3dsmax7-Errors beyond belief-Please Help!

[Caldabolg]

Ok here here is a few of my problem with max7.No wait alot of problems...
-Ignore backfacing doesn't work.

-SDL check wont check the model anymore(It only works if you select the
poly's of your object then apply and sdl check...making it impossible to find errors)

-Boolean creates cobwebs halfway across the model, and even deletes faces entirely.Sometimes, it will delete both objects.

-Connect will create backwards polygons sometimes.

Overwriting max 7 wont help either...I've tried it.The computer isn't even connected to the internet so it isnt a virus.What is it?

Heres my theory...3ds max 7 is only supposed to run on pentium systems.I have an anthlon board.So does anybody here have an anthlon board, with max 7 running smoothly?

Also, when you boot up max 7 I'll get a glance of the aircraft I was flying in flight sim half an hour ago,in the viewports. Restarting the computer doesn't help either.

On my travels thrue the internet...I have never heard of anybody having these problems...why?!?!

Any help would be awsome!!!

[Ninto]

I can't help you with your problem, but I can say that I have an Athlon board and I'm running 3dsm7 smoothly.

[Caldabolg]

Alright, So I know its not the board.Thanks a lot Ninto(: I just found out a few hours ago on how to wipe max's memory(Maybe it'll help).Im yet to find out how it runs.

[JanJaap]

Here is the why and/or solutions for some of your problems:

Boolean creates cobwebs halfway across the model, and even deletes faces entirely.Sometimes, it will delete both objects.

It is common knwodledge that max's boolean operation sucks big time.
the solution is either buying the power boolean plugin or work around it with polylines or extrusions.

Connect will create backwards polygons sometimes.

happens to me quite often aswell. I don't why it happens but I do know that selecting the polygons or the element and pressing 'flip' in of the submesu's

Also, when you boot up max 7 I'll get a glance of the aircraft I was flying in flight sim half an hour ago,in the viewports. Restarting the computer doesn't help either.

That also happens to me and ussually it disappears when max finished loading.
It isn't bad it just your vidcard.
But what is it with that restarting?

[quote]Heres my theory...3ds max 7 is only supposed to run on pentium systems.I have an anthlon board.So does anybody here have an anthlon board, with max 7 running smoothly?[/qoute]

AMD Athlon XP 2400+ is the heart of my machine and it's running smooth.
So frankly you theory holds water like a sieve.

On my travels thrue the internet...I have never heard of anybody having these problems...why?!?!

Because most people see them as irritations, quirks or a good reason not to use max but a different program.

Overwriting max 7 wont help either...I've tried it.The computer isn't even connected to the internet so it isnt a virus.What is it?

Frankly (again) anybody who can program a virus that does this can either ask a 1500 dollar per hour wage at a software manufacture or is permanently banned from Las Vegas.

That are the problems that I can explain and/or solve hopefully there is somebody else who know the rest.

Jan-Jaap

[Caldabolg]

Hmm I thought that that theory was bogus...doesn't hurt to ask.
"Somebody" said that a virus could be giving me these problems...

So basicly what your saying is..."Max has its bugs....deal with it..."And I am dealing with it,It's just frustrating to spend more time fighting with max then actual creating something with it.

I can't help you with your problem, but I can say that I have an Athlon board and I'm running 3dsm7 smoothly.

Ninto do you have these problems with max?

[fastrak]

Howdy,
I've been using AMD chips since..well I could afford a pc. Been running with max on them ever since.
Never seen the image problem with max startup.
Booleans...yuck...I use power booleans, or polyediting and edge extrude to much better success.
Ignore backfacing is touchy...depending if the opposite face is truly, perfectly facing the other direction.
Never had a problem with SDL
Yeah, connect can sometime do that, and in create face under poly editing too. Just flip.
Sorry, I wish could help

[JanJaap]

A small addition:

The image problem is most likely caused by the fact that you you 3d driver set on OpenGL.
You check that at customize>preferences>viewports>choose driver.

So basicly what your saying is..."Max has its bugs....deal with it..."And I am dealing with it,It's just frustrating to spend more time fighting with max then actual creating something with it.

Frankly? Yes I am.

And about that fighting well you know, atleast I hope you do, a few tricks that will make you score a KO quicker so you spend less time fighting and more time creating.

Jan-Jaap

[Rinne]

Yep, can easily be a video driver/card cause

I do more often have Problems like these when using D3D than OGL, but I guess that depends...

It can also be a setting in the video drivers, doesn't have to be the driver itself..

I can recommend updating your drivers, not only your graphics drivers, but all of them, motherboard, chipset, everything (if that's possible, it is with my athlon)

For the graphics driver I can recommend the Omegadrivers for ATI and NVIDIA , they should give you a major performance boost, and also increase stability!

If that doesn't work, best thing you can do is contact discreet, I guess, they should at least know what causes these errors.

But the others are right, most of the errors are max sided, and I guess you'll have them in most of the other progs, too.

[Caldabolg]

JanJaap-Well I am learning a few tricks (number 1 trick...stay the hell away from boolean)Just cut and extrude what yah want.It seems like the slow way, but in the end it isn't.Fighting with boolean just takes longer.

Rinne-Well,I am planning to overwrite my computer soon.Then I'll see about getting updated drivers.I dont see how video card issues could cause modeling issues though.As for the "bugs", I believe that this is just part of 3d programs in general.Someday they will have the bugs fixed.

Well I'm on D3D right now, I'll try OGL and see if it improves the situation.

[yousrekh]

I have all the same problems as you sir, except I don't use Booleans, so I'm not sure whether they work or not. I have just done a fresh format too, and the problems persist.

- When I create polygons they are sometimes backwards; either Flip their Normals, or just press Undo and draw it again in the opposite direction (I have always done them anti-clockwise, so, when they don't work, I do them clockwise. It must be something to do with an error - perhaps one which causes the program to 'think' that you are looking on the face from the opposite direction.)

- STL checker has stopped working for me too. I have to select all polygons for an accurate check!

[MonteCristo]

Does STL not function in every document? If so, then the answer is fuctifino! But if it's only in specific documents, then you may need to refresh them.

If STL check is having problems on a complex mesh then it could be a problem with the mesh I guess. Have you tried using an XForm first? This resets you mesh -- though sometimes may turn it inside out. If so, just Flip it back either by using a Normal Modifier or by Collapsing the stack and flipping at Element or Polygon sub-object level. Then XForm again.

There may be a problem with the document itself. There are lot's of possiblilities for this. In any event, try Resetting max, and just merging the objects in to the new scene. This can sometimes help when a file has become corrupted.

[yousrekh]

I'm pretty sure it happens with all my documents.

What is Xform then?