topic Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start in Installation & update

Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:54:42 GMT

Hi!

This may seem like a bit of an obscure topic, but please bear with me.

A couple of years ago I got my hands on ArchiCAD Version 6.5.
I tried to install it on my laptop which had more then sufficent power to run ArchiCAD. Sadly it didn't work. The install went fine, but when I started the program it loaded for a while and just before it was suppose to start it just closed and went back to my desktop. I thought this perhaps had something to do with my laptop so I installed it on my desktop computer. Same thing happened there. It just loaded for a while and then closed and went back to the desktop. I called customer support in my country and described my problem. They couldn't figure out what was wrong so they sent me a new CD.
I installed it again and same thing happened. I mailed Graphisoft and they couldn't find the problem either.

After a long time of trying to get the program to run I just got fed up and shelfed the whole project.

Now a couple of years later I find the software bundle in my cabinet and figure I might try it again on my new computer. No surprises, same thing happens.

So now I see Graphisoft has this forum, and perhaps anybody here has experienced the same and can share some tips?

As I said the version is 6.5 and it is a complete software bundle with hardware lock and books and everything. Could it be that the hardware lock is fault?

Kind regards,
Grumz

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Djordje — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:17:37 GMT

Grumz wrote:
As I said the version is 6.5 and it is a complete software bundle with hardware lock and books and everything. Could it be that the hardware lock is fault?

Which OS?

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Anonymous — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 17:31:06 GMT

Hi!

My OS is Windows XP, but when I tried it the first time it was on a Windows 98 OS.

Regards,

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Ben Odonnell — Tue, 29 Mar 2005 18:37:18 GMT

What type of dongel do you have? Do you have the sentinel drivers installed? Is a network dongel or a single user?

Cheers.
Ben

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 13:56:06 GMT

Hi!

I am not entirely sure what you mean by dongel, but if I understand it right, it is a single user dongel. It is only registred for me. I have not installed any additional drivers or files then the CD that followed the software bundle. (and off course the same CD I recevied from the dealer)

What are these Sentinel Drivers?

Regards,

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Ben Odonnell — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:12:53 GMT

Up till and including ArchiCAD 6.5 Graphisoft used Rainbow dongels, a dongel is a hardware based protection system. The rainbow dongel uses a sentinel driver to make it work.

What version of 6.5 is it R1,2...?

Come to think of it, have you tried starting it up in NT or 98 mode? If you haven't give it a try. Locate your ArchiCAD application folder, then look for ArchiCAD.exe right click over it and choose properties---->Compatibility then choose under Compatibility mode "Run this program in Compatibility mode for" then choose NT or 98.

HTH.
Cheers.
Ben

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:24:59 GMT

Hi!

Ok, when I tried starting the program up in NT mode nothing happened, but when I tried to start it up in Windows 98 mode it started a Bug Report Program. This has never happened before, so I guess it is a step in the right direction. But, if I finished the Bug Report or closed it, the program didn't start. It just went back to the desktop.

With the software bundle I receved a little red connector-thing to connect to the LPT output on my computer. Is this the dungel? Should I install the R1.2 and where can I find it?

Thank you for all your help!

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Ben Odonnell — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 15:49:52 GMT

You can find the latest version of ArchiCAD 6.5 here

Note this is the NOR version, may be you have the INT version?

Cheers.
Ben

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 19:54:15 GMT

Hi!

My version is the QEN version, so I downloaded the R4 QEN and installed it.
The same thing happened, thats is nothing happened. 🙂

I found the homepage for the Dongel and found out its a Paralell Port SuperPro Sentinel.

I downloaded the newest drivers for it and a medic program. I installed the drivers and the Medic program locates the Dongel, but ArchiCAD still won't start. It only starts a BugReport program and when I close that program nothing more happenes. Really strange.

What are Graphisofts policys on this? Do I have to purchase the 6.5-to-7.0 upgrade or is this free if you have the Liscence for version 6.5?

Regards,

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Ben Odonnell — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 20:05:17 GMT

Mmm,
Very interesting. You should send your bug report into your local reseller and see if they can't forward it to GS for you.

It was a paid upgrade from ArchiCAD 6.5 to 7, again contact your local reseller for more info.

Cheers.
Ben

Re: Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

Djordje — Thu, 31 Mar 2005 14:16:52 GMT

Grumz wrote:
With the software bundle I receved a little red connector-thing to connect to the LPT output on my computer. Is this the dungel?

Yes, that is the dongle and if you tried to run ArchiCAD without it it will not work. Why? Because that small red thing IS your ArchiCAD license, adn ArchiCAD does not work if it can't find it!

Remember Colonel Murphy? Everything works better if you switch it on. Also, whatever can go wrong, will. Take my example - It took 2 hours today to print a site plan. One A1 sheet.

So, the dongle has to be in your LPT port and the printer, if it is attached on top of it, should be on (if I remember correctly, 6.5 was 5 years ago ...) in order for ArchiCAD to work.

If it still does not work - and Ben, correct me again, but 6.5 was where the Windows 9x support was dropped? - try the NT compatibility mode.

I know people here who ran 6.5 on XP until recently, when they upgraded to 9, so it SHOULD work!