Solved: TFP 15 closes immediately after launching :-(

[eulores]

Hello,

I've used the trial of TFP 14 and liked it so much, that I bought version 15 which was just released. The download server was a bit saturated, that's why I bought it without testing the trial before.

The installation goes smooth, but when trying to launch TFP, the following happens:
1) A window pops up asking to purchase the release or continue the trial. I click on continue trial.
2) The final program windows starts building up. This takes between 1 and 2 seconds.
3) The program closes with no user interaction and no error messages nor any other visible clue.

As far as I can judge, the program manages to build all expected windows, toolbars, side panel lists, etc. before closing down.
I tried installing on a brand new SATA (AHCI) hard disk of 300 GB, with a pristine Windows XP SP 3 and nothing else, and still the same behavior.

My PC components are:
Motherboard: P5Q-EM from ASUS with onboard Intel graphics chip (unused)
Graphics card: NVidia 9800 GT PCI-E, using DVI output
Monitor: SAMSUNG LCD TV using HDMI input
Harddisk: Maxtor 300 GB SATA (I tried changing BIOS access as IDE compatible and SATA AHCI, reformatting in both cases as NTFS quick, with same effects)
CPU: Intel Core Duo E8500 at 3.16 GHz
Memory: 2 GB (checked for errors)

Very strange: Version 14 works without problems, while version 15 does have this show stopper!
:-(

The only working configuration, but suffering slow, is installing TFP 15 under a virtualized environment, using VirtualBox version 3.20 and Linux as a host system. But the 3D rendering is excruciatingly slow! I miss the performance of version 14, but really need the improved roof creation and other features from version 15 (I also liked the exterior wall drop configuration).

Anyone having any suggestion or other ideas I can try out?
Thanks in advance!

Best regards,
eulores

[Draft Patrick]

Hi eulores, welcome to the Forum! 

I will be glad to help, however, I'd need some additional info
- Do you have TFP V14 currently installed and working? if so, are we speaking of the same computer? (because of your comment that the chip is unused)
- if you bought the program, why are you using it as trial?

Pat

[eulores]

Hi Pat,

thanks for trying to help!
- right now I do not have TFP v14 installed. I had them both installed, with only v14 working, before I decided to reformat the drive and reinstall Windows XP.
- before reformatting, I had (obviously) activated the v15 as instructed on the purchase email. That way, the first dialog with the option of continuing the trial or purchasing is no longer shown, thus, no possible interaction with the program from starting until it closes again. After uninstalling v15 and reinstalling, the window with the continuation of the trial is no longer shown, that's why right now, after the lengthy procedure of reinstalling Windows, I am still running the trial.

For the time being, I prefer not to contaminate the current incarnation of Windows XP with any other previous versions nor any other stuff, so as not to have a situation with incompatible DLLs. I can of course try again to install whatever is needed to properly pin down the error.

In the meantime I have found out that the program actually crashes with "Exception number: c0000005 (access violation)". I do have the actual crash report and small memory dump as produced by DrWatson. This is repeatable.

The hard disk has been connected to two different computers. The first one as reported earlier, and now to an older PC, Pentium 4 x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7, with 2GB RAM, motherboard Tyan S5101, graphics Nvidia Geforce FX 5200.
I'm getting desperate...

[Draft Patrick]

Hi eulores,

Sorry, but I am confused....
Why installing the full program would contaminate Windows?
Also,

Did you install all the Windows updates, SPs, etc?
Did you update all the drives, including processor, videocard, etc?

Pat

[eulores]

Hello Pat,

After my last post, I have installed the full version, with the same effect. Also reinstalled Windows using the original CD. Before I was using a slipstreamed version with nLite, so as to be able to include the SATA AHCI drivers at boot up time.

> Why installing the full program would contaminate Windows?
No. I was not talking about the full program. I was talking about the previous release 14.

Windows installation is updated with all critical and optional patches.
Graphics card is using beta driver released today.
All the other components have their latest drivers installed. Device Manager does not report any unknown device.
As far as I can judge, for the time being there is no cleaner Windows installation than mine. (Also checked for virus, rootkits, and other malware)

I also registered a support ticket with the technical staff from Avanquest UK, where I bought v15. Hopefully I get an answer within the next days, otherwise I'll have to ask for a refund :-(

Best regards,
eulores

[eulores]

Hello people,

Just a quick note letting you know that I solved my problem :-)
It was probably related to the Windows installation process:
Apparently, SP3 must be installed over SP2 or SP1, but not directly over the bare original release, otherwise funny things might happen, such as TFP15 closing immediately after launch.
TFP15 is now working fine on my PC, that's why I stopped experimenting for the true cause of my worries...

Best regards,
eulores

[Draft Patrick]

Hi eulores

Thank you for your feedback! 

Pat