Hi Guys. I'm new to this Forum so not quite sure if I'm in the correct category. Please let me know if I am or not.
I have been using Autocad 2002 for many years and because I'm an 'oldie' , I am reluctant to change to a newer version. I am running the software on Windows 7 Home premium and work from home.
Very recently, I have suddenly received the following message when downloading SOME drawings and also if I have several opened, this message will occur: 'Fatal Error Unhandled Access Validation Reading 0x00004 Exception at 3092ce3eh'. The software shuts down.
I think it may have occured when I tried to download a drawing from a later edition Autocad. I cannot see anything on this forum about that particular Error. I have tried the following:
1. Uninstalled and re-installed ( no change)
2. Restored computer to earlier time (no change)
3. Performed both rootkit and antivirus scans (both revealed no problem)
4. Performed Check Disc (no errors)
5. Not all drawings are affected. Why?
Is there anyone who has come across this before and has an answer?ullyses2012-01-18 12:44:10

There is no problem with your software , only that in windows 7 autocad 2002 doesn't run, You must run a new version of autocad 2010 or newer.There is an application on Windows 7 to use software versions running on Windows XP or more ago, but with older versions of autocad  does not work, just that you make a partition on your hard drive and upload 2 operating systems of windows.

Thanks for the info. However, I've been running Acad 2002 for over 6 months now in Windows 7 with no problems whatsoever, then suddenly one day, WHAM! Also, I can still see and amend many drawings, albeit one's that have a drawing format. That is weird. Wish I knew what the Fatal Error code was. Perhaps this could give me a clue.

I think it might have been as a result of a Windows update.  

Yes, I have to agree, this is entirely possible. Dangerous things, these Windows updates. Nobody ever knows what they are. My particular gripe is that they can cause untold misery in time and effort to try and solve something that is entirely out of our hands, just to try and earn a living wage. Serves me right I suppose for not buying up to date software.

meh...I just lost a mornings worth of work from the same error after attempting a FLATTEN command (JC, you reading this?? LOL)...I dont blame anything...sh1t happens...you get pissed...then ya do it all over again :) ahhhh the JOY of autocad!!

You had the same exact error as the original poster tulip?Are you using Windows 7 as well?

It has been mentioned previously that a Windows 7 update may have affected some of my drawings (i.e. I get the Error message as stated in the original message) and Autocad shuts down. However, why is it that I can still read some and not others? Does each drawing have a code? How can this be accessed? My ProE software only recognises those drawings that it can see as being able to be opened yet Autocad sees all the drawings with the .dwg suffix. Has anyone seen this type of thing before?

We were speculating about a probable cause.  No one said that the problem was 100% caused by a Windows update.Maybe some of your drawings are corrupt.

Yeah, I realise it was just speculation mainly as there doesn't seem, at this time, to be anything but a Windows update. I'm not sure about the corruption issue although it could be but I don't know how. As I said, with the introduction of a format into the drawing (did this on a Windows XP computer with an older version of the same drawing that I could not open in Windows 7), I can now open those that were not being able to be opened before. 98% of the drawings (I have over 2000) that do not have a drawing format are not openable. ALL of the drawings that do have a format are openable. I seems that the unformatted (I mean a 2D CAD design with a drawing format) require something that the drawing format produces to open it.

JC...Im using windows...XP64 bit LOL...my internet is even slower than my phone
But, I love it here...

I meant as in FULL specs.  That's just the very tip of the iceberg.Come on, don't hold out on us.  As soon as we stop laughing we promise to help.

umm...SP2, 7.92G RAM, intel core 2, 6700 @ 2.66GHz...pulled from 'properties' on 'my computer'
 
Oh and I forgot to say, synergis support got back to me (finally)...it was crashing so quick cause my virtual memory internal paging file size (er whatever ya call it) was like...1000mb or something...changed it to 16000mb max...what a difference! crashes less! who woulda thought! LOL

Did they have you set both the upper and lower limits at the same value?Is AutoCAD 2011 64-bit as well?I firmly believe every knowledgeable CAD user should be equally knowledgeable about computer hardware and the OS they are using as well.

Meh...computers are a mystery to me...something dosent work...why? a virus? wtf is that? ...too much ...fuzzy logic for me...and yeah, they call me an electrical designer LOL...im personally much more mechanically inclinded

One should know how the tools of their trade work.  Imagine a carpenter who did not know how a circular saw works.The more knowledge you have the more valuable to your company you become.

I totally agree...thats why I ask a boat load of questions! LOL remember? always learning!

Guys, are we going somewhat off track here? I'm still stuck with this damned Fatal Error and inaccessable drawings, tearing my hair out (noticably thinner these days) trying to work out why I have this problem. What territory am I encroaching by using a registry cleaner? Presumably if I backed up my registry, I could always fall back on that if other bits of software decided to fail? Would Autocad give me any answers do you think (not sure who to contact though)?

AutoDesk will only assist you if you are on Subscription.You could post to the AutoCAD Discussion forum at the AutoDesk website or over at the AUGI website.  You can also post at three other AutoCAD related help sites: The Swamp, AutoCAD Everything and CADTutor.  Since there isn't much information out there on this particular error then you'll have to troubleshoot the problem a step at a time thus eliminating possibilities as you progress.And don't forget that since AutoCAD is a Windows based program the problem could potentially lie within Windows so that further expands the things you have to look at.And finally there is your hardware.  Hardware has been known to contribute its fair share of problems as well.Re: Registry Cleaners.  The only one I ever trusted was Regedit by the Microsoft team itself.   The fact that you are using an old version of AutoCAD with a new version of Windows doesn't help either. 


John Connor2012-01-24 18:41:26

[QUOTE=ullyses]Yeah, I realise it was just speculation mainly as there doesn't seem, at this time, to be anything but a Windows update. I'm not sure about the corruption issue although it could be but I don't know how. As I said, with the introduction of a format into the drawing (did this on a Windows XP computer with an older version of the same drawing that I could not open in Windows 7), I can now open those that were not being able to be opened before. 98% of the drawings (I have over 2000) that do not have a drawing format are not openable. ALL of the drawings that do have a format are openable. I seems that the unformatted (I mean a 2D CAD design with a drawing format) require something that the drawing format produces to open it.[/QUOTE]AutoCAD 2002 can open DXF and DWG files.  Maybe it can import other file types but I don't know what they are.  AutoCAD 2012 can open Microstation drawings V7 and V8.  It can also attach PDFs and JPGs I believe.What do you mean you have drawings that do not have a drawing format?  What program was used to create the drawings?  What is their file extension?

Can you post a drawing, with a DWG file extension, that you can no longer open using AutoCAD 2002?  Maybe someone here can experiment with the drawing on their computer and report the results back here.

It hit me at work late today too, right after a Windows XP update.  Took my Civil 3D 2011 out completely.  I'll have a look in the morning if an uninstall/repair exercise does the trick, but if not I can pretty much kiss the morning goodbye.Dave.

Further experimentation on drawing files highlights the following:
I can open most .dwg drawings without the software coming up with the Fatal Error signal. The one's I can open, if I wish to update in any way, I can, and also save. However, if I close the drawing and open it up again, the software crashes.
I have googled and come up with an alternative 2D cad system that is free, namely Draftsight. Has anyone used it and what is it like?

Draftsight is an AutoCAD clone.  It functions much the same way as AutoCAD does.  It will open DWG files as well as save to the DWG file format.

ullyses: I asked four questions and you answered none of them.  For someone seeking help that is not going to get you very far.What do you mean you have drawings that do not have a drawing format? 
What program was used to create the drawings?What is their file
extension?Can you post a drawing, with a DWG file extension, that you can no longer open using AutoCAD 2002?

JC. Sorry, going bonkers.
To me, a drawing format is A0, A1, A2 etc. If I want a drawing with one of these formats, I will call it up as a blank form, rename and save and start the drawing. If I don't want to use a drawing format, then I will start in the 'Drawing 1' blank canvas and then rename to whatever.
I can create either of these in Autocad or I may create a part/assembly in ProEngineer, create a 2D drawing (.drg format) from that software and then convert to a DWG in that software.
The file extension is .DWG
Don't know how I can copy and paste a drawing into this forum. Have tried but the 'paste' bit is greyed out. Any ideas?

Could your problems be associated with the conversion of drawings produced in ProEngineer that are converted to a DWG format?Yes, they don't make it easy to post drawings here although a few people have resorted to uploading them into the CAD Blocks area.  But then, they aren't necessarily blocks then are they?When are you most likely to be on here?  I might unmask my private email address just long enough for you to jot it down before I make it disappear.  You could email your drawing sample directly to me.

[QUOTE=ullyses]JC. Sorry, going bonkers.
To me, a drawing format is A0, A1, A2 etc. Don't know how I can copy and paste a drawing into this forum. Have tried but the 'paste' bit is greyed out. Any ideas?[/QUOTE]

 
Most of us would probably call your "drawing format" a template.  That has a DWT filetype.  We'd also encourage you to create some for your own use.  They will contain all the same elements you currently have but they're specifically for starting new drawings.  The problem that often happens with the copy/paste idea is that problems proliferate.  You don't want that.  Set up some templates.  Make your most frequently used one your QNEW template.  Live long and prosper.
 
The 7th icon from the left up top in the message edit window is the file upload button.  To me it looks like a little folder with a zipper on it.  Click it and include your dwg/jpg/gif/zip goodies when you're having problems.  It's not as scary as you think.  We might be... but the interface isn't.
 

Dave.

btw... I managed to "fix" my Fatal Error problems this morning with a simple swap of a couple of corrupted DLL files.  In my case the Windows update pushed either AcInetEngine18.dll or AcInetEngineps18.dll or both off the cliff.  Lucky for me I still have AutoCAD LT 2011 on a computer at home.  Grabbing those files and replacing them on the work machine got me running again.
 
Not perfect maybe, but a 4-hr time saver.  Good enough for gobment work.
 
Dave.

gummint work...so THATS how you land a job in Hawaii! LOL

[QUOTE=tulip3D]
gummint work...so THATS how you land a job in Hawaii! LOL[/QUOTE]

I've been here going on 37 yrs now... have only been a gobslob for the last 14 or so.  Before that spent time in the real world of consulting and contracting.  I like to say that at this point I've become a very difficult person to BS because I've been in everybody's shoes.
 
But yeah... it's not so much how I landed here but how I've managed to stay here.
 
Dave.

JC..........on the road tomorrow drumming up some work so I'll respond to your last comments on Friday. I don't think it is a drawing that is the problem though.