Expert: Bill DeShawn - 9/18/2008

Question
I am using AutoCAD 2006.

Two queries. First, my autocad sessions routinely crash when I am doing one of two things. Either trying to hatch something in model space, or copy/pasting something in paper space. When I say routinely, I mean maybe two or three times per week. I get the little hour glass, and then the dreaded "AutoCAD has quit unexpectedly" message. Which is not true because I AM expecting this!

Second, I have my autosave set to one minute. Yet, one of two things happen when my Autocad session 'expectedly' quits. The drawing recovery manager saves a .bak file and a .sv$ file, or I just get a .bak file. The .sv$ file is always the better option, but sometimes the drawing recovery manager doesn't give me this option. What's the difference? Why do I only get one option sometimes and both options other times? Why does my one minute autosave not seem to work? And most importanly, what can I do differently to prevent autocad from crashing so often ion the first place? My system minimum exceeds the minimum requirements. Do I need a new processor? New computer?

Thanks!!!!!!!!

Answer
Shaun:

When hatching, freeze layers that don't need to be on.  AutoCAD sometimes gets confused as to what overlapping objects you want to use for boundaries.  Try the -layer (minus sign included) command to freeze layers.  When asked for the name of the layer at the command line, just hit ENTER to select objects.  I do this for a lot of hatching because sometimes AutoCAD just can't find the boundary without doing that.

There is a discussion about the Autosave problem here:

http://forums.cadalyst.com/showthread.php?t=686

One person in the discussion says, "If you have time to wipe your nose, you have time to qsave."  A little crude, but actually quite true.  Also, if you saved recently, you aren't gong to get an autosave.  It only happens if you don't save.

A new computer might not hurt.  Since you're asking about it, you probably have an older computer that may either be on its last legs or does not correctly support AutoCAD, or perhaps just barely meets AutoCAD 2006's minimum requirements.  It could be something to consider.  You should have a better handle on that question than anybody else right now.  Run anti-spyware scans frequently, too.  The processes they create and run in the background take up memory that could be dedicated to AutoCAD functions.  I use ADAWARE FREE.  Google ADAWARE FREE, and you'll find a LAVASOFT site that will allow you to download the ADAWARE FREE program.  Don't try to find it on the LAVASOFT site.  They don't have good navigation to the free program, but have GREAT navigation to the paid-for one.

Keep in touch
Bill DeShawn
http://my.sterling.net/~bdeshawn

When you rated my answer, you addressed Paul.  I don't know who Paul is, but if I find out, I'll thank him for you.  :)