General Update Question

richlars · 29 Mar 2013

Are updates all pretty much a broad stroke approach to just the OS, or does hardware configuration play into what updates are installed?

I just built a new machine. My main tool is AutoCAD which I use for my living. But on the new computer AutoCAD crashes as soon as I hit the keyboard. I have tried too many things to list here and have resorted to doing a clean install and load updates and drivers by downloading them to a USB drive on my old computer and manually installing them on the new one. Since security software is a suspect, I don't want to go online until I get AutoCAD up and running.

The install was from a new back-up disk that I got from Microsoft that includes SP1. That and the very basic NVIDA graphics drivers are the only things currently on the new machine. I tried to load AutoCAD but it failed and I followed the error code path until it took me to an error that was so vague it was impossible to go any further.

I am viewing my installed updates on my old computer which is running the exact same OS, I sorted them by "Installed on" date and can see where I installed SP1. Would it be safe to assume that I should download and install all updates after the SP1 install? (one at a time until AutoCAD will install and run. From then on I will go online and do it the easy way)

Hopefully this is not a repeat question. I researched as many manual update threads that I could find and none seemed to fit the bill.

Thanks for any help,

Rich

carwiz · 30 Mar 2013

It will depend on your update options. If you have auto update set with drivers, you could get driver updates for hardware. If this is an OEM machine, that may not be a good idea since some OEM drivers include special applications and the update may be old if you're keeping up with the OEM updates. Windows update will also apply software updates for all Microsoft software outside the OS.

You didn't say what error you received and not including necessary info is just a wild goose chase or guessing game. If you received a BugCheck code with a Blue Screen, it's best to post your thread in the BSOD Help area.

If the machine runs normally without AutoCAD, I suspect there may be an install problem with AutoCAD. That's not to say that AutoCAD is the problem though. It may need current system drivers that you don't have.

NoelDP · 30 Mar 2013

Which version and edition of AutoCAD are you using?
What crashes are you seeing?
Post the Event Logs and/or the BSOD tool results so we can see what you're getting (although this thread may be better in another area, I do have a little experience with AutoCAD)

Please open Event Viewer
In the left pane, navigate to the Windows Logs
right-click on Applications and select 'Save all events as...' save as Apps.evtx
repeat for the System logs - save as Sys.evtx
Compress both files, and attach to your reply.

BSOD Tool - see here.... Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions

richlars · 30 Mar 2013

Thank you guys so much for taking an interest. I so very much appreciate it.

Here is a brief history of the new machine. I loaded Windows 7 HP using my old upgrade disks I bought when Win 7 came out. I had also purchased an anytime upgrade key to Pro about 6 months ago. Not wanting to get into trouble, I called the Microsoft store to find out how to transfer the key to the new machine. They sent me to tech who took control of the machine for about an hour. After that, AutoCAD loaded and ran perfectly, but I kept getting all kinds of system errors which in hindsight I should have just taken care of as the popped up. But I didn't. I decide to do a fresh install but this time bought a fresh backup disk from MS Store that included SP1. I did a fresh install using this method...
Moving Windows 7 User Profiles during Installation | Matthew Sorvaag

I am using AutoCAD Mechanical 2011, but I never use the Mechanical portion, I run it in Vanilla mode (meaning the basic AutoCAD mode) It has the same failure in either mode.

After this, AutoCAD installed fine, but when I went to use it it crashed as soon as I entered a Keystroke. No warning, no error codes, just dropped of the screen. Windows and all other installed programs continue to run fine. I did some testing to pinpoint the cause of the failure and came to this conclusion. (1) The failure happens only when I use a DRAW or MODIFY command. (2) it fails only on legitimate commands meaning I can type gibberish all day long with no failures. (3) If I can navigate the ribbon menus with the mouse it will not crash, but as soon as it requires a keyboard entry, down she goes.

I got online with Rand Support and the tech was very good to show the steps he was taking and he got it running perfectly through several tests that would normally cause a failure. I was one happy guy until we close that Webex connection at which point the problem returned. I would try that again, but this was a grace call and the next will cost me a minimum $300.

I tried making the adjustment he showed me to no avail. I have tried every installation method of AutoCAD I can find to no avail including installing while running Window in diagnostic mode with only the Windows installer service running. AutoCAD displays the same symptoms whether in diagnostic mode or normal mode.

AutoDesk wants to blame the video card since it is not an approved card, but I swapped cards from the old machine making sure I uninstalled the previous drivers and it made no difference.

So, here I sit trying to get AutoCAD to install on as bare a system as I can, and then loading one component at a time, testing to make sure AutoCAD is still running.

In my zip file I also included a txt file with my hardware configuration.

I hope this clears things up a bit.

On a personal note, Noel, where in Wales are you located? My son is in Blackwood.

Thanks again for your help,

Rich

NoelDP · 31 Mar 2013

There are a number of Disk Controller errors in the log

Also the following rather critical error...
The Task Scheduler service depends on the Windows Event Log service which failed to start
This may simply be a transient error - but let's check it...

run the following command and post the results

SC QUERYEX EVENTLOG

There doesn't really seem to be too much else amiss there.
(I did notice an apparent system crash - perhaps the BSOD data-gathering tool would be useful. - Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) Posting Instructions... just post the zipfile it produces)
Do you have the latest system driver for your motherboard installed?

richlars · 31 Mar 2013

I am sorry to be such an idiot, but I do have a couple of questions about the procedure.

But most important to me though is that you enjoy your Easter Sunday. Don't let me distract from it. In fact I will be busy myself with family or most of the day so there is no rush on my part.

On this latest attempt I do not remember getting a BSOD, but will go through the procedure anyway. I have 32 GB or ran installed, but I have not done my anytime upgrade yet so currently it is only recognizing 16 GB so should I set my page file for 17 GB or 33 GB.

On my last attempt I used the "Install all" feature on the Asus MOBO disk. This time I have not loaded any drivers yet and will go to the Asus site to make sure I get the latest. This may be the reason I am getting the Disk controller errors. This board has a lot of bells and whistles so I want to start out with the bare minimum. Which drivers would you suggest?
I used the Snipit tool to take a screenshot of the SC Query results and have attached that.

NoelDP · 31 Mar 2013

Just allow the system to manage your pagefile size - having large amounts of RAM means that you should need less pagefile anyhow, so unless you're doing things that need an immense amount of memory, you could limit to even less than 16GB - perhaps as low as 2GB

You should update all the motherboard drivers as soon as possible, to the latest available. This will avoid Windows Update offering older updates and installing them - and may solve your problem.

richlars · 01 Apr 2013

FOUND IT!!!

I downloaded and installed LAN, SATA and USB drivers from Asus, Tried to do the same with Chipset drivers but there seems to be a problem with the Asus installer.

I then held my breath and went on-line with no protection and ran the updated and installed the 73 important updates. Then I unplugged from the Internet.

Next I installed and tested between all installations, AutaCAD Mechanical 2011, Update 1, Update 2 and Raster Design 2011.

My ISP is Comcast and with my subscription I get two security programs, Constant Guard and Norton 360. I installed Constant Guard first and retested AutoCAD and sure 'nuff down she went. Uninstalled Constant Guard and problem went away. Constant Guard has a keyboard entry guard that I think may cause the problem.

I thought I had Constant Guard on my old machine, but when I double checked, it was not there.

I still have a lot of stuff to load, but at this point it appears that Constant Guard was the problem. I have a report case into them.

Thank you for all of your help!!!!

Rich

NoelDP · 01 Apr 2013

You're welcome! It's no surprise to me that something like Norton could manage to crash AutoCAD, which is essentially well-behaved
You may want to consider MSE as an AV, with the Windows Firewall - it's a lot less intrusive, and less likely to cause problems with AutoCAD, or anything else!

Have fun with it :)

Layback Bear · 01 Apr 2013

richlars this is very interesting. I do have a question; does this Constant Guard keyboard things effect anything else you use on the computer?

I have Googled Constant Guard and it seems that just about everybody is having problems with it.