Outside The Box
Random thoughts about AutoCAD, ObjectARX, and the meaning of life.
All Original Content Copyright 2006 - 2008 Owen Wengerd, All Rights Reserved
2007-09-06
I've noticed more frequent posts in the Autodesk discussion groups about slow startup problems since AutoCAD 2008 was released, and I have the same problem on my development system. Part of the problem is .NET loading, due to the new .NET gadgets like the dashboard palette. Another long running startup hassle is the communication center (WSCommCntr1.exe if you check running processes in task manager) that Autodesk products use to call home.
In addition to the time the communication center process takes to start up, it can also get "stuck" (either due to network or connection problems, or because of AutoCAD crashing) and cause interminable startup delays. If AutoCAD is trying to start while the communication center is "stuck", it will wait in a completely frozen state for about 2 minutes before it times out and loading continues.
In addition, AutoCAD 2008 service pack 1 introduced a new "pure virtual function call" C runtime error that shows up when the communication center closes after an AutoCAD crash.
All these problems can be easily fixed by disabling the AutoCAD InfoCenter, which is the culprit that loads the communication center background process. I disabled it by changing the demand load registry key for the InfoCenter. That key can be found in the registry at:
Change the LOADCTRLS value to 0 (zero) to disable it from demand loading.
If you disable your InfoCenter from demand loading, you can still load it manually by using the NETLOAD command to load AcInfoCenterConn.dll from the AutoCAD 2008 folder.
In addition to the time the communication center process takes to start up, it can also get "stuck" (either due to network or connection problems, or because of AutoCAD crashing) and cause interminable startup delays. If AutoCAD is trying to start while the communication center is "stuck", it will wait in a completely frozen state for about 2 minutes before it times out and loading continues.
In addition, AutoCAD 2008 service pack 1 introduced a new "pure virtual function call" C runtime error that shows up when the communication center closes after an AutoCAD crash.
All these problems can be easily fixed by disabling the AutoCAD InfoCenter, which is the culprit that loads the communication center background process. I disabled it by changing the demand load registry key for the InfoCenter. That key can be found in the registry at:
HKLM\Software\Autodesk\R17.1\[ACAD-XXXX:XXX]\Applications\InfoCenterAcConn
Change the LOADCTRLS value to 0 (zero) to disable it from demand loading.
If you disable your InfoCenter from demand loading, you can still load it manually by using the NETLOAD command to load AcInfoCenterConn.dll from the AutoCAD 2008 folder.
About Me
- Name: Owen Wengerd
- Location: Apple Creek, Ohio, United States
I'm a starving artist specializing in the programming genre. I work in my home office, where I am the owner and sole proprietor of ManuSoft as well as the President and chief software artist of CADLock, Inc.
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Recent Comments
ralphg:Thanks for the tip!
@ September 10, 2007 1:20:00 PM EDT
Scott:This seemed to work for me. How about speeding up the shutdown as well?
@ September 10, 2007 8:50:00 PM EDT
R.K. McSwain:Great tip. Thanks Owen.
@ October 30, 2007 4:01:00 PM EDT
:Thanks a lot!
@ November 19, 2007 2:31:00 AM EST
:Thanks, very helpful. The reg address was a little different for LT, but still works
@ February 26, 2008 4:12:00 AM EST
:Thanks I started getting this error after I upgraded to SP1 worked like a charm.
@ April 14, 2008 7:37:00 PM EDT
:Hi,
Does it work with acad 2008LT.
Its really slow when i change tabs between model and layouts as well as print previews.
Cheers
@ June 20, 2008 6:38:00 AM EDT
:10x, it works for AutoCAD 2009 (17.2).
For completeness of you post - the initial value of LOADCTRLS was 4c (hexadecimal).
@ October 27, 2008 4:19:00 AM EDT
:Not work for me, AutoCAD Civil3D 2009 - Unknown command "LOADCTRLS".
@ January 30, 2009 12:20:00 AM EST
:try "XLOADCTL"
Type: Integer
Saved in: Registry
Initial value: 2
Turns xref demand-loading on and off, and controls whether it opens the referenced drawing or a copy.
0
Turns off demand-loading; the entire drawing is loaded.
1
Turns on demand-loading. Referenced drawings are kept open and locked.
2
Turns on demand-loading. Copies of referenced drawings are opened and locked; referenced drawings are not locked
@ August 5, 2009 2:38:00 PM EDT
Ziren:Thanks, it saves me a lot of troubles.
@ August 27, 2009 2:03:00 PM EDT
:Registry key for my version (AutoCAD LT 2004) is:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT\R9\ACLT-201:409\Applications\WSCommCntrAcCon
Disabled it by setting value to 0 as suggested, worked well, thanks.
@ September 10, 2009 6:11:00 AM EDT
:Awesome tip, thank you very much.
@ February 24, 2010 6:54:00 AM EST
:Seek all "InfoCenter" keys with regedit, and disable with "0". Works in Autocad Arquitecture 2010. Thanks.
@ February 25, 2010 7:08:00 AM EST
Does it work with acad 2008LT.
Its really slow when i change tabs between model and layouts as well as print previews.
Cheers
For completeness of you post - the initial value of LOADCTRLS was 4c (hexadecimal).
Type: Integer
Saved in: Registry
Initial value: 2
Turns xref demand-loading on and off, and controls whether it opens the referenced drawing or a copy.
0
Turns off demand-loading; the entire drawing is loaded.
1
Turns on demand-loading. Referenced drawings are kept open and locked.
2
Turns on demand-loading. Copies of referenced drawings are opened and locked; referenced drawings are not locked
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Autodesk\AutoCAD LT\R9\ACLT-201:409\Applications\WSCommCntrAcCon
Disabled it by setting value to 0 as suggested, worked well, thanks.