when i start 3ds max 8 it loads all it's plugins, brings up the window and then stops responding. I just made the basis for a new map on my laptop and i want to transfer it to my desktop for more processing power when i do all the compiling and lighting and such so i need this fixed. can someone help me?

did you install any plugins lately?

This happened to me once before, it would crash as soon as it loaded all plugins. I uninstalled the program, then went into the autodesk folder and deleted it all, then reinstalled and it worked.

Most likely if 3ds max 8 loads and freezes when drawing the view ports,you might have installed new drivers for your graphics card,if so the breaks compatibility with 3ds max 8 and causes it to freeze^^

I know happen to me awhile back.

So either check that or do what the user above suggested.

The same thing happened to me.

Any advice besides re-installing would be great... since I lost the installer for it.

Thanks in advance.

the reinstalling thing didn't work and i don't think any new drivers were installed (I didn't install any and I don't think auto install is on). so now i'm stuck.

you haven't mentioned your os type, which would be handy as you might have to manually delete folders which are stored in other places.
anyway another way is to run ccleaner, and only check mark all the autodesk and 3ds max items for removal then reinstall it.
Edited by ally on Mar 24, 2013 at 07:23 AM

I'm running windows 7 home premium 64-bit. i did what you said and it didn't work. how do i get rid of the activation key so that i can re-enter it. i feel like that's the problem.

okay i'm not 100% sure where the Adlm files gets stored on win7, but that is the Auto Desk Licence Management file. delete that when you find it and any others which are autodesk files. like in the user/application data folder that will hold files relating to the license too. might be better to run a search on the file names to find all the locations and delete them all, also check that you uninstalled the likes of backburner and dwf viewer which install as part of max.
Edited by ally on Mar 25, 2013 at 05:12 PM

http://files.modacity.net/software/3dsmax/

There's the trial installer. You should just be able to re enter your key code even if you've lost the installer.

what if you just got a new plugins folder? is that all you need?

ok i tried deleting everything but that still didn't work. It didn't even let me put in the key. could it be something in the registry?

Edit: Just installed max 9 and it works. but i don't like 9 as much and i'm not use to it. i want 8 to work. any ideas?
Edited by darkassassin14 on Apr 3, 2013 at 02:00 AM