Archicad 16 Install and Startup Troubleshooting Guide

For version independent information: Install, for hotfix installation problems: Install/Hotfix.


Install

Before Installation

Strongly recommended to check before installation:

1. Return all borrowed licenses before installing Archicad 16

  • Archicad 16 installer removes the previous CodeMeter driver along with information on the borrowed licenses.
  • Not doing so will cause these licenses to be lost for the borrowing period.

2. Disable your Antivirus solution for the period of the installation

  • The current Antivirus software are really effective, in many cases they even block files that are not infected - this may cause problems during the installation (for extra safety you can scan the GRAPHISOFT installer before the installation; all GRAPHISOFT provided packages go through virus checking during the Quality Control process).
  • Disconnect all of your network connections (both connection via cable and wifi) - to avoid accidental infection, disable your Antivirus solution then install Archicad and turn back your Antivirus protection before going online again.
  • Affected Antivirus solutions that have been reported by Archicad users:

3. Disconnect your locally inserted protection key for the period of the installation

  • The protection key driver may be updated during the installation.
  • To avoid any driver related error, disconnect your protection key before running the installer.

Also suggested:

4. Check the official System Requirements to make sure your computer is capable of running Archicad 16

5. Install all operating system updates prior installing Archicad

  • On Mac: Apple button on menu bar, Software update
  • On Windows: Start menu, Windows update

6. Make sure the current user has administrative rights

  • The installation requires administrative rights, privileges.
  • Use an administrator account for the installation of Archicad and its components.

Install

Before Running Archicad 16

1. Make sure that you load the newly purchased or updated license to your license key before running Archicad 16

2. Do not forget to update the protection key driver on your license server

  • If your CodeMeter or Wibu server is a computer that does not run Archicad make sure you update the driver on that computer as well. To check it, please visit the https://upgrade.graphisoft.com/ site.
    Before installing the latest driver make sure that all licenses have been returned.
  • You can find the installer on the Archicad 16 install disk or it is available for download on GRAPHISOFT's website.

Troubleshooting, known issues

Archicad 16 shows warning message on startup: „Cannot create temporary documents.”

Issue: Starting Archicad 16 on Windows Operating System gives a warning message: Cannot create temporary documents.” – Previous Archicad versions are also affected with this issue.

warning

Cause: archicad.temp can’t be created because:
a) The AutoSave folder is full (it can contain maximum 50 folders);
b) The user doesn’t have the rights to write and read the AutoSave folder.

Solution:
a) Delete the contents of the AutoSave folder;
b) Check and change the permissions of the current user.


The CodeMeter driver bundled with Archicad 16-18 cannot be installed on OS X 10.10.3

The CodeMeter driver included in Archicad installers can't be installed. The installer recognizes 10.3 string from 10.10.3 as and older version of OS X, which is not compatible with the driver.

The error message below is displayed when trying to install the driver:

CM driver install error

As a solution install the newest CodeMeter driver, which can be downloaded and installed manually from our Protection Key Driver Downloads page


Installer is damaged and can’t be opened

In certain cases OS X will give the following error when you try to mount a GRAPHISOFT provided dmg downloaded from the Internet: <Installer name>.app is damaged and can’t be opened. You should eject the disk image.

installer is damaged and can't be opened

This problem can be easily circumvented by setting the Gatekeeper setting to Anywhere. After that the dmg should mount fine. The installers on the installation DVD are not affected, this issue seems to be related only to downloaded packages.


Archicad hangs on first start after install (Mac and PC)

  • Issue: After launching the program Archicad hangs with a spinning ball after it finishes opening the programSolution: Unplug the Hardware Protection key and start Archicad 16 in Demo mode. Quit Archicad , re-plug the hardware protection key, and start Archicad. The possible cause of this problem is that Archicad was installed while the hardware protection key was plugged. During installing, it is recommended to remove the protection key.

Archicad hangs or crashes on first start after install with a blank splash screen (PC)

  • Issue: A white screen rectangle appears where the splash screen would normally be, and just stays there. If you click into the white rectangle, the bug reporter comes upSolution: This seems to be caused by a corrupt QuickTime install. Remove QuickTime, then re-install it from the Archicad install DVD. Sometimes also it is necessary to run QuickTime Player after the installation.

"GSRoot.Dll not found" error message on first start after install (PC only)

  • Issue: After launching the program Archicad displays "GSRoot.dll not found" errorSolution: This is caused by an Antivirus application that has quarantined this file. Disable the Virus Scanner for the time of installing Archicad.
  •  Other files may be also blocked by a Virus Scanner.

"Function is not available in TWClientBase.dll" error message on first start after install or applying hotfix (PC only)

  • Issue: After launching Archicad you receive an error dialog: "Archicad .exe: Start Error ? GetSignalClient @ ProjectConnectionManager ...not found. Function is not available in TWClientbase.dll"Solution: This is probably caused by a Virus Scanner that has quarantined one or more files during the installation or hotfix update process. Disable the Virus Scanner and re-install.

"The specified directory is an Archicad directory..." error message

  • Issue: During the install process, after specifying folder for installation, you receive an error message saying: "The specified directory is an Archicad directory. Please select a different directory, which is not an Archicad directory."Solution: Check through all the folders along the path of the specified installation folder and look for existing Archicad .exe or Archicad .app files along the path. You are either trying to install Archicad in another Archicad's folder, or there is another copy of Archicad in one of the folders specified in the path. E.g. If you have an Archicad.app file directly in the "Applications" folder, you will not be able to install Archicad into the "Applications/Graphisoft/Archicad 16" folder.

The installer stops responding at the intro or the installer window does not appear

  • Solution: Uninstall all versions of Java, reboot and run the installer again. Java will be reinstalled automatically by the Archicad installation. In case of hotfix installation: install the version from the installation DVD.
    • More about Java compatibility: Install/Java
    • You can download the supported Java versions from the previous link

"Quicktime is outdated or missing" error message

  • On PC:Solution 1: Uninstall QuickTime(s) from your system, and restart your computer. Browse the Archicad 16 installation DVD for the "QuickTime" folder and run the installer. If that does not work, then:Solution 2: Run the vcredist installers, also from the "SUPPORT" folder. (Run "vcredist_x86.exe" on 32-bit Windows, and both "vcredist_x64.exe" and "vcredist_x86.exe" on 64-bit Windows.)
    The packages can be also downloaded from Microsoft: Download vcredist_x86.exe Download vcredist_x64.exeOn Mac:Solution: In case this comes on a Mac which was restored from a disk image or from a Time Machine backup: Uninstall Archicad and install it again. Also make sure that OS X is up to date.

Archicad 16 freezes at the splash screen

  • Parts of Archicad uses TCP communication on the local machine. Corruption of the hosts file can cause freeze when starting Archicad . In this file hostnames can be mapped to IP addresses. To locate whether this is the case:On Mac:
    • open Finder
    • Go, Go to Folder
    • /etc

    etc.png

    • select the file named hosts and open it e.g. with TextEdit

    The content of it should like this by default:

    • ##
      # Host Database
      #
      # localhost is used to configure the loopback interface
      # when the system is booting.  Do not change this entry.
      ##
      127.0.0.1       localhost
      255.255.255.255 broadcasthost
      ::1             localhost 
      fe80::1%lo0     localhost

    In case the line 127.0.0.1 localhost is missing Archicad won't start. You can fix this, by replacing the file with this one. (contains the OS default settings)

    On Windows:

    • Open Windows Explorer
    • Browse % SystemRoot %system32driversetc (in most of the cases % SystemRoot % is C:Windows folder)
    • open the file named hosts

    The content of it should look like something like this by default (there are no lines without #):

    • # Copyright (c) 1993-2009 Microsoft Corp.
      #
      # This is a sample HOSTS file used by Microsoft TCP/IP for Windows.
      #
      # This file contains the mappings of IP addresses to host names. Each
      # entry should be kept on an individual line. The IP address should
      # be placed in the first column followed by the corresponding host name.
      # The IP address and the host name should be separated by at least one
      # space.
      #
      # Additionally, comments (such as these) may be inserted on individual
      # lines or following the machine name denoted by a '#' symbol.
      #
      # For example:
      #
      #      102.54.94.97     rhino.acme.com          # source server
      #       38.25.63.10     x.acme.com              # x client host
      
      # localhost name resolution is handled within DNS itself.
      #       127.0.0.1       localhost
      #       ::1             localhost

    Place # character before each line to exclude its affect. Restart the computer and then check how Archicad starts.

How to Report Installation Problems

In case this guide does not offer solution for the problem you experienced you may contact your local GRAPHISOFT partner for technical support. Prepare the following diagnostic information to speed up the troubleshooting process:

  • The version of the operating system you have
  • The Archicad installation log from the installation target folder: log.txt (if it exists)
  • Detailed description about the state where the installation stopped or the problem appeared