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Posted by: Dutchygamer 18 Jun 2016, 10:30

Recently got a new PC, which comes with Windows 10 Home 64 bit. After reinstalling all my modding tools, I tried yesterday to work on a model in my usual 3dsmax7. I encountered two issues:
1) 3dsmax crashes / throws an error when you close the program. Not that critical, but a bit annoying
2) when you try to navigate towards a different folder when using Save as, the entire program freezes. Using the folder navigation for Opening files and merging files works for some reason

As you can imagine, the second one basicly makes the program unusable. I already run it with Windows XP SP 2 compatibility mode, and force it to run as admin, but alas. My last option I have that should work is running it on an older Windows version inside a VM, but that brings a lot of hassle with it I would prefer to stay away from.

So my question(s): has anyone be able to get 3dsmax7 to run properly on Windows 10? What are the alternatives if this doesn't work? I have read people using 3dsmax7 only to import W3D and then save it so it can be processed and exported in a newer version of 3dsmax, but I'm unsure how this works.

Posted by: TimeBurner 18 Jun 2016, 11:14

Yeah,the w3d importer doesnt work with newer versions of max. I tried 8 and the w3d importer works,just fine. Export it from max 8 and then import it to a newer version.In my case,2017. I have windows 7 64 bit tho. So I dont know what's causing your trouble. Maybe it has some relation with directx or the redistributals(whatever that is)

Posted by: Dutchygamer 18 Jun 2016, 18:17

Okay, so I acquired 3dsmax 2013 and so far I got the (coolfile) W3D importer to work. However, the W3D exporter (from the BFME Mod SDK) doesn't work as expected. If I put the necessary files in the folder of 3dsmax 2013 it throws errors on start.

An oddity I notice that if I open an existing model I saved in 3dsmax7 (as .max and exported as W3D) the program throws an error that "Max2W3d.dle failed to load". If I locate that file and put in the proper folder 3dsmax 2013 throws errors again. I can ignore the error and open the file, but it appears completely black. I'm not sure if this has something to do with the error or is something else.

I'm also unsure on how to process W3D files now. I can import them in 2013, but can't rig them for W3D or export them (as the tools don't work). Opening existing .max files created in 7 in 2013 throws errors but seem to work anyway. Exporting only works on 7, but I'm not sure how to get files from 2013 to 7 (opening .max file from 2013 in 7 crashes).

Posted by: Zeke 18 Jun 2016, 23:24

You can export models from 2013 to .3ds format so that it can be opened in 7/8, but the best way to work on ZH models, imo, is to simply use 3ds max 7/8.

You can use the newer 2k versions, but at the end of the day you still need to export it as .3ds or .obj to 3ds max 7/8 for rigging anyway, and most, if not all, of the new tools don't give you any real advantage over 7/8.

Try getting max 8 to work on 10, if it doesn't, you're only hope might be to go back to windows 7. Either that or hire someone to do the rigging and exporting for you.

Posted by: Dutchygamer 19 Jun 2016, 12:01

I will try 8 then and see if that works.

EDIT: okay, the error on close seems to be gone, but the navigation freeze still remains. However, navigation through the folders instead of using the picker doesn't seem to freeze, so it can be worked around (I think). The W3D importer and exporter also work, so I think I'm able to work again. Cheers for the suggestion Zeke

Posted by: Graion Dilach 19 Jun 2016, 12:11

Could you try renaming the 3dsmax executable in the folder? Might be Windows's hacksupport (enable these hacks to run this thing) goes off. (Found this solution on the internet though.)

Posted by: Dutchygamer 20 Jun 2016, 20:18

I'd prefer not chancing breaking it further. It works as it is now