Expert: Bob - 9/6/2009

Question
Hello from NYC:

My question concerns an AutoCAD alert I always receive upon startup. The message is copied verbatim below:

A bad profile is specified in the command line: C:\Program Files\AutoCAD Architectural 2\adt.arg  The current profile name specified in the registry will be used.

I have tried many times to uninstall and reinstall the AutoCad program but to no success.  Also, I am unable to locate the 2i program in the add/remove of the control panel.  My question is, what's the next step to resolving this issue? It's killing my productivity.  At first, the alert message doesn't seem to affect the running of the program itself, but recently, it simply will not allow me to even open the program and work.

I plan to upgrade my PC and install either Arch. DeskTop 2008 or 2009 in three or four weeks. What is the best way to reconcile using many of my projects in the 2i with the new projects in the 2008 or 2009 version.  Please help me Bob as I am very behind in some of my projects.  Thanks.


Answer
Hi--

Sorry, I can't answer installation/IT questions, especially without complete information. ADT (NOT AutoCAD) did not mess itself up - it can't- some kind of spywear program, customization, etc, messed it up.  Again, in Add/Remove Programs, you should see AUTODESK ARCHITECTURAL DESKTOP 2i as the program name, absoulutely NOT AutoCAD. This program is 8 yrs old, so I can't go back and guess what took place in that time.

All I can do about the 2i is tell you that it does not die on its own -- something you did messed it up. But is it worth the time to figure out??????????????????????

IF IT WERE I -- I would upgrade the PC TODAY (You didnt give the old specs, so I can't say if it would run a newer program well, but a 2002 PC, from when the software was new, is now a dinosaur.) --- and I would install AutoCAD Architecture 2010, if economically feasible. You might get 2008/9 cheaper, but why waste your time learning an old software when 2010 is a superior release, with many improvements (mainly in the AutoCAD part, but several in the Architecture part.) Your time is expensive: if you are asking me, I would say get a good book and start over from scratch, learning the HUGE changes.

I would probably buy a 64 bit pc and install from the 64 bit DVD in the box -- but you may have other programs which wont run on 64 bit. I cant answer yet whether Windows 7 will be good for you, but if buying from Dell, etc, buy a PC that includes a later upgrade to 7, in case.

Meanwhile, your 2i projects will all open in 2010. When you save them, they will be in 2007 format (most recent format change). You can work on them "the old way" if you are using plain Acad, but to use the 3D intelligent objects, you will have to stop and learn the new ways.

ADT2i was simply the orginal software Autodesk bought, applied to AutoCAD 2000i--- it was OLD, KLUNKY, AND IRRITATING when new (I was there). I told Autodesk that it was a "Voodoo Program". The following release was the first decent one, and 2010 is a complete dream in comparison.
90% of the development of the program is between yours and now: if you take time to learn it right, it should cut your work in half with 3D, by a third or more in 2D.

As I wrote, I would not bother fixing the oldie -- I would move now. If you MUST stay with it, write back, and I will look up some place for help on it.


BOB