dbillo

I read most, if not all, of the previous posts regarding problems with LS and XP. The general consensus seems to be:

1. Video drivers may be culprit - try different versions or use command line.
2. Large file sizes may be culprit - try merging
3. Corrupted blocks, textures, etc. may be culprit - try removing
4. Lightscape can be flaky at times, but is worth the trouble for the results you get.

This is all new territory for me, new to Lightscape, new to playing with video drivers, but looks like I'll need to get my feet wet. I'm going to include my specific problems in case someone has any additional experience or ideas:

Lightscape v3.1 (purchased last year)
Windows XP Pro SP2
Athlon 64 3500+
1 Gig Kingston HyperX
BFG 6800 Ultra
NVidia driver 6.14.10.6693

I installed, but did not authorize my copy.
Generally, LS opened and ran fine. I had only the tutorials and one render job I did last year on my old box (Pentium 90, ATI Graphics Xpression -HAHAHAHA! - didn't make any money on that one!)
Orbiting wireframe and shaded LP and LS models is *very* fast! Processing solutions and raytraces is also fast.

Issues:

All files opened would crash when selecting 'shaded&coloured wireframe' or 'hidden line' display modes. Plain 'shaded' or 'coloured wireframe' were fine.
A few files crashed when loading textures.

When making changes to processing parameters, I would get a message about not having enough memory (available memory was a negative number?) but everthing seemed to work regardless. Sorry I was not more observant about this.

When opening lightscape, occasionally the view window did not completely generate leaving a stretch of desktop visible at the bottom, however loading a file fixed this and occupied the full area.

When initially clicking to orbit a model, there is sometimes a slight delay (2-3 seconds) before movement starts, however, once the model starts moving, I can tilt-n-whirl as fast as I wish. After stopping orbiting and releasing the mouse button, there is, again, a delay before the process ends. This also occurs in another app which uses a shaded OpenGL window for displaying and orbiting a model (Datacad11 O2C).

Tried running in various compatibility modes with no change.

That's all I observed in a short time. I've uninstalled and plan to re-install and see if anything gets fixed, then authorize the program. (see my other thread/post about getting dongles)

db

Ernest Burden

Wow, Datacad and Lightscape. That's my work history.

As you have observed you have classic driver issues. Relatively stable drivers can be found for XP, as I use it. I still use a two or more year old nVidia driver since in WORKS. I have no interest in trying another.

But one issue you cannot avoid is that you bought LSv3.1, because v3.2 was just more stable. I forget what else was added to v3.2.

But, yes, LS does not like XP, so big processes should be done with the commandline utilities. They can be SO FAST anyway. LS OpenGL is great, I got spoiled by it.

Good luck with it.

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Ernest Burden III
AcmeDigital
architectural rendering

kunstraum.tv

it´s still such a shame that LS is not supported anymore. instead we have this !"§$%&!$"&/ radiosity engine in max

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www.purerender.com architecture. vision. emotion

Ernest Burden

Some of us don't even have that.

__________________
Ernest Burden III
AcmeDigital
architectural rendering

seismograph

well ... you still have lightscape ..why not using it?
The cmdline tools are really fast and the few steps in the workflow, which have to be done in the GUi don't hurt.



it's a shame that discreet needed three releses of MAX/VIZ to integrate adaptive subdivisions... and it's a shame that max7.5 will be only available for subcribers

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[see.]

del82

Had the same problem.Its because of the Nvidia Graphic card, seems that it doesnt get along with Ls 3.1. But, as Ernest pointed out, get 3.2. its much more stable

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Beeeee!

Ernest Burden

Sure, just go down to the store....no, that won't work. Wait, I know! Call up Autodesk, and have that creditcard handy!. No, I guess not. Hum...Just how should he get 3.2?

__________________
Ernest Burden III
AcmeDigital
architectural rendering

del82

Well, for a start he could monitor Ebay more.
Last month there was a guy selling 8 copys of Ls 3.2. never opened yet, Ernest why do you ask, do you need one copy?

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Beeeee!

siliconbauhaus

I run XPsp1 with a Nvidia quadro 750. I havent had any problems with using LS at all. Oops, I have had problems with the library blocks but not actually working in it. My blocks seem to have missing faces

dbillo

I don't think the conflict lies with nVidia *cards*, but with the particular *drivers* you may be using. I would expect the drivers for an OpenGL workstation card like yours to yield better results than the ones for my consumer/gamer/BFG.