BIM Q&A: Effective Solutions for Fixing Revit Startup Crashes

BIM Q&A | BIM Software Tips: How to Fix Revit Startup Crashes

Revit startup crashes can be caused by several common issues:

1. The graphics card does not support 3D acceleration.
2. The graphics card supports 3D acceleration, but the driver is incorrectly configured.
3. The Autodesk licensing process is disabled by optimization software.
4. Revit is incompatible with the current version of Internet Explorer (IE) on the system.
5. Incomplete uninstallation and reinstallation of Autodesk Revit.

Solutions:

1. Graphics Card Lacks 3D Acceleration Support:
Disable 3D acceleration by editing the Revit.ini file. Open the file and search for the UseGraphicsHardware entry. Set it to 0 (i.e., UseGraphicsHardware=0). If the entry does not exist, add it manually.

2. Graphics Card Supports 3D Acceleration but Driver Is Misconfigured:
Update or reconfigure your graphics card driver. It is recommended to download the latest WHQL-certified driver from the official website of your graphics card manufacturer.

3. Autodesk Licensing Service Disabled by Optimization Software:
Some optimization tools (such as 360 Security Guard or Kingsoft Guard) may disable the licensing service. First, disable any startup items related to FLEXnet Licensing Service 64 or FLEXnet Licensing Service in your optimization software. Then, navigate to Control Panel → Administrative Tools → Services, locate these services, and set their startup type to either Automatic or Manual.

4. Revit Incompatibility with Internet Explorer:
This issue is rare but has been reported. If you upgraded from Windows 7 SP1 with IE9 to IE10, consider rolling back to IE9:
Go to Programs and Features → View Installed Updates, uninstall Windows Internet Explorer 10, and restart your computer.

5. Incomplete Uninstallation and Reinstallation of Autodesk Revit:
To fully uninstall Revit 201X versions and remove all residual files, follow these steps. Be sure to back up any custom families or templates before proceeding. Log in as a local system administrator and temporarily disable antivirus software.

Uninstallation:

• Windows XP: Go to Control Panel → Add or Remove Programs and uninstall specific Revit 201X products.
• Windows Vista and Windows 7: Go to Control Panel → Programs and Features and uninstall specific Revit 201X products.
• Remove Autodesk 201X libraries:
  Windows XP: Delete these from Control Panel → Add or Remove Programs.
  Windows Vista and 7: Uninstall Autodesk Material Library 201X Medium, Autodesk Material Library 201X Base, and other related Autodesk Material Library 201X products.

Delete Residual Folders:
After uninstalling, manually delete the following folders using Windows Explorer:

• Windows XP (32-bit and 64-bit):
  C:Program FilesAutodeskRevit 201X
  C:Documents and Settings%username%Application DataAutodeskREVIT201X
  C:Documents and Settings%username%Local SettingsApplication DataAutodeskRevitAutodesk Revit 201X
  C:Documents and SettingsAll UsersApplication DataAutodeskRVT 201X
• Windows Vista and Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit):
  C:Program FilesAutodeskRevit 201X
  C:ProgramDataAutodeskRVT 201X
  C:Users%username%AppDataLocalAutodeskRevitAutodesk Revit 201X
  C:Users%username%AppDataRoamingAutodeskRevit201X

Note: Folder paths may vary depending on your version and installation directory.

Delete Registry Keys:
Warning: Editing the Windows registry incorrectly can cause system instability. Always back up the registry before making changes.
Open the Registry Editor by typing Regedit in the Start menu’s Run dialog, then delete the following keys:

• 32-bit Windows XP, Vista, and 7:
  HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAutodeskRevitAutodesk Revit 201X
  HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAutodeskRevit201X
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAutodeskRevitAutodesk Revit 201X
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAutodeskRVT 201X
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAutodeskRevit201X
• 64-bit Windows XP, Vista, and 7:
  HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareAutodeskRevitAutodesk Revit 201X
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAutodeskRVT 201X
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAutodeskRevit201X
  HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREAutodeskRevitAutodesk Revit 201X

Note that Revit product names may vary slightly. After deleting these keys, restart your computer and attempt to reinstall Revit.

Additional Tips:
If you cannot find the required *.MSI installation file to uninstall, locate the installation media and copy the corresponding *.MSI file to the prompted directory (usually a temporary folder) before attempting uninstallation. Some security optimization tools might delete these MSI files during system cleanup, causing uninstall failures even when using registry methods.

If the MSI file is missing and you cannot find it on the installation media, your only option may be manual uninstallation. This involves closing uninstallation software processes, manually deleting software folders, and removing all related registry keys—a complex and tedious process. Alternatively, you can use Microsoft’s official tool to fix registry issues. This tool:

• Removes invalid registry entries on 64-bit systems.
• Fixes Windows registry keys for upgrade or patch issues.
• Resolves installation problems blocking new programs.
• Fixes uninstall issues preventing new installs or updates.

Deleting License Files:
Perform step 1 before attempting step 2. If step 1 resolves the licensing issue, do not proceed to step 2.

Step 1:
Locate the license authorization data file at C:ProgramDataFLEXnet. Find files named similarly to adskflex_**********_tsf.data and delete them (make sure to back them up first). You may need to stop the FLEXnet service before deleting.

Step 2 (only if Step 1 fails):
Delete license certificate files located at C:ProgramDataAutodeskAdlm and C:ProgramDataAutodeskAdlmASR. Each product folder inside ASR contains four subfiles. Back up all files before deletion, and be careful not to delete the ProductInformation.Pit file.

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