Conflicting software?

[lyle426]

I was wondering if there are any known software programs that conflict with Solid Works. I've updated my video drivers for my ati fire gl video card from the solid works website, as well as countless virus scans, adware scans, updates (excluding windows service pack 2). Can proprietary software from a HP machine casue problems? The only thing I have not tried yet is a complete uninstall and reinstall of solidworks. If anyone help me with this they would be my new idol!

Thanks!

 

[MadMango]

What problems are you experiencing?

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[lyle426]

Solidworks crashes intermittently when opening the Design Library, opening a file, editing a sketch, and sometimes when dimensioning a drawing. It crashes up to 3-4 times a day. Is this normal for SolidWorks? I'm not working with complex geometry or surfaces, just simple prismatic parts. As for performance, it seems to run alright, although sometimes in drafting I will loose all of the object lines in the views and just have the dimensions. If I run my cursor over the location of the missing lines there will be a highlighted line present.

Thanks!

 

[Theophilus]

No conflicts that I know of. Normally something like this would relate to hardware, such as a graphics card.

I did some on-site work yesterday with a Dell--I had all sorts of screen refresh problems and even had a crash that was apparently due to an underpowered graphics card.

Anyway, this isn't at all normal for SW, per se. My machine is quite stable (Xi Computer, 64-bit Opteron, nVidia FX 500) and I work on complex geometry and large assemblies quite often now.

Have you updated your SW installation recently? Sometimes an installation can become corrupted. If you run out of other options, you might consider an uninstall/reinstall and clean out your registry per the FAQ on this forum exactly as the instructions dictate. I have a registry cleaning program I use that really helps eliminate junk that builds up over time.

I'm not too sure what else it could be at this point without further details.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[TheTick]

I always go with a factory driver for graphics cards. No Windows default drivers or 3rd party (even SW) distributed drivers. This usually solves such issues for me.

Always make sure antivirus is off during install. Our latest AV issue was that a WI install of SW wouldn't accept service packs because it was installed w/ AV "on".

I could be the world's greatest underachiever, if I could just learn to apply myself.

http://www.EsoxRepublic.com

-SolidWorks API VB programming help

 

[macPT]

Was your installing procedure clean and correct? Many problems start here. Did you stoped the AV before install?

Before reinstalling (supposing that there's no reason to suspect from your SW installing procedure), you should carefuly test your graphic card and drivers. The majority of problems with SW are related to GC, even if the error messages sugest other causes. Your description suggest that.

One first test is to run using software OpenGL. If this solve the stability and visibility problems then you must change the driver and/or GC settings, or even switch to another suitable GC.

If that doesn't work, before searching for anything else, change GC settings (some cards have a predifined setting for Solidworks) and try other drivers.

Try to reboot using F8 and verify SW satbility. If it works OK, then it's a GC driver/configuration or a software/service messing with SW. Try to disable services and starting software (using msconfig, for example) on a trial and error base, to find which software is causing the trouble.

If none of this results, then the nightmare arrives. Try a fresh reinstall of SW first (check FAQ for instructions).

Then it comes fresh OS install (with disk formatting) followed by SW install. If that works, then you must test a sequence of software/drivers installation untill you find the problem.

If nothing helps it's an hardware problem. Change the GC and/or PC.

Good Luck

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

nVidia has application specific settings (ACAD, SE, SW, etc) for its products ... does ATI have a similar feature.

& all the best.

 

[Theophilus]

That's a good point. My nVidia works fine with or without the custom settings, so I wouldn't think misconfigured settings would be a problem unless it was deliberately set to something besides default--such as ACAD--and messing with things.

Still, I wouldn't think that would crash things.


Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[lyle426]

I don't know if this has happened to anyone before, but at least once a day my monitor screen turns black, as if the power was turned off and comes back on in 1-2 sec. It was doing this before the video card was changed, and is still doing it with the new card.

 

[MadMango]

Check the cables to ensure they are fully seated. I've seen this before.

[green]"I think there is a world market for maybe five computers."[/green]
Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM, 1943.
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[Standing]

Check out what thread559-83810 says about Lotus Notes.

Bradley

 

[lyle426]

Theophilus: You said you had a registry cleaning program, where could I find one of those?

Mango: The cables are fine.

 

[Theophilus]

This is what I use. Don't bother running it unless you want to buy it. ($21.00 for registered version and free upgrades, if I remember correctly.)

Works well.

http://www.snapfiles.com/get/regfirstaid.html

Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reality is no respecter of good intentions.

 

[rporter]

The monitor may be going blank becouse of the power options setting is set to turn off the monitor after x number of min without being used. The power options is in control panel. But I would'nt think that would couse your crashing

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I have same problem with my monitor ... sometimes happens when I'm nowhere near it. It's not enough of a problem (no crashing) for me to worry about ... if/when it dies, the boss will have to get me a new one.

There are many free Registry cleaners available. I use RegCleaner which can be obtained from

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download460.html

& all the best.

 

[MElam]

I have seen a few monitors temporarily fade to black. Usually means their death is near . . .

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I will keep my shovel ready for the burial

& all the best.