Hi,

Our networked classroom has 30 Dell Precision T5400’s that are all running 3ds Max 2009 SP1 (XP Pro 32bit 4GB RAM) using the Direct3D 9.0 (NVIDIA Quadro FX 1700) driver.

Whenever we go into vertex sub-object mode for any object type, the vertex dots disappear in the viewports. Sometimes they appear once, but as soon as you select them they disappear. I have checked under Preference Settings and Show Vertices as Dots is ticked with a size and handle size both set to 3. This problem makes the task of modelling extremely difficult when you cannot see the vertices you have selected.

Has anyone else come across this problem? If anyone has a solution could you please let me know ASAP.
Screenshots of the problem attached in pdf file.

Regards,
Justin

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Try running the prog in software mode and see if the problem persists. If its a graphic driver issue, this tends to solve it. If it is the driver the you might have to either roll back or update the driver accordingly to find the right one. Hope this helps :)

"Communication without Intelligence is noise; Intelligence without communication is irrelevant.” Gen. Alfred. M. Gray, USMC

Hi,

Thanks for your prompt response. Changing back to Software as the Graphics Driver Setup for 3ds Max 2009 does bring back the vertex dots and they don’t disappear in the viewports. I’ll now investigate the current graphics card driver we are using and see if a driver update or rollback fixes the problem when using Direct 3D as the Graphics Driver Setup.

Can you shed some more light on the differences between these modes and the best option to use?

Regards,
Justin

Hi Justin,

Basically the software driven mode bypasses the hardware and uses the inbuilt software stuff to draw what u see in your viewports.  based on your graphic card, if you are using it on a 32-bit OS or 64-bit (Either XP/Vista) Autodesk recommends using driver version 169.39, so try using that version n u should be able to run with minimal difficulties; although the 64-bit versions are the only ones qualified in their labs.

"Communication without Intelligence is noise; Intelligence without communication is irrelevant.” Gen. Alfred. M. Gray, USMC

Thanks for the advice Jeremy.

We had an earlier driver installed so we are going to update our drivers for our Quadro FX1700 cards to driver version 169.39 as you recommended. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I have also just noticed that I have the same problem on my home PC (3ds Max 2009, Dell Dimension 8300, XP Pro, 32bit, 2GB RAM) with a different graphics card. It is an older NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 running driver version 6.14.11.7519.

What driver does Autodesk recommend with 3ds Max 2009 for this card to also avoid this Vertex Dot problem? This document 3dsMax2009_qualifiedgraphics_win.pdf does not offer any advice for older graphics card.

J

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Hi again,

We have still not managed to correct the problem of our vertex dots disappearing in our viewports.
Here is what we have tried unsuccessfully:

Updated our Quadro FX1700 card driver to version 169.39.
Updated our Quadro FX1700 card driver to version 182.08.
Updated 3ds Max 2009 with the latest Hotfix (2009.01.19).

At home with my older GeForce FX5200, I have also not been able to solve the problem by changing graphics card drivers or updating 3ds Max 2009 with the latest Hotfix.

Where do we go from here with this problem?

Can anyone also comment on whether using the 3DS Max Performance Driver 2009 D3D http://www.nvidia.com/object/maxtreme_11.00.08.html is worthwhile and where I can find some documentation regarding its installation and use?

Justin

Success!!! problem solved for our Quadro FX1700 cards.
Solution:

Install the 3ds Max Performance Driver 2009 D3D.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/maxtreme_11.00.08.html

then go to Customize...Preference Settings...Viewports tab...Choose Driver...Custom...3dsmaxpd.drv

Your 3ds Max Display Driver should now be the 3ds Max Performance Driver3D 9.0 (your graphics card)
Thanks for everyone’s input, particulary Syama at dbd.com.au to help solve this problem.

:)

Justin

P.S. I will test this solution at home on my NVIDIA GeForce FX5200 over the weekend to see if it solves the same problem. Will advise again shortly.

In my case, on ATI raden card I… opened ati panel, disable one monitor, change resolution, change to clone mode ect. and after that back to the standard, dual screen option witch normal resolutions. After that, finally I can see my vertices.