AutoCAD on a Macbook Pro...

[James]

Not sure if this is the most appropriate forum for this question, but given the discussions regarding AutoCAD & bootcamp, thought I'd give it a go.

 

Been running LT2007 for about six weeks now... the only problem I'm having is that I keep getting asked to re-activate my license. Before anyone asks, yes its a legit copy (bank balance is still suffering).

 

Anyway, I've thrown this out to the Autodesk Discussion Forums & submitted a separate support request to Autodesk... but no joy. Because I'm running it on a Macbook Pro, they're reluctant to offer any advice other than pointing at one of two areas...

 

1. A license activation error from using AutoCAD on a machine with Serial ATA hard disk controllers

 

2. Activation errors running AutoCAD on a machine using USB external devices

 

Now, on the first issue, I'm told that the MBP has a SATA drive... but in Windows, I don't see a SATA controller listed under System Information. The solution that Autodesk recommend should only be used on systems that have SATA controllers. I've tried it, but it only seemed to make the problem worse.

 

On the second issue, I have an external WD USB drive connected. Autodesk advise that any such device should be listed as 'removable' in the Logical Disk Manager. Mine doesn't appear to be & I don't know how to correct it. Any suggestions?

 

Has anyone else had this problem?

 

James.

[AJLynn]

Bootcamp or Parallels?

[James]

Everything is done through bootcamp.

[AJLynn]

That's quite bizzarre. I've been able to license ADT 2006 and AutoCAD Revit Suite 9.1/2007 on Bootcamp, but I've never tried it with LT. The MBP does have a SerialATA hard drive, so I'd recommend trying to find the fix for that.

 

As far as Autodesk, of course they need to provide support - there's nothing anywhere in their agreements that limits the computer vendors you can work with, and an MBP in Bootcamp is not emulation - it's a PC with the latest hardware. If they can't support SATA, which has been around for several years, in their 2007 version, there is something wrong with their software.

[James]

Here is the reply I got from Autodesk yesterday...

 

'Thank you for contacting Autodesk Support. Here is the recommended resolution to your Support Request:

 

Firstly, please accept my apology for the delay in our response since you updated this case and thanks for the informations you send in.

 

Unfortunately, running Autodesk products under Boot Camp on a Mac OS X PC is not supported.

 

However, I would love to help you, but as we did not make extensive tests with such configuration, this is very difficult for me to help.

 

A few advice I can give you is to check the solution about USB drives http://support.autodesk.com/getdoc.asp?id=TS1059719

 

 

and try to reinstall the laptop as it originaly was (partitions, boot,...) when it used to work fine.

 

I would also encouraged you to express your desire to run Autodesk products under Mac OSX using Boot Camp at AUGI.com

I hope this helps and thank you for your understanding.¨

 

 

 

I've already tried the hotfix relating to the SATA controller... any idea why windows doesn't list it? Do you use an external USB drive with your setup... if so, is it listed as removable?

 

James

[AJLynn]

I've used them and they're removable. Did you install the software on the USB disk? If not, what happens if you just disconnect the USB disk when you start AutoCAD?

 

I'd check the SATA thing but I don't run Bootcamp anymore - I've got Parallels with AutoCAD.

 

I looked at some material on the Autodesk support forums about Autocad on Mac, and unfortunately the responses I could find tended to be of three types - end users being confused, other end users saying "I don't know what the problem is, this works perfectly" and occasionally an Autodesk person making fun of the person asking the questions (e.g., one time he told the guy that he didn't have a real computer, and basically called him an idiot who bought a Mac because of the "I'm a Mac, I'm a PC" commercial).

 

Have you considered using Bootcamp? I'd suggest that you could get a trial download of it and install Windows 2000 on an expanding-file type partition. (I say 2000 because statistically speaking you probably have access to a copy that's not in use, but you could also try it with your XP install, but not activate it - don't choose the option where it uses your Bootcamp partition, because it might not be reversible!) You can then use the portable license utility to transfer the license to the Parallels PC, and be able to reverse the entire process later if you don't like it by transferring the license back, uninstalling Parallels and deleting its files.

 

Check this out, video of a guy working on huge files in ADT 2004 with Parallels (an older version of Parallels with slower 3D than it has now):

 

[James]

I'd thought about using Parallels, but opted for bootcamp for the 3D support. In the long term, I'm hoping that Leopard (when it appears) has improved support for users wanting to run Windows-only applications, along the lines of Parallels.

 

Anyway, nope, didn't install it on the USB drive... although I've noticed a few folders on it I hadn't noticed before. The dates that they appear seem to correspond with dates I was asked to re-activate my license. Must be more than a co-incidence. There are three with long folder names like...

 

'0c16c9a450ea169ef75accafc5'

 

Each of them contains a text file called 'msxml4-KB927978-enu'. Tried opening it, but says 'Access is denied'. Did a check... looks like they're leftover files from Windows Security updates (how did they end up here?)

 

There is another folder called 'c8b0a48bf4a095eb3d' with another folder called 'i386' inside it, but can't get into it. Could be something left over from Windows again, but why are they turning up here? If Windows is confusing it as an internal partition, could AutoCAD be doing the same? Maybe the problem is related to the USB drive after all.

 

Any thoughts?

 

Had a look at that link. Very impressed. Might look into Parallels, but not just yet. Need to set aside a weekend to give the setup a good spring clean. Read somewhere before that its a good idea to restore your setup to a 'clean' image using Ghost. Is this something that you'd use?

 

James.

[Juan Altieri]

i got autocad 2007 runing in a macbook pro under bootcamp and works great to me...

[James]

In case anyone is interested...

 

Did a complete re-installation of Windows & all applications a few days ago. Been running AutoCAD ok ever since.

 

Haven't plugged in my suspect USB drive since re-installing, & everything appears to be running smoothly. Hopefully I've got to the root of the problem.

 

Found a way to create an 'image' of a bootcamp installation. I'll be giving it a whirl over the next week or so for any similar problems in the future.

 

James.

[Hazdaz]

Unfortunately, running Autodesk products under Boot Camp on a Mac OS X PC is not supported.

 

Typical "help" support - and then some wonder why people out there see no problem with using hax0red software - one of the few advantages to using legit software, and the vendor is many times of no help when you have a funky problem.

 

(this post is in no way supporting cracked software, just stating the frustration that users can have with overzealous copy protection and help desks that are many times of little help)

[AJLynn]

It's true that software licensing has a long way to go. Here's another example from the Intel Mac side:

 

There's a beta of a virtualization program called VMWare Fusion. This is like Parallels, but you can install a Boot Camp Windows, then run it in VMWare, and switch back and forth. Best of both worlds - the convenience of the emulator, ad the ability to boot native Windows and get all your hardware performance if you need it. Only the virtual one and the real one aren't exactly the same PC, so a lot of programs' licensing will break if you run them in Bootcamp then run them in VMWare, including, apparently, Autodesk products.

[Hazdaz]

^^ Good example. Now just out of curiosity, don't you get a performance hit by running software that way?? I know it's not exactly "emulation" per se since the software is native to the hardware, but you are still essentially running Windows 'through' another piece of software, right? (which is going to be taking some amount of CPU cycles no matter how efficient it is)

[AJLynn]

Yes. You take a bit of a hit on the CPU performance (not nealy as much as with emulaion but I'd still use Bootcamp to render), you don't get your accelerated 3D card, and you have to split the RAM between the OSes, so you do take a hit. Still, it's much better than, say, VirtualPC on a Powerbook, or not having both options available. And with most 2D AutoCAD or even ADT work it's fine.