TFP 3D Pro V15 Program will not launch

[waltkeeney]

Program will not launch:
I just installed TFP Pro V15 on my windows 7 computer and the program will not start. When I try to launch it thinks about it for about 30 seconds then quits. My computer is an HP desktop with an Intel I7 processor, 16 gigs of ram and dual monitors. The Video card is an ATI Radeon HD 5770 and the driver is version 8.773.0.0 dated 09/07/2010. This is the latest driver I can find for this card. I am also runnint Norton Internet Security and the program will not start even if I turn it off. I also have TurboCad 3D V18 and Floor Plan V 3D V7 installed and both run with no problems.
Can anyone help before I ask IMSI for my money back?

[Allan Chesney]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

Don't panic, I am sure we can work it out for you, as there are many others running TFP on computers with the same specs as yours.

First I will say that I am not the best one to help you through the various options.  I am sure Pat (or others who have more technical computer knowledge than me) will pop in with some suggestions. I know there are often issues with ATI cards and drivers, however, I and other have found, with Windows 7, it was necessary to locate the TFP15PRO.exe file, right click and choose "Run as Administrator". Doing that it works fine. Did you try that?  If not, give it a go and you may find you are up and running. If not then follow the other suggestions that no doubt will follow shortly.

If your computer will run TurboCAD and FP3D V7 then it will definitely run TFP.  When you get it going you will notice a dramatic advance from V7!!

Allan

[Draft Patrick]

Hi there,

As Allan stated, install / run the program as administrator will do the difference (probably)

If this step doesn't solve the issue, I have other suggestions, but lets start with the basics
The video card should be fine, just be sure to update also the Catalyst version (you'll need version 9.10 as a minimum)
Other confirmation: ATI cards serving Dual monitors require a "heavy duty" power supply --> can you inform the capability of your PS?

Let us know

Pat

[waltkeeney]

I did the current install using run as administrator and also tried launching the program with the run as administrator option. It still does not run.

I am not sure what you say when you mention the Catalyst Version 9.10. Where do yo find it in the system? Is it a driver for a different video card?

I don't have information on the power supply but I hope HP would have installed whatever is necessary when thy built the system.

[Draft Patrick]

Catalyst is a technology developed by ATI
http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/amd-catalyst/Pages/catalyst.aspx

Now, I checked in this page
http://support.amd.com/us/psearch/Pages/psearch.aspx?type=2.4.1&product=2.4.1.3.43&contentType=GPU+Download+Detail&ostype=Windows+7+-+32-Bit+Edition&keywords=&items=20
and the last driver for your card seems to be version 11.5 released on 5/9/2011
You will notice that there are separated downloads and ATI Catalyst suite downloads --> I strongly recommend the ATI Catalyst version --> I had 5 ATI cards (2 still in use) and the Catalyst version provides great results and better control

Regarding the power supply, I'd expect that the manufacturers know how to build a basic system, however, I saw serious problems related with the compatibilty of videocards, dual monitors and power supply units

Pat

[Doug.S]

Did you try starting from a desktop icon?  Maybe it can't find the link OK to program.....look in programs folder and try starting by clicking on the TFP.exe file.

Or if you have a .bld file try launching by dbl clicking the .bld....even if it is a sample program that came with the install.

Look in "add/remove", is TFP listed OK as "installed"?  (don't click on it or it will uninstall)

Did it actually install OK.....telling you install was a success?  Or maybe try a re-install with Norton security off and being sure you have full admin authority when you install.

Have you had this problem with any other program or just TFP?  maybe a file did not load OK or download was corrupted in a small way??

[waltkeeney]

So far I have tried all the following with no success at getting the program to launch:

Downloaded software
installed using run as administrator
Tried to launch using run as administrator
Uninstalled and reinstalled with Norton turned off and using run as administrator
unstalled again
Deleted downloaded software and downloaded again
installed as administrator with Norton off
tried to launch as administrator
downloaded latest Catalyst drivers for my video card for Windows 64 bit
Tried to launch again with no luck
Guess my next step will be to contact IMSI and get a program DVD and try again unless someone has other ideas I can try.

[Allan Chesney]

Hi again,

How did you go with Dougs first couple of suggestions?

I know these may seem a bit odd but I have experienced some of these situtaions myself - where TFP will not open from the destop icon or from the exe file but will open by double-clicking an existing file.  Have you tried that?  All of his suggestions have worked with different ones in different PC situations.

Did you get any messages at all?

Did you install in the default folder or did you change them?
Some have had a problem when not using the default location - it could not find some essential files. These key files are listed below with the default folder. If either of these are not there it will not start properly or not start at all.

Check if the following exist:

C:\ProgramData\IMSIDesign\TURBOFloorPlan3D Home & Landscape PRO 15\Templates\1-Blank Project (ft & in).bld (or 2-Blank Project (mm).bld).

C:\ProgramData\IMSIDesign\TURBOFloorPlan3D Home & Landscape PRO 15\Catalogs\TurboFLOORPLAN_Master Catalog.bdb (or TurboFLOORPLAN_Master Catalog Metric.bdb).

It needs to know where these files are. If it will not start then you cannot tell the program where they are from within the program.
You could reinstall into the default folders (if you did not do that) or you could search for these files (in bold above) and copy them into a folder with the same address as above -then it should find them and open (if that is the problem of course).

Allan

[Draft Patrick]

If all of the above fails, check the Clean Installaton Intructions in the IMSI's website
http://imsidesign.com/Support/InstallationDirections/tabid/441/Default.aspx

And if it still doesn't work, Imsi provides Complimentary Installation Assistance
http://imsidesign.com/Support/TurboFLOORPLANSupport/tabid/515/Default.aspx

Hope this helps

Pat

[waltkeeney]

Allan: I uninstalled and reinstalled the program (again) with Norton turned off and using the run as administrator command for the install. I also allowed everything to install in the default locations. The two diretories you mentioned, Templates and Catalogs, were not created with this install or any previous install. I can't do a clean install as suggested by Pat or do a repair on this install as both require the program CD and I am working with a download version.
I guess I will have to get a cd from IMSI and try it again. While waiting maybe I will try burning the downloaded file to a cd and see if that does anything.

[Doug.S]

One other odd thing to check....do you run (even in silent/background mode) (usually some sort of anti-virus is a problematic program....tho I run Comcast/Norton and have no issues with it)...

a program that cleans the registry or other files....and maybe it inadvertently messes up the registry or other files.

But, since the install does not seem to install all the files....something is amiss and not typical.

I would have thought win7 would have noted that the program did not install correctly.  I'm also guessing something in your setup (assuming downloads are OK) is preventing a good install....do you have any odd programs most people do not use?

Check your download file size....does it match EXACTLY the expected file size? For example my TFP.exe 15.1 file on hard drive is 127,998 KB.

I did not see an answer regarding any error messages reported by your PC?

[Allan Chesney]

Allan: I uninstalled and reinstalled the program (again) with Norton turned off and using the run as administrator command for the install. I also allowed everything to install in the default locations. The two diretories you mentioned, Templates and Catalogs, were not created with this install or any previous install.

In the image below you can see all the folders you should have in Program Files and Program Data.  You said that the Catalogue and Templates folder are missing -  are there others missing also?

Try doing a search in Windows Explorer, for any BDB and BLD files (in case they have been installed somwhere else). If they have copy them back to the default folders as per the tree in the image below.

If you still cannot find them try the following:   Create any folders necessary as per the Windows Explorer tree in the image and save the Template file attached (1-Blank Project (ft & in).bld) into the Templates folder and see if it will start. Unfortunately, if it does start, it will still not be operational as the Catalogue will be empty so there will be nothing to insert into your plan, but it should still start without the catalogue.  The catalogue itself is too big to post on the forum (about 30MB I think) but just try with the Template and see if it will at least start. If it does we can work out some other way to get a copy of the Catalogue to you.

What was the size of your download?  Earlier Doug said it should be 127,998 KB but that was actually the size of the V15.1 update.  The full program should be about 574,716 KB. The Plant Encyclopedia alone is over 327MB and Textures over 115MB but these were almost certainly not provided again in the update, hence the big size difference.

Let us know how you go with the above (unless you just decide to wait for the CD from IMSI).

Allan

[waltkeeney]

Allan: Thanks for the directory tree. Looking at the one you sent and my computer I find that they are identical and I seem to have all the same files and directories.  The only differnece, since I am running a 64 bit system, is that the program installed into the Program Files(x86) directory. I don't know if that is the problem or if it is just shat I should do about it. My download file is 574 mb. Now I am really lost.

Walt

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Walt,

So it appears that you had a complete download and that the essential files are there and presumably in the right location for a 64 bit system, (since many other users are using it with a 64 bit system, without having to move anything around to make it work).

The only other thing I can think of is that some other software is interfering in some way. (Have you tried rebooting and open it first? - but I guess you would have done that).

Are you in the US or at least able to phone the installation assist line? (http://imsidesign.com/Support/TurboFLOORPLANSupport/tabid/515/Default.aspx). That may be the only option now, as it seems all the regular users here may have run out of suggestions. This forum is just a user help forum, that is not normally monitored by IMSI, so I will refer this post on to them also, but I would still try the assist line if that is practical where you live.

Allan

[Doug.S]

Allan: Thanks for the directory tree. Looking at the one you sent and my computer I find that they are identical and I seem to have all the same files and directories.  The only differnece, since I am running a 64 bit system, is that the program installed into the Program Files(x86) directory. I don't know if that is the problem or if it is just shat I should do about it. My download file is 574 mb. Now I am really lost.

Walt

Because TFP is a 32 bit program it should install in the Program Files(x86) directory....and looks correct.