3ds Max will not launch or shows instability after installation

Autodesk Support

Jun 6, 2024

Products and versions covered

Issue:

After installing 3ds Max, the software may do the following:
  • Not start properly.
  • May show instability and crash shortly after opening.
  • May only show in the Windows OS Task Manager.

Causes:

Includes, but is not limited to:
  • Corrupted 3ds Max user preferences.
  • Conflict with third party plug-ins.
  • 3ds Max is missing product updates.
  • Outdated Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service (ADLS).
  • Outdated Autodesk Single Sign On component (AdSSO) or Autodesk Identity Manager (AdskID)
  • Outdated graphics drivers.
  • Corrupted with Microsoft Visual C++ components.  
  • Corrupted Microsoft .NET components.
  • Outdated ProSound.dlc sound driver.
  • Conflict with ProSound.dlc.
  • Issue with the 3ds Max display driver.
  • Conflict with Wacom Tablet services.
  • Outdated versions of the Arnold renderer.
  • Conflict with Cloud-based Backup Software.
  • Disable Welcome Screen for 3ds Max 2018 and 2019 versions.
  • Launching 3ds Max in a non-English version with Nvidia's Mental Ray installed.
  • Running 3ds Max in a virtual environment or on Apple hardware.
  • Chaos License Server configuration
  • Conflicting Security Software.
  • Corrupted Installation.

Solution:

The solution may require one, or a combination of the following:
 

Reset 3ds Max user preferences

Resetting 3ds Max / 3ds Max Design to default user profile settings

 

Fix conflict with third party plug-ins.

 

Update Plug-ins for all participating systems on a render farm

An issue may occur from an update to a plug-in. Other plug-ins may require updates to maintain compatibility. VRay, Corona, Forest Pack, and other plug-ins require the updates to be pushed to all computers on a render farm, such as Rebus.

 

3ds Max is missing product updates

  1. Log into the Autodesk Account.
  2. Navigate to Product Updates.
  3. Filter the results for 3ds Max and the specific version.
  4. Download and install the latest updates.
product updates

 

Update Autodesk Desktop Licensing Service (ADLS)

 

Update Autodesk Single Sign On component (AdSSO) or Autodesk Identity Manager (AdskID)

 

Update graphics drivers

Go to the website of the graphics card manufacturer installed in the system (such as Nvidia, AMD, or Intel), then install the latest driver.

 

Fix Microsoft Visual C++ components

Reinstall the affected components: How to reinstall Microsoft Visual C++ Runtime Libraries from Autodesk software installation package. 

 

Fix Microsoft .NET components

Repair and reinstall the affected components: How to remove and reinstall the Microsoft .NET Framework.

 

Install ProSound.dlc sound driver

Go to the Xiph open source website, and download and install the Directshow Filters for Ogg Vorbis, Speex, Theora, FLAC and WebM. 
 

Remove ProSound.dlc.

  • Navigate to C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max <version>\stdplugs, and rename the ProSound.dlc file to ProSound.dlc.BAK.
  • Note: This will remove support for loading sound files into 3ds Max

 

Change the 3ds Max display driver

Test changing the 3ds Max display driver from the default D3D11 driver to another 3ds Max display driver, such as D3D9.

 

Disable Wacom Tablet services

  1. Launch Services.msc.
  2. Search for the services "WTabletServicePro" and "WTabletServiceCon" and both stop these services.
  3. Launch 3ds Max and verify if it works as intended. If this resolves 3ds Max startup issues, perform a clean uninstall of the Wacom driver and install the latest version of the Wacom driver.

 

Update the Arnold renderer

 

Dsiable Cloud-based Backup Software

  • In some instances, certain third-party cloud-based backup software may cause an issue. This can include any of the following providers: Microsoft OneDrive, Carbonite, Dell Backup and Recovery Solution, and Druva. Any of these may cause 3ds Max to experience serious instability or prevent it from launching entirely. 
    1. If these or other cloud-based backup software programs on on the system, disable them from starting up, or uninstall them.
    2. Reboot the PC.
    3. Dell Backup and Recovery Solution may also need to be unregistered. Refer to: unregister these Dell Backup and Recover DLLs to run 3ds Max. 

 

Disable Welcome Screen for 3ds Max 2018 and 2019 versions.

  1. Navigate to C:\Users\%UserName%\AppData\Local\Autodesk\3dsMax\<version-64-bit>\ENU folder and open the 3dsmax.ini file in Notepad.

  2. Select Control+F to search for the word “welcome.” Notepad should display this entry:

[WelcomeScreen]
LaunchCount=30
ShowAtStartupExt=1
  1. Change the line ShowAtStartupExt=1 to ShowAtStartupExt=0, then resave the .ini file and restart 3ds Max.

 

3ds Max in a non-English version with Nvidia's Mental Ray installed

 

Running 3ds Max in a virtual environment or on Apple hardware

  • Autodesk does not provide technical support for running software in a virtual machine (VM) environment. Refer to the Autodesk Virtualization Policy.   
  • Autodesk does not provide technical support for running 3ds Max on an unsupported hardware or unsupported Operating Systems (OS). Refer to the: System requirements for Autodesk 3ds Max products.

 

Check Chaos Group License Server configuration

  1. Verify that the Chaos License Server is running from: "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Chaos\Chaos License Server" on the local machine.
  2. Restart 3ds Max.
  3. If the problem persists, Create a support ticket with Chaos Group to resolve the configuration issue.

 

Disable conflicting Security Software

 

Fix corrupted Installation

Perform a clean uninstall How to perform a Clean Uninstall of Autodesk products on Windows and then reinstall 3ds Max.

 

Products:

3ds Max;

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