VW Crashes

[michael john williams]

I have Vectorworks Architect/ Renderworks 2008 for Windows and it keeps crashing and I can not get it to stop. Just make one small change, do a save and it crashes. Same file opens up on another pc with another licence of VW, changes can be made and saved without crashing. I assume there is a problem with the software rather than a bug in the file.

What are the basis checks I should be doing?

Would appreciate some help ASAP.

Long time since I have been on the board hope you have missed me!

[Ray Libby]

First thing to try is to update your video drivers.

What message do you get when it crashes?

[michael john williams]

The messages are:

VW 2008 application has encounted a problem and needs to close. We are sorry for the inconvenience....................................................................

AppName: vectorworks2008.exe AppVer: 13.0.1.0

ModVer: 7.10.3052.4 Offset 00002f6f

Tried opening up other files, make a change and a save an it crashes.

[Ray Libby]

Have you updated Vectorworks to SP3?

[brudgers]

Other possible causes:

Quicktime...you can't reliably upgrade it past the version that ships with Vectorworks. Yes, it's a security risk. Yes, quicktime will keep trying to get you to update.

Video Drivers...I experienced problems with the manufacturer's latest video driver on my Dell Precicion Workstation. I recommend downloading the latest drivers from Dell rather than the chip manufacturer.

Restart the computer

Defragment the disk.

Run Scandisk to check for errors.

Edited April 9, 2009 by brudgers

[Rob Accomando]

I would imagine if it was Video Drivers or quicktime, You wouldn't even be able to open or edit a document.

Sounds like it could be disk write access issues (access rights/security)

Have you tried logging on to another user or admin and trying to save a VW file?

Also, what brudgers said. Run CHKDSK /F on the volume where VW is located.

[michael john williams]

Deleted VW and reinstalled the programme.

Still got the problem. Tried saving new document and it crashed.

Also files are not recognised by the reinstalled VW - checked and got the most up to date version for 2008. Looks like I have made matters worse.

Thanks for your help.

[Ray Libby]

Outdated video drivers often do this. Update them.

Try creating a new user and launch VW.

[michael john williams]

Thanks for all your suggestions and I have tried all, reloaded the programme and still it crashes when doing a save and does not recognise vw files.

[Ray Libby]

Just to double check:

You updated your video drivers by downloading them from the manufactureres website?

You created a new user and tried that?

You unistalled Quicktime and installed the version on your Vectorworks 2008 disk?

[michael john williams]

Ray

Thanks for your help, especially over this easter break.

And you have just remined me of the last 2 points on your check list.

I updated the driver from the dell web site.

I have just created a new user account and it seems to have worked on that account - the files can be read and appear in the right graphic symbol. I can save new files and open and save existing files in this new user account. So this must be the problem - but I do not know how to correct it?

I have not uninstalled Quicktime but it was working before with the version installed - no harm in giving it a go I suppose but it seems the problem lays with the user accounts / access issue, but that has not changed either!?

All a bit of a mystery to me and getting beyond my capabilities....I will have a bit of easter egg and try something else.

[michael john williams]

Another thing vw 2008 does is ask if you want to do up date all your files to be compatible with this version of vw. Now that it is not unusual - normally happens, I think, when installing a new version of vw - but this is a re installation and most of my files are in the version 2008 - so why is it asking me this? And it is not as me this on the new user account!?

I have said no as I prefer to update each file when I open it and especially not until I have sorted this problem out.

I think I will leave quicktime alone for a while because I do not think that is the problem, especially as the new user account seems to be working.

[Ray Libby]

It's not asking if you want to update or make your files compatible, it's asking if you want the file associate to be with that version.

Every version of VW automatically does this when first launched.

[michael john williams]

Ahh!

That may have sorted it out. Don't rememebr it coming up before on installation. Pity it is not in the set up instructions. I will try a few saves tomorrow just to see if I have got rid of the bug.

Thanks for your help Ray.

[Ray Libby]

I'm glad it worked out.

[michael john williams]

It only worked out for a short time!!!!!

The problem just came back and VW keeps crashing again when I try to save and / or save as.

So any help appreciated.

[michael john williams]

I think it may be to do with Quick Time. What version of QT shipped with VW 2008? I made note not to up date QT after re installation of VW. The version it is running with is 7.0.2 - is this the correct QT version to be running with VW 2008?

[michael john williams]

I am sure the QT is the same version that shipped with VW 2008 and so as its not been updated since I reinstalled VW and QT some several days ago and its worked since then this can not be the problem.

Anybody know anything about Dr Watson? dmp files? Is this were you can find what crashes vw?

[michael john williams]

Sorted!

It was the graphics - updated the driver again and so far everything is working fine.