Title says it all, when i try to open the render setup window nothing happens, i dont know if it’s opening off screen somewhere or if it’s just not opening, any way to default Max to its factory settings or anything?

3 options.

1) Open the dialog, press Alt+Space, press “M”, use the cursor keys to bring the dialog back into view.

2) With Max closed, locate your 3dsmax.ini - instructions here
Open it with Notepad, locate the [RenderDialogPosition] section. Edit the Dimension entry changing the first 2 numbers to 0 (zero)
Dimension=445 165 355 165 << before
Dimension=0 0 355 165 << after
Save the file, reload max, open the dialog and it should appear top left of your display.

3) Locate 3dsmax.ini as above, rename it. Restart Max, open the Dialog and it should appear in its default location. Note that Max creates a new, clean 3dsmax.ini so you will lose many configuration settings you may have made if you do it this way.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

It shouldn’t be any different on a Mac.

If you use the Search then expand the Advanced tab - the “search hidden files/folders” option should be in there. I don’t have Win7 so I can’t easily check that.

Ahh - one other thing - windows will be hiding the .ini file extension from you (probably). If you can find the folder (enu) then look in there for “3dsmax” with a file type of “Configuration Settings”.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

once i go to users, i dont see the rest of the path that was listed, ie local, app data, etc, windows 7 must be different.
Is there any other way to fix the missing render setup window? is there any other way to set up the render without using the render window?
I’ve tried reinstalling max and its the same exact thing everytime.

The only remaining option is a bit drastic - it will change the settings for all folders.

In Explorer, go to Tools > Folder Options > View. There should be a setting in there for hidden files/folders. Enable that option and click Apply, then at the top of that dialog should be a big button “Like Current Folder”. That should set ALL folders the same way - but be warned that it will affect a lot more than just folders - you may find that things like the Control Panel will change appearance as well, though that does depend on the other settings.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

what is the cause of the window missing?
is there a way to bring back the setting window without going through the previous route?

It’s offscreen - on a non-existent monitor (probably), positionally anyway.

The 1st option above (the Alt+Spacebar, M) should work if you do it correctly. Open the dialog from the main toolbar, then without pressing any other key or mouse button, press Alt+Spacebar, release the keys, press M. Move the dialog with the cursor keys (or grab its title bar with the mouse, if you can see it). Try it on a dialog you can see to see how it works.

Beyond that - not really. There is no point reinstalling as that process wiill neither remove those files or overwrite them. You perhaps need someone there, at your machine, who is more familiar with the way windows works to explain how to get at hidden files.

Max 4.2 through 2013.
XP-64 (SP2)
NVidia 9800GTX-512 (Driver 266.58).
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz, 8Gb Ram, DX9.0c.

dont know if mac environment have these, just right click on the taskbar and select cascade window. all those hidden and misplace window will come out.

http://renderworks.webs.com/