Tip [3DS Max 8] Troubleshooting common errors/glitches

3DS Max 8 is an old program. On newer systems there are bound to be errors from time to time. Here is how you can resolve those issues if/when the pop up:

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DLL Error:

In random and rare cases when opening the program you may receive a DLL error. As far as NR2003 development is concerned it has no effect.



Solution: Close the Program and reopen it. If DLL error persists system restart usually cleans it up.


Right click viewport menu rendering glitch:

Sometimes when you are editing a model you may accidentally hit right click in the viewport, while this context menu is useful on some PC's after it is opened it will cause a permanent pixel bake on your screen, even if you minimize the program it still appears:



This occurs more often in scenes you have open that have a lot of model and textures.

Solution: Close the Program and reopen it. OR minimize 3ds Max and when on your desktop press WIN + D to refresh the desktop, this should remove the pixel bake.

 

[Mystical]

A new error I found when reinstalling 3DS MAX 8 on Windows 11:

Program hangs forever on Launch screen:

3DS Max 8 hangs on the splash screen getting stuck as it loads plugins. The program will never launch regardless of compatibility mode or restarting pc.


Solution: Observe the folder directory the splash screen is stuck on. It most likely is stuck on a file called 'mentalray.dlz'. To fix follow these steps:

1) Close 3ds max 8 via task manager killing the EXE

2) Go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\3dsMax8\stdplugs and locate the file 'mentalray.dlz'

3) Either move this file out of the 3ds max folder directory or simply delete this file (most likely you will never be using this old program to do mental ray renders so its not important for NR2003 mod creation.

4) Start 3DS Max 8 again, program should finally load as expected.

 

[MeandMe]

A new error I found when reinstalling 3DS MAX 8 on Windows 11:

Program hangs forever on Launch screen:

3DS Max 8 hangs on the splash screen getting stuck as it loads plugins. The program will never launch regardless of compatibility mode or restarting pc.


Solution: Observe the folder directory the splash screen is stuck on. It most likely is stuck on a file called 'mentalray.dlz'. To fix follow these steps:

1) Close 3ds max 8 via task manager killing the EXE

2) Go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Autodesk\3dsMax8\stdplugs and locate the file 'mentalray.dlz'

3) Either move this file out of the 3ds max folder directory or simply delete this file (most likely you will never be using this old program to do mental ray renders so its not important for NR2003 mod creation.

4) Start 3DS Max 8 again, program should finally load as expected.

3DS Max 8 no longer installs from scratch at all if you use Windows 11 24H2, due to a raysat_3dsmax8server failed to start error, which is related to Mental Ray. (https://www.file.net/process/raysat_3dsmax8server.exe.html) it for-fits any installation. Any fix?

 

[Mystical]

So does the installation not complete essentially?

I am on Windows 11 Pro 23H2 and had it installed for a long time. I do see raysat_3dsmax8server is in my task manager when 3ds max is launched. So I ended the task and 3ds still worked. Then I closed 3ds and went into my services and disabled raysat_3dsmax8server so it wouldn't launch the next time I started 3ds max and didn't get any errors.

 

[MeandMe]

So does the installation not complete essentially?

No.

 

[MeandMe]

I am on Windows 11 Pro 23H2 and had it installed for a long time. I do see raysat_3dsmax8server is in my task manager when 3ds max is launched. So I ended the task and 3ds still worked. Then I closed 3ds and went into my services and disabled raysat_3dsmax8server so it wouldn't launch the next time I started 3ds max and didn't get any errors.

I don't have any images but if you already have 3DS Max 8 installed like you said above, it hangs on the loading screen, but on 24H2, removing metalray does not make any difference. You then have a phony serial number of just zeros i.e. "000-00000000" (not 666-12345678) when you try to register the product the key goes through, but then it comes back in a never-ending loop.

It does not seem to go through when reinstalling, because it says "raysat_3dsmax8server failed to start error"

Highly likely I'll need to do Emulator like virtual Box with XP, because 3DS Max works totally fine on my physical XP, with raysat_3dsmax8server, which it seems to really need.

 

[Mystical]

Interesting. I'm not sure what in 24H2 would cause 3ds max installation to be messed up now. But yeah running via virtual machine may unfortunately only be the next option I can think of for you if installations on windows 11 is no longer working. I have no idea if this installation is just related to your pc or its going to affect everyone when they reach 24H2 and need to reinstall.

I am assuming you used the installation packages I had provided? I know those works as I installed 3ds multiple times across various pcs with it ranging from windows 10-11 on desktop/laptops.

 

[kingwinkie]

So I got 3DS Max 8 up and running I can export to pas and run make3do with the make_a.psg. Everything seems to be working.

Windows 10 pro

When it starts up I get an error saying.

Class <PandaDirectXMaxExporter> from <PandaDirectMaxExporter_x86.dle> has duplicate class ID: not loading
This may be due to a duplicate plug-in path.

Continue showing this warning for other duplicates?

As I said I can export and the file seems to work in game. I'm just clicking through the error and treating it as a small annoyance.

I just figured I would ask just in case or if anyone knows how to fix it.

 

[Mystical]

I've not seen that error before, only one I ran into on win11 was a mentalray.dlz hang that I mention above. You could always try deleting the panda plugin and try a reinstall to see if it still occurs.

 

[MeandMe]

I decided to share this in case it helps anyone. NOTE: This definitely would not apply to everyone, it's just what I went through at least.

After uninstalling, I imported my 3DS Max 8 that works on XP to Windows 11, and placed in C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\Autodesk

and added the missing .dll files and then got this:



It detects that you have not licenced it, So I named it xxAutodesk, and left it.

I went to the installer that worked before, and right-clicked went into compatibility mode, and put: "Run This Program For Previous Version Of Windows" (It worked before).



I then clicked on the 3dsMax8.exe installer, I forgot to add Serial Number: 666-12345678



It starts to install, in C:\ProgramFiles(x86)\Autodesk



Then I get this:



Before I Ended the installation this time I renamed the Autodesk folder to "Autodesk - From Scratch" so I still have some files.



Clicking on the 3DS Max.exe it tries to start, then register product. I also quickly removed the metalray.dlz



I then enter my code:




Says it registered:

I then doesn't go though and goes back to Activate the product, probably because files are missing because it doesn't complete install.



I then named xxAutodesk, to "Autodesk - From XP" and backed up Autodesk - From Scratch (Now called Autodesk - From Scratch Backup).



Somehow Raysat is installed, and is in services.msc in Start+Run (Windows+R) and disabled it:



I created a new folder called Autodesk, placed the from scratch files in there, THEN copied the From XP files (The files missing), and said NO if there is any repeats (Skip). It then should have all the files.

When it asked me to register 3DS Max, I pressed Run, Something started to work... and the taskbar started to flash (as it does).



I did open, although QUITE glitchy. To recap and clarify, I "FORCED" installed it by copying the files from XP, but I forgot to do one thing I didn't get to test, read below.



Activating didn't work, went out, re-enabled raysat in services.msc,went to register

Entered code again and it said thank you

It only worked for five days due to me not knowing about clearing out the licence (See Below).

 

[MeandMe]

What happened after

I did not get 3DS Max 8 to work on my Windows Home 24H2, I was also upgrading Windows 10 to 11 on unsupported hardware, the minimum requirements for updates changed, and then basically crashed due to updates not going though.

I didn't post this because I felt was embarrassing.

I now have a new Windows 25H2 Pro and yet to install 3DS Max 8 due to personal issues. Glad to here it works for others.

Cynon emailed me this and I decided to share it in case it's useful to others:

Me:
3DS Max 8 no longer installs from scratch at all if you use Windows 11 24H2, due to a raysat_3dsmax8server failed to start error, which is related to Mental Ray. (https://www.file.net/process/raysat_3dsmax8server.exe.html) it for fits any installation. Any fix?

(The one thing I didn't know to do or have an opportunity to test was clearing out the `C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Software Licenses` before reinstalling with above. according to Cynon).

Cynon:
Compatibility mode to Win10/Win8 help?

Me:
No. It's to do with a key code loop; the correct key you enter does not go through. I might get back to you on this.

Cynon: Oh, clear out the license in `C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Software Licenses` and try it again.

I thinks it's worth noting that at least for me it may seem that Windows feature updates might break 3DS Max 8 (maybe due to changes in the registry), so maybe uninstall and reinstall it (With clearing out `C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Software Licenses` before trying again? (When feature updates?).

As flawed as it is, I will do 3D Sim Ed 2 objects as a backup before I do any other kind of object process, it's better than nothing. (Up to ~3000 vertices work in NR2003), I know 1000 was ideal, I have bad luck with these programs when windows updates, 3D Sim Ed 3 included.