I know it is an old program... but I am using autocad 2002 and have been for 2 years. Yesterday afternoon I went to open a dwg. and it took almost 3 minutes. The dwg is only 237 KB. I don't know what happened but now all of my dwg's are taking forever to open. I am using windows 7 however I have to use the virtual world XP mode to run cad. I have had no issues like this for the last 2 years. Can anyone give me some idea how to fix this?

Perhaps something got corrupted, whereby you may want to reinstall AutoCAD.Unlikely, but possibly a lisp virus.

STOP!  Do NOT uninstall/reinstall AutoCAD until you have exhausted all other options.Did you try shutting down AutoCAD then restarting it?Did you try shutting down your computer then restarting it (cold boot not Ctrl-Alt-Delete which is a warm boot)?Are you working off a network or on a stand-alone workstation?If you are on a network did you try disconnecting from the network, booting up your computer then starting AutoCAD?What is the size of a typical drawing file?Did you make any recent hardware or software changes?Is the CommCenter disabled?Are you making using of Xrefs or Layer Filters?Have you run the Windows disk cleanup utility lately?Is Windows Indexing disabled?Do you let Windows download and install updates and fixes automatically?Have you created any Restore points lately?Unless you are actually using lisp or working with files from outside your company (maybe from China) I highly doubt you have a lisp virus.


John Connor2014-02-20 20:20:42

I tried restarting AutoCAD, tried the cold boot and am a stand alone work station. I'm not on a network or using lisp. When I start a new dwg from the AutoCAD icon the dwg comes up right away. When I open any existing dwg regardless of size it is taking forever.

You left out answers to a few other questions.  Here's another one....Did you recheck the paths to your drawing files?I have heard of people much like yourself who somehow got an older version of AutoCAD to work under Win7 or Win8 then one day WHAM! they are out of business due to a change Windows made as part of the update process.Do you do any 3D work?You list AutoCAD 2011 in your Profile too.  Why are you using 2002?Did you try opening the same drawings using AutoCAD 2011?If none of the questions I asked lead to the root of the problem then do a REPAIR of the installation first.  In many cases that may be enough.  Then next step would be a plain REINSTALL (no uninstall).  Final step would be a complete UNINSTALL (following AutoDesk recommended procedure) to prepare for a clean INSTALL.


John Connor2014-02-20 18:57:57

My typical dwg file is around 800-900 KB, haven't made any software changes lately, not using Xrefs or layer filtering, have run disk cleanup recently, yes let windows update automatically, haven't created any restore points just the ones from windows updates. I also restored to a point 2 days prior to this and it didn't fix the issue.I don't know how to check paths to dwg files or how to check if the CommCenter is disabled. I run the AutoCAD program but don't really know a lot about computers if that makes any sense.Yes I do some 3D work as well. I use the 2011 cad at home and the 2002 cad at work.    

Thanks for your time and advice John.

Paths are listed under Options.Can't recall now if the CommCenter was included with 2002.  Maybe I jumped the gun there.Why aren't you running 2011 at work too or something newer like 2014?I've got something I need to do.  I'll check this thread later in the day.  Good luck.
John Connor2014-02-20 20:21:31

I work with a semi retired engineer who refuses to use the newer AutoCad programs. He says they crash to much. He doesn't even have windows 7 he still uses XP. That's why he has no issues like I have. I have to run cad in windows virtual PC then go to windows XP Mode. It's a royal pain.... now I got this issue. Everything else works fine in the virtual world.

So as it stands now you're dead in the water.Well, what would you like to do now?  Feeling lucky?
John Connor2014-02-20 22:53:50

Yes looks like he's going to pay me to wait for the dwg's to open.... I guess. Once they are open they run and fine.I don't know what else to do. I'm not feeling to lucky now lol however I'm always open to suggestions.Thanks a lot for your time with this I really appreciate it.

Once they load they run fine.  Hmmmm.  What does the path to one of these drawing files look like?

I think this is something to do with windows not AutoCAD because when I put the dwg on a usb and load it into the engineers machine it works fine.

Hi,Pruge that file and remove unwanted blocks,lettering styles;ect.Mirinchige

What is the difference between the two machines?  Is the engineer's computer better?

No actually it is older and he is running windows XP not windows 7 like mine.

So the only way you two share files is if you walk them over to his computer on a USB stick?  Please tell me he doesn't make you use a floppy disk.Too bad you do some 3D too.  If it were just 2D I'd have a solution for you in a blink of an eye.
John Connor2014-02-21 17:03:50

Are you having trouble browsing to select your file? Does the delay happen immediately after you issue the open command - or doe it bog down after you've selected a file to open?

The drawings take a long time to open.  Once opened the OP says they are fine.Draw your own conclusions as the same drawings experience no problem on his boss's computer.  All this has been covered in the previous posts.  Might want to acquaint yourself with them.