Can't get ArchiCAD 6.5 to start

[Anonymous]

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

[Djordje]

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!