AutoCAD install fails

By | April 20, 2017
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The AutoDesk installer does not do any prequalification checks. This means that when a deployment, which has a dozen or more components,  begins it will install what it can until it finds a resource missing and then it will stop without any notice. You will be left with some of the components, but AutoCAD will be missing.

Cause:

AutoCAD requires the PC to have the correct version of the .Net framework (extends the capability of the windows environment for developers) in order to install. Even though, the most recent release of the .Net framework contains all of the preceding versions, AutoCAD is looking for the exact version it requires.  This means if you install Quickbooks 2016 on a new Windows 10 PC, then try to install AutoCAD 2013, it will fail. This is because QuickBooks has installed a newer version of .Net. Then when CAD is installed, it tries to install an older version of .Net, this Microsoft installer sees the newer version of .Net has been installed and knows it is not needed so it stops.

Solution – Windows 10:

From the Program Control Panel enable .NET 3.5. (Maybe – disable Windows Defender and UAC)

Solution – Windows 7:

One, always install software chronologically based on its release date. Two, you can force the installation of the older Microsoft redistributable by uninstalling the more recent versions first. Here is how:

  1. From another PC that has the same version of CAD installed look in programs and sort by date. You will see a version of “Microsoft Visual C++ 20nn  redistributable – x64…” (this is the .Net framework for the language CAD was written in) that was installed on the same day as AutoCAD.
  2. On the PC where the deployment failed to complete, note the versions and uninstall all of the Microsoft Visual C++ redistributables that are newer than the one you identified in step one.
  3. Rerun the AutoDesk deployment. It will add the correct version of Microsoft Visual C++ and continue where it left off.
  4. You may need to replace the newer Microsoft Visual C++ components to support your newer applications. This will usually reinstall when you launch the newer software