Hi all, I’m having a serious freeze problem with Max.

Even in the lightest scenes, with no fancy setups or heavy content, Max will occationally freeze - typically when rotating in the viewport.

The machine never comes back to life, and a hardware reset is the only way out.

This happens several times per day, and besides the annoying factor of having to restart because of a freeze, Max always corrupts the current file - and in the latest case, also the previous version of the file (ie, I was working on props_04.max, and it corrupted both 03 and 04). A day’s work lost, and I thought I was always as safe as the previous save.

It’s very hard for me to diagnose this, other than that it’s always Max that does it, never any other program.

I’m on a relatively new and powerful computer, and I never have hardware or software problems besides when in Max.

Any ideas?

- Jonas

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it happens to u always or just with that specific scene?
have u tried opening some autobackup? they are located on mydocuments/3dsmax/autoback, see if those are corrupted as well.

have u reinstalled the software?
how much time difference have the 03 and 04 files? maybe both have the attribute that makes them corrupted to max.

i would suggest to post ur pc specs so the pros can help u, i could assume u have some issue with your video card since u get the freeze working on the viewport(remember if was on wireframe or smooth+highlight mode?)

also try openGL it may help.

Hey, thanks for the reply.

I’ll rule out that it’s any specific thing in the scene, it’s been doing it on many different scenes with really simple stuff in it. I mean, I’ve been doing Max for many years on other machines with no such problem, so it’s definitely not some “no-no”, it’s just really simple Poly-modelling.

I didn’t check the autobackup… don’t know why I didn’t think of that. I’ll try that next time.

Do you still think it could be the video card when the whole machine freezes? For instance, I can’t even activate the num lock or caps lock LEDS on the keyboard.

I don’t have the system specs right here, but I’ll get back with that.

Thanks,
- Jonas

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Here are the specs:

Motherboard:
Asus P6T, Intel X58, LGA1366

CPU:
Intel Core i7 920, Box, LGA1366

Graphics card:
Zotac Geforce 285, 1GB GDDR3, PCI-E

RAM:
Corsair TR3X6G1333C9, 3x2048MB

Cabinet:
Antec Performance One P182, Midi, No PSU

Power supply:

Corsair CMPSU-650TXEU, 650Watt

Hard drive:
WD Caviar Black 500GB, SATAII

Etc.:
NEC AD-7200S-0B, DVD±RW, Black
Creative SoundBlaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio
Windows XP Pro 64 Bit Edition UK, OEM
Pl@zir Floppy Drive 3.5”, Black
Samsung 25,5” 2693HM, 5ms, High G.Black
Microsoft IntelliMouse Explorer 3.0
Logitech Deluxe 250 Keyboard, Black

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Perhaps not entierly relevant but i can get freezes with both Max and Maya when using SLI in 1920x1200 desktop resolution, even on empty scenes. I understand you’re not using SLI, but i’m just saying in case the problem would originate from a similar source.

I haven’t figured out what causes this but it seems like putting a strain on the graphical hardware generates a freeze. Even scaling flash video to full screen can freeze the computer. Disable SLI or lower desktop resolutions will prevent it from happening.

I have so far never experienced corrupted files from this though, but i know some old 3dsmax versions have corrupted multiple files that to me in the past.

Try reducing your resolution and see what happens…

i think that clear the registry entries of invalid entries in the registry which take part in max and are you using any plug-ins to the scene if they not compatible the max freezes frequently.

or reinstall the max this will fix or install latest service packs

I have experienced this problems but i have get rid of it. try it you will get rid of it soon

3D Studio Max 2009/2010 64-bit,
Intel G35 chipset, Core2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz,
nVidia Geforce 8500 GT(Driver 190.38), 4 GB RAM, Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit,
INDIA.

Thanks for the reply, but I have no invalid Max entries or incompatible plugins. :)

The latest development is that I actually WAS able to re-gain control of the computer a hang. I managed to close 3dsmax, and then the computer ran perfectly after that. Then I emmidiately started up 3dsmax again, and the computer froze again.

- Jonas

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did you upgrade any hardware please tell me that it will help you,is the 3ds max works well on the on old system i mean that before upgrading is 3ds max working well if yes, it shloud be your hardware problem not the apps. recheck every driver of the system update it and check it agian

3D Studio Max 2009/2010 64-bit,
Intel G35 chipset, Core2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz,
nVidia Geforce 8500 GT(Driver 190.38), 4 GB RAM, Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit,
INDIA.

Update, no. It’s a brand new machine and fresh install.

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ok just test one thing that remove your graphic card which your using and use your on-board graphics is on the your motherboard thing which is basic graphic card comes with the motherboard

install the drivers for that and check you max. 3ds max works on that basic card also now see is their any freezes, if no freezes it should be your graphic card change the card or still their try to remove your hardware one by one if any one section if you solved the problem that hardware is the problem.

I strongly tell that the problem is on hardware.

3D Studio Max 2009/2010 64-bit,
Intel G35 chipset, Core2 Quad Q6600 @ 2.4GHz,
nVidia Geforce 8500 GT(Driver 190.38), 4 GB RAM, Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit,
INDIA.

Probably your graphics card.  Max 2009 does not technically support Geforce cards.

Find supported cards
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Max Design 2009/2010 64-bit
HP xw4600 Workstation, Core2 Quad @ 2.4GHz, nVidia Quadro FX 1700, 8 GB RAM, Win XP 64-bit
Minneapolis, MN, USA