Disappearing Toolbars!!!

[markdc]

Maybe a driver issue? Is your card supported? I'd also try switching between directx, Opengl, and software (heidi) display modes.

[javierdl]

Thanks a lot brian_dlm :)
I will try that right away!

DPC

[javierdl]

Hi brian_dlm, I hope you're still around :)
because now I cannot even startup max :(
It tells me the following:

"Direct3D initialization failed.
To switch to Heidi or OpenGL please start with the -h command line option."

Well, how exactly one can start max with a command line? Am I suppose to type this line somewhere? (like DOS?) But where?

thanks,

DPC
P.S. bare with me, I'm no programmer

[javierdl]

Phew! Nevermind :)
It eventually allowed me in, so I already switched to OpenGL again.

I went into the matrox display utility and assigned monitor 1 to be used as 2 and viceversa, to see if I could get my toolbars back. It partially worked, some of the toolbars appeared in the oposite monitor to where max was, but not all. Furthermore, when switched the monitors back to their original state the toolbars didn't appeared back :(

I'll have to wait until Monday when the Matrox forum is open again :(

Looks like I'll have a very quiet weekend :(

DPC

[Darv]

If a window ever gets off the viewable screen (this goes for all Windows applicaitons) the following may help...

For the tool bars,
1) right click on the top of any detached tool bar that is showing. 2) Deselect the toolbar you are missing (remove the check)
3) Now right click again and put it back. (This makes it the active window now so be careful not to press the wrong key here)
4) Press Alt + Space and choose Move from the resulting menu. (Do not try and move it with your mouse at this point it won't work)
5) Press the right arrow key. This attaches the window to the cursor. Move the mouse now, the window should appear. Place it where you want then dock it if needed.

Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Darv

[dvornik]

Man.... Just take this card out and get a Geforce4 Ti4200. How can you work with this thing at all? It's horrible - I tried working with it a couple of years ago and still have it in my second computer. Geforce 2 and 3 are better than that.

[edit] I'm not being condescending or anything. Believe me the time you are wasting and the learning opportunities you are missing are worth more than a $100 that a decent entry-level card will cost you.

[javierdl]

Darv, thnks a lot for your advice and clear instructions :)
While I find out how to get back my original toolbars It is a good way of keeping my NEW toolbars from disapearing too.
I create them and then I move them to the second monitor the way you showed me. It works.

dvornik, thank you for your advice on getting a new card. I have been looking into that. I just wish I hadn't got used to using a dual head card ;)
Not that this will stop me leaving mine behind, it's just that the dual head feature will have to be part of the new one too ;)

DPC

[dvornik]

All Geforce4 Ti cards are dualhead. And work better than Matrox. You can even find a cheap dual-DVI card for future compatibility (it comes with VGA dongles):

http://www.asus.com/products/vga/v9280vs/overview.htm

If you are more serious about max you can look into Quadro (like 750 or 980XGL and 500 or 1000 FX) cards, all of which are also dualhead, some dual DVI.

All of them are far ahead of matrox. I can't live without dualhead either.

[javierdl]

Dvornik, thanks a bunch for all the info on the Nvidia cards :)
After seen that they take 3dsmax very much in consideration I feel like I'm converted ;) (I believe they are certified by Discreet)
Besides, the prices seem quite reasonable.
According to tigerdirect.ca the GeForce FX 5200, 256Mb, 8x, with tv & DVI out for only $150.00 Can (after MIR) is their best buy.
Sure I'd much prefer the 27.2 memory bandwith of the 5900 Ultra, as opposed to 6.4 memory bandwith of the 5200, but then the price doubles :( - for the entry level one.

I'll see if I get lucky at ebay ;)

DPC

[dvornik]

5200 isn't that good. It's one of the lowend cards. Geforce4 Ti 4200 and above are actually much better for openGL (and cheaper). Unless you need directX9 support, which I don't believe you need for max. 5900 would be better of course.

Quadros are certified by discreet, not Geforces. They start at around $300. Their main benefit in max is the custum Maxtreme viewport driver. But Geforces perform really well in max, too.

[javierdl]

Mmm... interesting.

I noticed the Ti 4200 TurboGamer has 1.5 Gb more of memory bandwidth. But has 128 ram. Whereas the 5200 has 256 ram, for the same price.

Just out of curiosity, what would you say is more important? 1. Memory Bandwidth, or 2. Amount of video ram?

DPC

[dvornik]

I don't know. :) Try to look at some benchmarks, especially if you can find 3ds max benchmarks. I'll post some if I come across them.

[javierdl]

Apparentely the video card wasn't the culprit, as now I am using a Radeon 9600 Pro, 128ram, dual-head, and I'm still having the same problem with the toolbars (disapearing when touching top, while being on monitor 2). I don't know what I'd be doing without Darv's advice to move'em ;)

DPC

[CarlosA]

awsome tip!!!
i hadn't seen my render progress float in months and now ist's back, thanks a million Darv!!!!

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.