Annoying Max crash 80% of the time when loading a new scene

[tricky]

Not exactly sure why this is happening, but we have a few large projects on the go at the moment, and when we have a scene loaded into Max and then load a new scene in that same session, Max crashes 80% of the time. It tends to be when we have been working on the more complex scenes. We are using Max2009 x64 on systems with 16GB RAM. The process is as follows:-

1) open new session of max
2) load 'complex' scene
3) make some changes to the 'complex' scene
4) save work (or save as)
5) load new scene or reset scene (into same session)
6) crash 80% of the time (with the offer to send a report to autodesk blah blah blah)

What is likely to be the cause of this? We are so used to it now that we expect it to happen every time! Its downright annoying.

[Morne]

can't be sure, but maybe memory?
try gc() before you open the new scene?
just crasping at straws

if that doesn work, then just before you open the new scene, delete most things in current scene and save it as a temp file (just to get a smaller scene which should have smaller mmeory footprint, then opn your new big scene)

[bardo]

me too with a little difference.
Crashes are few but always, when i open a new scene or load or i exit from max, the software frezee...so I have to kill from task manager and relaunch it.

It's very annoying...

I'm on 3dsmax 2012 with all SPs installed and also the last Subscription Advantage Pack

[tricky]

can't be sure, but maybe memory?
try gc() before you open the new scene?
just crasping at straws

if that doesn work, then just before you open the new scene, delete most things in current scene and save it as a temp file (just to get a smaller scene which should have smaller mmeory footprint, then opn your new big scene)

Will try the garbage thing. Thanks for tip.

[tricky]

Unfortunately the gc() didn't help

[vlado]

Do you get the CER dialog?

Best regards,
Vlado

[tricky]

Do you get the CER dialog?

Best regards,
Vlado

CER dialog? What's that?

[stevesideas]

Im currently working on a complex scene and found that the vrayIES lights were causing crashes. I got my DR renders complaining about "not a valid IES light". Since deleting them and using vray lights I haven't had any crashes.

I also merged the crashing scene into a new fresh max scene. This can somtimes help resolve crash issues.

[tricky]

Im currently working on a complex scene and found that the vrayIES lights were causing crashes. I got my DR renders complaining about "not a valid IES light". Since deleting them and using vray lights I haven't had any crashes.

I also merged the crashing scene into a new fresh max scene. This can somtimes help resolve crash issues.

No IES lights in my scene to try unfortunately.

Also, we are using file linking from Autocad, so merging isn't really an option. Damn it.

Nevermind - may the frustration continue!

[Morne]

Tricky, are you guys still on Max 2009, maybe test it with a trial version of 2012 and see if it all as is better with this problem? If it is, then maybe good motivation to upgrade? EDIT: Just noticed Bardo having same issues on 2012

[tricky]

Tricky, are you guys still on Max 2009, maybe test it with a trial version of 2012 and see if it all as is better with this problem?
If it is, then maybe good motivation to upgrade?

Nice idea, but we don't really have the time to start that kind of test at the moment. It would be a lot of work.

To be honest, we are desperately trying NOT to upgrade any time soon. For one, it costs a fortune! Also, I see no real benefits for our way of working if we were to upgrade. We use only a fraction of the capabilities of Autocad2009 and Max2009. Its the plugins like vray, forestpro, bercon etc that are a more important part of our pipeline. If vray, for instance, were to stop supporting Max2009, then we would be in trouble, and would consider an upgrade.

Until then, we are trying to resist putting any more money into Autodesks pockets for 'features' that we have no need of.

[Neilg]

I've always had that problem with really big scenes, tried finding a fix for ages and couldnt.
you just have to close max and open a new copy for every scene you want.

[tricky]

I've always had that problem with really big scenes, tried finding a fix for ages and couldnt.
you just have to close max and open a new copy for every scene you want.

Yep - seems to be the only way.

[themaxxer]

I have the same problems like tricky explained. I have no fix except a lot of "control+s" and quit max over taskmanager... really annoying issue.

best regards
themaxxer

[Donald2B]

I too have experienced these kinds of crashes when opening large files if I am already working in a large/complex file.

My solution is to reset max before I open the next large file. It has saved me a LOT of headaches.