Express Tools Problem

For some reason the Express folder in my install image for Land Desktop 2005
is empty. I tried recreating it and it is still empty. I use Group Policy
to manage CAD software so for a work around I just set up a policy for
express tools separate from Land Desktop. It seemed to install fine when
the computer booted up but when going into Land Desktop I get this error at
the command line and the express tools don't load up.

acet-reg-get: cannot open subkey
Software\Autodesk\AutoCAD\R16.1\ACAD-308:409\ExpressTools

I can manually compile the menu and everything works ok but a lot of the
icons on the toolbars have the little clouds with the '?' in them rather
than the correct button image. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling
them and it didn't make any difference.

Does anyone have any idea what may be causing this?

And does anyone know why AutoDesk hasn't implemented these tools in the core
AutoCAD so that we don't have to mess with the extra install???

Thanks,
Pete

 

Pete,
This was not a problem with Land Desktop 2004. When you checked the box to include Express Tool installation in 2004 it worked. Knowing the correct behavior in 2004 I attempted to do the same thing with LDT 2005 but the Express Tools did not install. ...Must be a new installation problem. Here's how I'm working around the issue: On disk two of LDT 2005 I located a folder named "Express" inside the "Support" folder. I manually copied the entire "Express" folder to my Installation Image location. At my installation Image location I have a folder for LDT2005, CivilDesign2005, etc. I copied the "Express" folder to that location and renamed it "Express2005" to be consistant. I trigger my Autodesk software deployment with a batch file I have written so I simply added added the following line to my batch file: msiexec /i "\\DEPLOYMENTFOLDERNAME\Express2005\ExpressTools.msi" /qb ACAD_SILENT_LICENSE=YES
My Express Tools 2005 now install as part of the process. I placed the Express Tool installation after LDT2005 but before CivilDesign2005. This "fix" works great for me. I hope this helps you with your problem. Mike Partenheimer

 

I copied the files to the install location in the original LDT2005 image
manually. They install fine if I run the install manually but not with
Group Policy. This is consistent with what was happening with 2004. With
2004 I did as you suggest by making another image location for the express
tools and added a GP to install it separately.

Pete

include Express Tool installation in 2004 it worked. Knowing the correct
behavior in 2004 I attempted to do the same thing with LDT 2005 but the
Express Tools did not install. ...Must be a new installation problem.
Here's how I'm working around the issue: On disk two of LDT 2005 I located
a folder named "Express" inside the "Support" folder. I manually copied the
entire "Express" folder to my Installation Image location. At my
installation Image location I have a folder for LDT2005, CivilDesign2005,
etc. I copied the "Express" folder to that location and renamed it
"Express2005" to be consistant. I trigger my Autodesk software deployment
with a batch file I have written so I simply added added the following line
to my batch file: msiexec /i
"\\DEPLOYMENTFOLDERNAME\Express2005\ExpressTools.msi" /qb
ACAD_SILENT_LICENSE=YES

Express Tool installation after LDT2005 but before CivilDesign2005. This
"fix" works great for me. I hope this helps you with your problem. Mike
Partenheimer