AutoCAD 2006 crashes, but no Autosave files can be found

[judekw]

I have searched on "auto save" and "file recovery" (no quote marks) and have been unable to find an answer to this.

Twice in the last two days I have had AutoCAD(2006) crash and no auto save files were found in their specified location. I have ensured that Tools>Options>Files>Automatic Save File Location is set to C:TEMP and that my save times are set to three minutes on the Open and Save tab. I have searched my computer for all .ac$ files and have not found my drawings. It would appear that my Auto save is either not working, or that the files are being dumped off into never-never land.

I have not had this problem before until yesterday when I inherited a faster computer. A co-worker has had the same problem for some time. He attributes it to having multiple sessions of AutoCAD open on dual monitors, but I don't see the logic behind that as I believe that is how this program is expected to be used. And as I mentioned, I never had this problem on my old computer.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

[.T.]

Have you searched for *.SV$ ?

Also, be aware that if Autocad exits successfully (and sometimes in the grey area), the autosave files go away.

[judekw]

Yes, and here is a very sad thing. I found one file that was most likely it, but... I tried to rename the file extension to .dwg as you would with a .ac$ file, but it would not change. So I tried right clicking on it and using the "Open with" feature, but was told that windows could not open the file, and AutoCAD was not on the list of programs to choose from. I tried browsing to AutoCAD and this did not work either. Here is the sad part: When I hit the cancel button to escape from the Open With dialogue box, the file disappeared! I tried the same thing with a randomly selected file just to make sure I knew what I had done, and the same thing happened. I looked in my recycle bin and it's not in there.

????


Anyway, how DO you open a .sv$ file?

[BrenBren]

I have searched on "auto save" and "file recovery" (no quote marks) and have been unable to find an answer to this.

Twice in the last two days I have had AutoCAD(2006) crash and no auto save files were found in their specified location. I have ensured that Tools>Options>Files>Automatic Save File Location is set to C:TEMP and that my save times are set to three minutes on the Open and Save tab. I have searched my computer for all .ac$ files and have not found my drawings. It would appear that my Auto save is either not working, or that the files are being dumped off into never-never land.

I have not had this problem before until yesterday when I inherited a faster computer. A co-worker has had the same problem for some time. He attributes it to having multiple sessions of AutoCAD open on dual monitors, but I don't see the logic behind that as I believe that is how this program is expected to be used. And as I mentioned, I never had this problem on my old computer.

Has anyone else encountered this problem?

I thought AutoCAD 2006 had the autorecovery tool... erm, check the RECOVERYMODE system variable.. and also, try typing DRAWINGRECOVERY at the command line after a crash, if the dialog doesn't automatically pop up...

Provided, that is, that this was available in 06 - I am almost positive it was, but not 100%

[.T.]

Yes, and here is a very sad thing. I found one file that was most likely it, but... I tried to rename the file extension to .dwg as you would with a .ac$ file, but it would not change. So I tried right clicking on it and using the "Open with" feature, but was told that windows could not open the file, and AutoCAD was not on the list of programs to choose from. I tried browsing to AutoCAD and this did not work either. Here is the sad part: When I hit the cancel button to escape from the Open With dialogue box, the file disappeared! I tried the same thing with a randomly selected file just to make sure I knew what I had done, and the same thing happened. I looked in my recycle bin and it's not in there.

????


Anyway, how DO you open a .sv$ file?

You were going about it the right way; replacing the .SV$ with .DWG should do it. Is it perhaps read only for some reason, or do your permissions to that directory prohibit you from renameing it? Maybe try copying it elsewhere and try again.

[.T.]

I thought AutoCAD 2006 had the autorecovery tool... erm, check the RECOVERYMODE system variable.. and also, try typing DRAWINGRECOVERY at the command line after a crash, if the dialog doesn't automatically pop up...

Provided, that is, that this was available in 06 - I am almost positive it was, but not 100%

Yep, it's there. I forgot about that. Good thought. :beer:

[judekw]

Ok, maybe this piece of information was important: I said AutoCAD crashed. Perhaps I should have said that AutoCAD locked up and I shut it down through the Task Manager after giving what I believed to be ample time for the program to respond. At any rate, when I reopened AutoCAD, I did not get the Dialogue Box for autorecovery which has, by the way worked well for me in the past. I did try the autorecovery command, but my drawing was not listed. Could this be because I shut AutoCAD down through the Task Manager? It has been my experience that when AutoCAD locks up like that, well I don't know if it ever recovers or crashes. I have waited as long as five minutes or so, and then I just shut it down.

[.T.]

Ok, maybe this piece of information was important: I said AutoCAD crashed. Perhaps I should have said that AutoCAD locked up and I shut it down through the Task Manager after giving what I believed to be ample time for the program to respond. At any rate, when I reopened AutoCAD, I did not get the Dialogue Box for autorecovery which has, by the way worked well for me in the past. I did try the autorecovery command, but my drawing was not listed. Could this be because I shut AutoCAD down through the Task Manager? It has been my experience that when AutoCAD locks up like that, well I don't know if it ever recovers or crashes. I have waited as long as five minutes or so, and then I just shut it down.

Given that you had to use the three finger salute, Autocad may not have registered that there was a crash, hence the drawing not being in the list. I would try copying the sv$ to a directory that you have full privileges to, and try renaming it again.

[BrenBren]

Ok, maybe this piece of information was important: I said AutoCAD crashed. Perhaps I should have said that AutoCAD locked up and I shut it down through the Task Manager after giving what I believed to be ample time for the program to respond. At any rate, when I reopened AutoCAD, I did not get the Dialogue Box for autorecovery which has, by the way worked well for me in the past. I did try the autorecovery command, but my drawing was not listed. Could this be because I shut AutoCAD down through the Task Manager? It has been my experience that when AutoCAD locks up like that, well I don't know if it ever recovers or crashes. I have waited as long as five minutes or so, and then I just shut it down.

yea, that may have been the problem - if AutoCAD doesn't register it's shut down as an abrupt shut down (ie.crash) it will delete the Autosave files..

But, if you do have an Autosave file that looks like it's from the right time, you should just be able to rename it (as Tim has pointed out).

[judekw]

I would love to be able to do that, but as mentioned above, the .sv$ file disappeared after I attempted to open it. For this particular drawing, it is a moot point now because I have already rebuilt it to the point I was when the the file was lost. However, I would still like to know how to make sure that my autosave files are going where they are supposed to.

I have just looked in my C:TEMP folder, and there are no new .ac$ files in there. I see several .dwl files from my old drawing, one right around the time it crashed. Can these files be used for recovery?

But most important is how to prevent this problem in the future.

[judekw]

OK, here's what must have happened to the renamed .sv$ files. When I searched for them, they were in my C:\Documents and Settings\User\Local Settings\Temp file. But apparently when I renamed them, they went to my C:\TEMP file, which is where I just found them. I think I'd better check Autosave settings again.

[BrenBren]

I would love to be able to do that, but as mentioned above, the .sv$ file disappeared after I attempted to open it. For this particular drawing, it is a moot point now because I have already rebuilt it to the point I was when the the file was lost. However, I would still like to know how to make sure that my autosave files are going where they are supposed to.

I have just looked in my C:TEMP folder, and there are no new .ac$ files in there. I see several .dwl files from my old drawing, one right around the time it crashed. Can these files be used for recovery?

But most important is how to prevent this problem in the future.

You set where your autosave files go in your options (see screen capture)

Nope, the dwl files cannot be used (to my knowledge); they are the drawing lock files that are created when a drawing is opened, so no one else can open and edit it.

[.T.]

I would love to be able to do that, but as mentioned above, the .sv$ file disappeared after I attempted to open it. For this particular drawing, it is a moot point now because I have already rebuilt it to the point I was when the the file was lost. However, I would still like to know how to make sure that my autosave files are going where they are supposed to.

I have just looked in my C:TEMP folder, and there are no new .ac$ files in there. I see several .dwl files from my old drawing, one right around the time it crashed. Can these files be used for recovery?

But most important is how to prevent this problem in the future.

The autosave file isn't created until after the allotted time goes by and an autosave it executed.

The existence of .dwl's (drawing locks) at this point has me somewhat worried. I would exit all Autocad sessions, make sure no one else has the drawings that correspond to the locks open, then see if any remain. If they do, I would think about deleting or moving them before relaunching Autocad.

[judekw]

You set where your autosave files go in your options (see screen capture)

Nope, the dwl files cannot be used (to my knowledge); they are the drawing lock files that are created when a drawing is opened, so no one else can open and edit it.
This is how I have had my file options set up (see screen shot)

Does this look correct?

[judekw]

The autosave file isn't created until after the allotted time goes by and an autosave it executed.

The existence of .dwl's (drawing locks) at this point has me somewhat worried. I would exit all Autocad sessions, make sure no one else has the drawings that correspond to the locks open, then see if any remain. If they do, I would think about deleting or moving them before relaunching Autocad.
We do have several users that have files open in Read Only mode at any given time.

[BrenBren]

This is how I have had my file options set up (see screen shot)

Does this look correct?

As far as I can tell, and as long as that directory exists, you should be good...

[judekw]

OK, thanks. I guess I'll just attribute the lack of Autosave files to shutting down the session too quickly with the Task Manager. I will do as Tim suggested and look into the .dwl issue.

If the autosave problem persists, I will check back with y'all.

Thanks again,
Jude

[Brian Myers]

Just to add to this thread (I realize this doesn't apply to your situation), I've seen people rename their Autosave file before without renaming the extension. In other words a drawing called Drawing.dwg crashes. It becomes Drawing.sv$. They go in and rename it back to a DWG file and do it wrong... instead it becomes Drawing.DWG.sv$. Since Windows might not show that .sv$ extension depending on how you view your files AutoCAD might not be able to find the file after you just renamed it. It will LOOK like a Drawing.dwg file but in reality be named Drawing.dwg.sv$ which AutoCAD won't be able to find to open. So if your file seems to vanish after a rename check your file extension first, this could be the issue if the file is still in the right spot.

[.T.]

Just to add to this thread (I realize this doesn't apply to your situation), I've seen people rename their Autosave file before without renaming the extension. In other words a drawing called Drawing.dwg crashes. It becomes Drawing.sv$. They go in and rename it back to a DWG file and do it wrong... instead it becomes Drawing.DWG.sv$. Since Windows might not show that .sv$ extension depending on how you view your files AutoCAD might not be able to find the file after you just renamed it. It will LOOK like a Drawing.dwg file but in reality be named Drawing.dwg.sv$ which AutoCAD won't be able to find to open. So if your file seems to vanish after a rename check your file extension first, this could be the issue if the file is still in the right spot.

The first thing I do when setting up a new station is change the Explorer view setting to NOT hide known extensions. I don't know what MS was thinking when they implemented that scheme. :?

[Wanderer]

The first thing I do when setting up a new station is change the Explorer view setting to NOT hide known extensions. I don't know what MS was thinking when they implemented that scheme. :?same here, I got a question recently about some odd bug (the Last File Open Not Highlighting) and the cause was this... snippet (http://mistressofthedorkness.blogspot.com/2007/02/last-file-opened-not-highlighted.html) below...




Just got a question in my inbox today; this hasn't happened to me personally and after looking up the answer on the autodesk knowledgebase (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/kb/autoindex?siteID=123112&id=2334144&linkID=2475323), I can see why...



Last file opened not highlighted
ID: TS72986 (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/item?siteID=123112&id=3549016&linkID=2475323)
Applies to:
AutoCAD® 2005, AutoCAD® 2004, AutoCAD® 2002, AutoCAD® 2000i, AutoCAD® 2000, AutoCAD LT® 2005, AutoCAD LT® 2004, AutoCAD LT® 2002, AutoCAD LT® 2000i, AutoCAD LT® 2000
Issue
When opening drawings, you find that in the Select file dialog box that the last opened file is not highlighted .
Solution
This occurs when, in the Folder Options dialog box, the operating system variable, Hide File Extensions for Known File Types, is selected.
Use the following steps to clear this option:

1. Start Windows Explorer.
2. Select Tools > Folder Options.
3. In the dialog box, click the View tab.
4. Clear the Hide File Extensions for Known File Types option.Now... the reason that I've never experienced this is that I adjust my windows explorer settings as soon as I get a new pc (or a reinstall of an os). I like to see all of my file extensions, especially since you need to be able to see your extensions to rename your .bak files to .dwg files when you have a crash resulting in a corrupted file (which, admittedly, doesn't happen to me nearly as much as it used to, but, old habits are hard to break).

Also, props to the KB (http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/kb/autoindex?siteID=123112&id=2334144&linkID=2475323)... I couldn't find this answer with Google (my usual first choice), but, it was my top hit when I moved my search to the adesk site.