I’ve been able to successfully install and launch the 32-bit version of 3ds Max 2010 on Vista. I’ve been able to install the 64-bit version but cannot launch it. I get the error message:

“The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more details.”

Thus far I’ve stumped the Autodesk tech support people and my case has been “escalated.” I’ve followed advice to turn off User Account Control (UAC), temporarily disable my Norton security during installation, and install the latest Vista updates as well as Service Pack 1. The latest advice from Autodesk was to check for possible conflicts with Microsoft Visual C++ and .NET Framework but I don’t have either program.

Any advice from anyone who surmounted this issue would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

I did experience this sometime back but have well forgotten what the solution was.

“Microsoft Visual C++ and .NET Framework”

Are you sure these are not installed in some form on your computer?
I think they are necessary components of most software functions now days.
Have you tried Windows Update to see if there are newer versions?

Max 2012
Windows 7 64 SP1

I am Also Facing the Same Problem. I have Been Googling Like Hell But Didnt Get Any Solution to this Problem. I have downloaded the Trail Version from the Autoesk Website.. The 32bit Version Actually. The Installation Went Normal. But When i Tried to Run 3ds Max 2010 it Showed the following Error

“The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more details.”

Is there anyway to Get rid of this and Run Max :-/

Did you:-

Install while being logged in as Administrator?
Run Max at least once (as Administrator) before trying to run it as an ordinary user?
Apply the latest Service Pack and Hotfix?

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.

Same thing happens with me. It a vista home premium 32 bit.  downloaded trial version of 3ds max design 2010 . it installs fine but when i try to run it it the error below pops up on screen

“The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log for more details.”

I have visual c++ 2008 sp1 installed.
-I tried uninstalling 3ds max design 2010 then uninstalling c ++ 2008 and installing c++ 2005 then reinstalling 3ds max design 2010 but to no avail.
- I have downloaded all of the 3dmax design 2010 updates/ service packs ect. but nothing changed the error. I do have a problem trying to install the FLEXnet Licensing Side-by-Side Hotfix.
when i try to install it says this hotfix has not been applied
seemed to install fine and run on a friends computer (XP 32 bit)
so strange!!!
this is from event log if it helps??

<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event">
- <System>

<EventID Qualifiers="49409">33</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>0</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime="2009-11-16T08:34:04.000Z" >
<EventRecordID>36520</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>-PC</Computer>
<Security >
</System>
- <EventData>
<Data>Microsoft.VC90.OpenMP,processorArchitecture="x86”,publicKeyToken="1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b”,type="win32”,version="9.0.21022.8"</Data>
<Data >

<Data>C:\Program Files\Autodesk\3ds Max Design 2010\3dsmax.exe</Data>

Hi there,

i do have the same side-by-side error but only with the 64bit version of max 2010 under windows 7 Professional and an i7 System. Has anyone any idea on how to fix this. A colleague of mine has the same install and it works fine. I really need my 64bit max!?! 32bit runs fine

Ralf

Did you try downloading and installing the Visual C++ redistributables?

VC++ 2008 x64

Yes I did, but no change at all. Still not working :( reinstalled max, but nothing

still not working. seems like i am gonna end up reinstalling win7.

A friend of mine had this problem with Windows 7 Ultimate x64,
I might have the solution!(3DSMax 2009)

When he first ran the x64 installer it didn’t show the “install 64/32 bit”
option screen, it just showed the x64 installer!

Installed the app again & this time it showed the options screen,
ran the x64 installer, you will see Microsoft Visual C++ and .NET Framework etc being installed,
Max installs these items so you shouldn’t have to download them at all.

All working 100%!

I hope this helps.

Okay, so...follow-up.

3ds Max 2010 from the Autodesk Education Suite for Entertainment Creation 2010
Windows 7 Home Premium (6.1.7600 Build 7600) 32-bit
Running on an MSi GX720: Intel C2D 2.4 GHz with 4 GB ram, nVidia GeForce 9600M GT w/512 MB

Here’s the history:
Downloaded and ran the 3ds Max 2010 trial with no problems.
Uninstalled the trial, installed the Ed Suite version and got the side-by-side config error.
Found some stuff on the interwebz that talked about VC++ Redist problems.
Uninstalled VC++ Redistributables, 2005 and 2008.
Found the VC++ Redist images on the 3ds Max DVD and installed from there.  No luck.

Uninstalled everything: 3ds Max, Autodesk tools/utilities and docs, VC++ Redist
Rebooted.
Reinstalled everything from the DVD.  No luck.

Uninstalled 3ds Max.  Uninstalled Autodesk tools/utils and docs, VC++ Redist
Downloaded fresh, latest-greatest VC++ 2005 Redistributable and VC++ 2008 Redistributable.
Went to the registry and removed HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Autodesk and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Autodesk keys.  Went to the hard drive and deleted C:\Program Files\Autodesk, C:\ProgramData\Autodesk, C:\Users\&#xus;ername%\AppData\Roaming\Autodesk, and C:\Users\&#xus;ername%\AppData\Local\Autodesk.  Deleted the 3ds Max folder in my Documents folder.

Rebooted.

Emptied my C:\Windows\Temp folder, just to be sure, and killed all the processes related to my anti-virus software.  Turned off Windows Firewall.

Reinstalled 3ds Max from the DVD and… I still get “The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect.  Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe for more detail.”

I am almost at my wits’ end.  If I didn’t need it for school, I’d send the whole damned thing back to Autodesk, demand a refund, and go with something like Vue or whatever.  Anything.  Someone from Autodesk PLEASE reply ASAP.