Autocad won't run on VB 3.2.8

[russell.eberhardt]

Hi there.

I used to run Autocad 2004 on XP pro on Virtualbox 3.1.8 with no problems.

Following a new install (KDE 2010.7) necessitated by a hardware disaster I used getvirtualbox to install the latest version.  With my VM restored from backup everything worked except Autocad.  If I click on the Autocad icon the pointer turns busy for a few seconds then nothing.

I've tried reinstalling Autocad.  The install seems to go OK but the same result.

Any ideas please?

Russell.

[T6]

i was thinking that the video card driver could be the problem but this old autocad doesn't have 3d configuration tools if i remember correctly

did you used before the free version and then changed to the version with usb support?

[russell.eberhardt]

Thanks for your reply.

I agree, this version of autocad should work with relatively basic graphics support.

The version I was using before was the version with usb support downloaded from the Virtualbox website.

Russell.

[MCP]

Just to let you know. It should work.  I've been using Acad 2000i and 2010 in all usb enabled versions of VB with no problems.

I did find that turning on desktop effects made it work much better.  You might try that.

MCP

[russell.eberhardt]

Thanks for that MCP.  It's good to know that it should work.  I have desktop effects turned on but no joy.  I'll try setting up a new VM in case there is something funny left over from my previous install.

Russell.

[russell.eberhardt]

Tried setting up a new VM and installed XP, installed Autocad 2004 again - still no joy

Guess I'll just have to go back to dual booting for now.

Russell.

[T6]

did you configured something different between the old version the new one?  amount of ram, video card ram size, drivers used?

[russell.eberhardt]

did you configured something different between the old version the new one?  amount of ram, video card ram size, drivers used?

I don't think so.  I have tried playing around with ram and video settings and still cannot get it to start.  The cursor just changes to the hourglass for a few seconds, then nothing.

Autocad installs and runs if I boot up into XP directly so it is not a problem with my new hardware.

I have also tried Autocad under VB on my laptop and get the same effect.

Russell.

[T6]

if you use the same version on the laptop and you install virtual box addons the problem seems to be virtualbox, a regression i think

http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/6

[russell.eberhardt]

Thanks for that link.  It looks as if I'll have to run it directly under XP for now.   Hope it gets fixed again.

Russell.

[T6]

i believe that this version uses lots of directx inside xp

the current version of virtual box is trying to do heavier emulation of 3d capabilities inside the virtual machine to allow more games or 3d hungry apps to run inside the virtual machine so the new version and new drivers can create this situation, a regression where certain apps ends broken

in another link someone suggested to use a older autocad version(acad2000) inside vmware to avid this but honestly both versions are in the same situation, trying to access directx properly

friggin directx!

[russell.eberhardt]

I guess an alternative is to remove Virtualbox and then install the previous version (3.1. which is still available on the Oracle site but I never like going back to old versions.

For now I have installed ProgeCAD LT which runs OK under Wine and is the nearest thing I've found to Autocad for free.

Russell.

[russell.eberhardt]

Latest round of updates uninstalled Virtualbox.  I ran Getvirtualbox again and now have version 3.2.10 running.  It still works with everything but Autocad

Russell.