Should I Upgrade to Windows XP Service Pack 3

So, very good question if you are using Autodesk products. Since only some of the 2009 products were tested on Service Pack 3, they are the only ones that Autodesk is stating will work with this release.

Here are some othe thoughts from the World Wide Web:

"Will my Autodesk software run on Service Pack 3?"
See http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=11279992&linkID=9240617

"The problem relates to machines with SP3 installed rebooting and then not allowing users to get so much as Safe Mode. The problem is mainly affecting AMD users who bought their machines from HP. Johansson attributes the problem to the way that HP puts images of Windows onto its machines, using the same copy for both Intel and AMD boxes."

See http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Windows-XP-SP3,5334.html

"If your computer is running “mission critical” applications, being cautious about installing any major update to your operating system is always the way to go. If you have more than one Windows XP computer, installing the update on a system that isn’t relied upon as heavily is a good way to understand how the update might impact your computers, especially in a business environment."

See http://www.lockergnome.com/windows/2008/05/02/should-i-install-xp-service-pack-3/

"How to remove Windows XP Service Pack 3 from your computer."

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/950249

"Problems with Symantec software: When you install Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Windows Vista SP 1, a tool that is called Fixccs.exe adds numerous registry keys in many locations (some of them within the Symantec registry keys) but is unable to remove them. Because of these registry keys, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

* Windows Device Manager is empty
* Missing Wireless network adaptors or other hardware devices
* Unable to connect using a wireless adapter"

See http://solutions.symantec.com/sdccommon/asp/symcu_defcontent_view.asp?ssfromlink=true&sprt_cid=b32555cd-1b26-4041-abac-882faf8d365f&docid=20080530144453EN

"A fundamental tenant of Defensive Computing is not to install newly released software. With Windows XP SP3, the reason to wait is software incompatibilities. Even though SP3 has underdone much testing, it's a big world and there are bound to be problems with some software. By waiting, you let everyone else find and fix the problems before you face them."

See http://news.cnet.com/8301-13554_3-9929300-33.html?hhTest=1

Let us know how you make out!

How to enable AutoCAD's Start Up Dialog Box in 2008 or 2009

Remember the old "Startup" dialog box that you could control from the System tab of the options dialog box? Well, it went POOF somewhere after 2006, or did it?

Although the dialog box is gone, the System Variable STARTUP remains.
Just set it to 1 to get the dialog box to reappear!

Eliminate Communication Center for Autodesk Products

Ever get that annoying Communication Center pop up window wanting you to uppdate your content, etc. for AutoCAD, AutoCAD Architecture, Civil 3D, etc?

This is caused by the constantly resident satellite program called "Communication Center" (WSCommCntr1.exe).

If you want to prevent it from running, here is what you do:

1. Start button-->Run--> regedit.exe
2. Search for the following location: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE--> SOFTWARE--> AUTODESK-->AutoCAD-->R##-->ACAD-###:###--> CADMANAGER CONTROL--> COMMUNICATION CENTER (substitute your version number for the ###'s above)
3. Right-click on "EnableCommunicationCenter" and choose modify.
4. Change the value data from 1 to 0 (zero).
5. Perform step #4 on the following as well: "EnableNonPatchNotifications" and "MaintenancePatchNotificationOption"'
6. In 2008 you may perfom this on Infocenter as well

That's it! Restart your computer and voila, WSCommCntr1.exe is not running.

If you don't want to "hack" the Registry, install the Cad Manager Contol Utilities from the Install Tools and Utilities option from any Set up executable:



Choose the Autodesk CAD Manager Tools:









After installing, run the program from Start->Programs->Autodesk->CAD Manager Tools->CAD Manager Contol Utility:




In the next dialog box, choose the version you want to edit:














In the CAD Manager Control Utility dialog box, uncheck items such as "Enable Live Update".


Cool, huh!

Hello World!

Well, here we go!
I'm going to try this BLOG thing.
I will be posting info, hints, etc. about Autodesk products such as ADT, Revit, and VIZ, as well as some tips about living with women (wife and two daughters), managing CAD Users, and life in general.

Should be interesting.

Reid