CompuServe Thread – CompuServe test bed

Autodesk Software Forum · Autodesk 3D Studio

#Autodesk 3D Studio

18 messages in this thread

#67242From: Dave HunterNov 19, 1993 1:46 AM

My son's friend is running Autodesk 3D Studeo Release 3 on a PS/2. (He's not on Compuserve, so he asked me to post this message for him). When he's manipulating/editing images in the Keyframer, certain vertacies "fly away" (i.e. – 4 or 5 fives vertacies from the mesh branch out in the same direction, but at random lengthes). He is wondering if this is a memory allocation error, or perhaps a bug in the software. He has a a PS/2 Model 57SX with 12 megs of memory, using only HIMEM.SYS in his config, and an XGA video card. Does anyone have ANY suggestions?? Thanx in advance, Dave Hunter

#67261From: Nik Grant [adesk]Nov 19, 1993 8:32 AM

So far, your description does not sound familiar to me as a bug (or feature!). Could you be more specific, so that I could duplicate the model and steps involved in manifesting this problem? Is it something that will show up on one of our sample .3DS files? Thanks.

#67360From: Dave HunterNov 19, 1993 11:11 PM

Here are the specifics to my problem, hardware/software…. IBM PS/2 Model 57 SX (386 microchannel bus type) DOS 6.2 XGA Video card (currently set at 640*480*256 in all menus) SICOS mouse In my config: DOS=HIGH,UMB DEVICE=E:\dos62\himem.sys buffers=30,0 files=40 And in my AUTOEXEC.BAT : @echo off LH E:\dos62\smartdrv.exe 1024 PATH=E:\dos62;D:\dosutil;D:\windows;D:\zippers;D:\EYE\CSHOW;c:\bx PROMPT $p$g lh xgamouse.com (MOUSE driver that came with the XGA card) echo. type todo.txt echo (AUTODESK boot-up) E: This problem (with the verticies) my son's friend has has occured in files that were loaded, and also files that were created from scratch. As I said, some verticies would just go haywire. I could, if you like, send you a copy of a corrupted model via compuserve. (These files loaded fine, but once you started moving them around, the verticies didn't cooperate.) Thank you again for your help.

#67370From: John TissavaryNov 20, 1993 3:15 AM

I don't see anything blatantly suspicious, but the mouse driver may be funky. Try using a Microsoft driver, or logitech. Also, I don't think this has anything to do with the problem (probably not…), but try it anyway: Smartdrv has cause problems on my system in the past (nothing like what you describe). Try omitting it from your autoexec.bat. Good luck, John Tissavary (La Luna cie)

#67581From: Dave HunterNov 22, 1993 3:00 AM

First off – thank you for your reply! However, many days have been spent trying many a combination of configurations, (including the omission of HIMEM itself, and many different smartdrv/mouse options), but to no avail. The reason I'm trying Autodesk is because they are my last resort. If they don't know what's wrong, I certainly don't…..

#67768From: John TissavaryNov 23, 1993 1:43 AM

I wish there was an easy solution. Have you tried removing ALL nonessential hardware (LAN cards, sound cards, whatever) from your computer, replacing any fancy graphics cards with a simple VGA card that is tried and true with 3DS, removing ALL memory managment software, device drivers not needed to run 3DS, and TSR's? Then run 3DS and see if it helps. If that works you know it's a memory/hardware conflict, and you can start adding stuff back in until it works. Believe me, I know how much of a pain this is. I had such problems, too. But I squared things away over a period of time by doing the above. Good luck. John Tissavary (La Luna cie)

#67771From: Dave HunterNov 23, 1993 1:53 AM

John – No, as a matter of fact, I don't believe my friend has tried removing all but essential hardware from the system. I'm pretty sure that isn't the problem, but it's definately worth mentioning it to him. Thank you for reminding me of a step I completely overlooked! Dave Hunter

#67799From: John TissavaryNov 23, 1993 3:01 AM

Good luck! I REALLY hope he can figure it out, because I know first hand how frustrating it can be to have problems getting a juicy, exciting, expensive program like 3D Studio running. John Tissavary (La Luna cie)

#68034From: Dave HunterNov 24, 1993 2:14 AM

Thanks you advice. As a matter of fact, as soon as I hang up here, I will go over to my neighbour and begin taken his computer apart! Dave Hunter

#67375From: Ted BoardmanNov 20, 1993 6:36 AM

Dave A possibility might be that there is an active selection set of vertices in the model which can be very hard to see on some screens. When a Modify/Vertex/Move command is used only the selection set gets acted upon. Try Display/Geometry/Vert ticks and see if some of the vertices don't turn to red tick marks. If so, hold tha ALT key down and type N so clear the set. TedB

#67582From: Dave HunterNov 22, 1993 3:04 AM

First of all – thank you for your reply! Unfortunately, the problem would appear to be some sort of memory problem. I'm assuming that once the mesh is loaded/created, it's vertices and such are kept in memory. The error usually occurs when I switch between Geometry Box and Geometry Fulldraw, and also when I come out of rendering. I tried your suggestion, but no change. Thank you again…. Dave Hunter

#67598From: Nik Grant [adesk]Nov 22, 1993 7:18 AM

Dave, I don't know what's happening either. I would like to take you up on your offer of providing us with the file. I could get it if you would like to email it to me, or upload it to the forum. Thanks for your patience, this is a strange one! Nik

#67770From: Dave HunterNov 23, 1993 1:49 AM

Nik – You mentioned that you would like me to send you a copy of "the file" – which one exactly were you refering to? The 3DS.SET/EXE or something else? Dave Hunter

#67874From: Nik Grant [adesk]Nov 23, 1993 1:09 PM

#68035From: Dave HunterNov 24, 1993 2:17 AM

"Nik – You mentioned that you would like me to send you a copy of "the file" – which one exactly were you refering to? The 3DS.SET/EXE or something else?" Sorry, I meant the corrupted file. —————————————————————————— If you are referring to the 3DS file, I can't send it to you – it happens in everything that is created or loaded. However, if are referring to a corrupted system file, I'm afraid I don't know which one is corrupted….

#68443From: Mark G. BrowningNov 26, 1993 5:04 PM

I think your all looking in the wrong place. How is it that "your son's friend" can afford a $3000 program? Why do I ask? Well, a friend of mine got a boot leg copy of 3D Studio release 3 with a modified 3ds.exe file made with a program, SafeSoft, used to eliminate the copy protection device. He too has experience similar problems.

#68475From: Dave HunterNov 27, 1993 1:06 AM

I was under the impression that my neighbour had purchased the software. It hadn't even occurred to me that he may have obtained it illegally. Since this appears the case, I won't help him until I see proof that he has legally purchased the program. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Dave Hunter

#68586From: spencer lindsayNov 27, 1993 7:56 PM

Mark, A friend of mine got a copy of "Imagine That"'s 3DS rev3 breaker, and it destroys meshes randomly, go from the 3d editor to the lofter and back and the mesh you left in the 3d editor is wasted. Also, the colors that the thing renders are always wrong. See ya. Spencer Lindsay Atari Games