus checker here at the office,
but think I will try a few at home to make my own opinion.

Cheers, Ben