After several re-installs (from disk and download) Max still becomes non-responsive when I attempt to apply a modifier on any object - even simple cube/sphere/etc.  Scenes from previous version (and from the distr. disk) will load fine and I can manipulate the modifiers ALREADY ON objects without a problem.  And object parameters, such as number of segments in a sphere, can be changed from their creation values without a problem.  Selecting the modifier tab causes no problem, but when I select the pull down menu which normally lists all the modifiers, the text in the box next to the down arrow goes blank and the system checks out… Any ideas?

Re-installing Max may not cure problems unless you are aware of a few things.

The uninstall does not, by design, remove all the various configuration files. The install will not overwrite them either, so you need to remove them. If in doubt zip them all up in case you want any of them later.  This basically means anything under docs&settings\user\local settings\application data\autodesk\3dsmax\<max version>

Same for any Maxstart.max files you may have - rename or remove them.

Finally, make sure you reinstall to a new, clean directory. Don’t install any 3rd party plugins until you’ve sorted the problem as they may be the cause of the problem.

Max 4.2 through 2012 (SP2+SAP).
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

Thanks for the tip.  Never made it to plug-ins, so they’re not the cause… Will clean out everything and try it again.

The exact problem still exists - now on two machines.  The latter being a brand new Dell Precision Notebook with high end NVidia graphics card.  I have tried downloading it again and exactly the same thing happens - my assessment now is the distribution disk is corrupt and I am not cleaning out all the files (inspite of the fact that I have completely wipe the machines free of any Max references!).  Any other thoughts?

Not really - there’s no obvious reason for Max to do that. It has to be either PC related or the distribution is bad. Are you installing from a DVD or a download? Dells (or so I’m led to believe - I wouldn’t touch them myself) come with loads of junk preinstalled - maybe something is conflicting somewhere?

Max 4.2 through 2012 (SP2+SAP).
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

@Joe - Did the software ever work properly on this laptop?  Or did it start acting strange after a while?  Tell what OS you have, and what video mode you are using in Max.  Have you tried enabling the buttons list for modifiers, and applying one that way?  I think it’s a right click somewhere on the modify tab window to show the buttons, and select the preset list of buttons.  I’m rendering right now, and can’t check myself.

@Steve - ALL new computers can come preloaded with junk.  Usually it’s the consumer grade machines, and not the workstations, though.  My previous employer used Dells, and the first thing we did was wipe the HDD and install our current image.  But they each came with a Windows installation disk that was free of all the “free offers” and other garbage that come on computers you get at the big box stores.

3DS Max Design 2011 64-bit - Advantage Pack
Dell Precision T5500, Dual Six Core Xeon X5650 @ 2.67GHz, nVidia Quadro 5000, 24 GB RAM, Win 7 Enterprise 64-bit
Minneapolis, MN, USA

Joe hasn’t told us if the system is a “clean” install or a “messy preinstall”. You’re lucky to get a disk btw - consumer ones have it buried away on a separate partition :( (or so I’ve been told anyway). I normally build my own systems, but that’s not an option with a laptop/notebook.

Either way, I’m just trying to get to the cause of his problem which seems to be unique and pretty nasty - and shouldn’t be happening.

Max 4.2 through 2012 (SP2+SAP).
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

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Just getting back after ~2 weeks of travel - and looking at this problem again.  The 30 day trial period has since lapsed so am getting the code from Autodesk today and will try the right click option per the suggestion…

I am running XP pro SP 3 on Dell Precision M6300 w/ 4GB ram and an NVidia Quadro FX 3600M.  The program has never run correctly on this machine (nor the previous IBM T60 on which I first tried the install.  Max 5 runs fine on the IBM, I have not installed it on the Dell).  There is no “exta junk software” on this machine - it’s pretty clean from Dell.  The original disk is a CD, not DVD.

We do have a remote access management software (Dependable PC) that our IT group uses to remotely manage the PCs on the network.  This is common to both machines! Any thoughts there?

I am going to try to unload everything again and re-install from a download (have tried that without success on both machines)…

This is truly maddening!

Thanks for the comments,

joe

Hello Joe,

I am new to 3DS Max, but I had the exactly the same problem. When I selected any object and try to choose any modifier, my computer crushed. The same thing happened even when I tried to choose modifiers from the top menu. However, trying to choose the modifier from the top menu gave me a hint. In my case when I put the cursor on SUBDIVISION SURFACES ( nothing else) from the top modifier menu, my computer crushed. Therefore I deleted (or moved to other folders temporarily) “HSDS.dlm” (HSDS is one of the options under SUBDIVISION SURFACE modifier) from C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\stdplugs as a trial and everything started to work. In your case , the cause might be different, however if you spend time to try to choose different modifiers from top menu, you might be able to specify the problem. If you find any particular one, you can move or delete the equivalent plugin file from the plugin folder. I think it is worth while trying.  I guess, with this way, I can not use HSDS modifier, however it is much better than having my computer crushes all the time. I hope it can be some help for you.

Thanks,

Toru

The resolution is as suggested by Furuto in the previous post - remove the hsds modifier.  It turns out this has been reported previously per below, as found by my IT folks independently.  It must affect various systems differently…

Info on Modifier repair:  http://area.autodesk.com/for...eeze-with-modifier-stack/

I went into : C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max 2009\stdplugs
Found the file hsds.dlm
Renamed it to hsds.dlm.off

Thanks,

joe

Thanks (both of you) for posting that - it’s not an obvious cause or solution.

Max 4.2 through 2012 (SP2+SAP).
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.