Troubleshooting
 
 
 

This section describes a collection of problematic situations and what you can do to diagnose and fix them. These include many common problems that are reported to Autodesk Product Support, and the things you can try in order to resolve the problems yourself.

When starting to diagnose a problem, by yourself or with the intent of contacting Product Support, you should take stock of the situation by answering the following questions.

Issues Addressed in This Section

Assertion Failed Errors

Merging Corrupt Files

Remember Backup Files

Boolean Objects Disappear

Creases or Ridges Show in Boolean Objects

Consecutive Booleans Results in Disappearing Components

Splines and Boolean Operations

Tips for Successful Boolean Operations

3ds Max Slows Down

3ds Max Doesn't Start Quickly

Files Take a Long Time to Open

Slow Response to Open or Drag Dialogs

Objects Disappear When the Camera Gets Close

Zooming and Panning Are Too Fast or Slow

Large Fonts and 3ds Max

Lost Dialogs and Windows

Missing Command Panel

Missing Transform Gizmos

Multiple or Missing Buttons on the Toolbars

Direct3D Failed to Initialize Message

Dual-Monitor Configuration

Spanning Across Monitors

Viewport Transparency

  • Handling File Corruptions

    Few things are more aggravating when attempting to open a scene then encountering an Assertion Failed error, File Open Failed error, or perhaps no error at all. The file just does not load. This typically occurs when the file is corrupt.

  • Fixing Boolean Problems

    Boolean operations are a powerful addition to your modeling toolbox; however, they can sometimes give strange or unexpected results. The Boolean button is found on the Create panel in the Compound Objects list; it allows you to join, subtract, intersect, and cut objects. Following is a list of problem scenarios and steps you can follow to fix them.

  • Performance Issues While Running 3ds Max

    Slow or sluggish performance while running 3ds Max can usually be attributed to either a video configuration conflict or a memory allocation problem. The hard thing about performance problems is narrowing down the culprit. Here are some common situations that can hamper operation of 3ds Max and steps to take to rectify them.

  • Problems Caused by Unit Settings

    The unit settings of a model can often get you into trouble. Understanding some of the common problems can help you avoid them. This section addresses the two most common problems that modelers encounter.

  • User Interface Problems and Recovery

    This section addresses several common user-interface situations and how you can fix them.

  • Video Driver and Display Problems

    Because 3ds Max heavily relies upon the graphics card in your system, many problems that you might encounter while using 3ds Max can be attributed to the video. Such problems include slow performance, refresh delays, user interface discrepancies, and so on.