Revit Crashing on Startup? Here's How to Fix It! - Troubleshooting Tutorial

Revit Crashing on Startup. How to Fix! Troubleshooting Tutoria

During the course of interior design, Revit stands as a great tool for innovation and creativity. However, what happens when your software decides to thwart your efforts by crashing on startup? In this blog post, we'll delve into a real-life journey of frustration, persistence, and ultimate triumph over a relentless Revit startup crash. If you've ever faced a similar challenge or are looking to preempt one, this story might offer you insights and solutions that conventional troubleshooting couldn't.

When Revit Said "No More"

The Trouble all began when I fired up Revit one morning, only to be met with an unfamiliar sight – the software crashed on startup without warning or error messages.  Like many, I turned to the web for solutions and Googled "Revit crash on startup." I meticulously followed the prescribed steps from Autodesk's support forums, hoping for a miracle.

You can follow the support site here: 

​https://www.autodesk.com/support/technical/article/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Revit-2017-crashing-during-start-up.html

Alas, the results were as disappointing as the crash itself. The solutions posted by Autodesk seemed promising on the surface, but they failed to yield any results. To make matters worse, my attempts to seek assistance from Autodesk's support desk proved useless, leaving me more perplexed than ever.
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A Radical Move: Rebooting, Uninstalling, Reinstalling, and the Reformatting. 

​After rebooting my computer several times, and with my patience dwindling, I embarked on a radical path – uninstalling and reinstalling Revit. I tried to avoid this option as Revit is a very large program and you can quickly lose an hour of your time.  The fresh install offered a glimmer of hope as the software seemed to cooperate temporarily. I celebrated my victory, only to have it short-lived. The software would work for a couple of days and suddenly the crashing curse soon returned, rendering my hard-won solution null and void.  Finally, I decided that perhaps a virus infected by computer and decided to reformat my hard drive (and reinstall three years worth of software and customizations).  This process took days but same result; Revit crashes on startup!

The Turning Point: Enter Imaginit.com

Determined not to be defeated, I sought out professional help.  I contacted every long term Revit user I knew, but nobody ever experienced this issue.  Am I the first? Enter Imaginit.com, a software solutions provider and Autodesk reseller. With their expertise, we embarked on an intensive two-hour troubleshooting session. We delved into the intricate labyrinth of software conflicts, hardware inconsistencies, and more. They were professional, thorough and had extensive software expertise.  After an exhaustive examination, we reached a breakthrough.

The Unlikely Culprit: Trendmicro Antivirus
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​It turns out that the antagonist in this narrative was an unlikely one – my antivirus software, TrendMicro. The very software meant to protect my system was inadvertently wreaking havoc with my Revit experience. I have used this software exclusively for many years and NEVER had a conflict with Revit or any other software application.  Imaginit's experts determined that TrendMicro was conflicting with Revit, causing it to crash upon startup.

The Key to Victory: Adding Exceptions

​The solution was both surprising and straightforward. We added Autodesk directories to the exceptions list within Trendmicro. This simple yet effective action paved the way to stability. Revit no longer crashed on startup, and I was finally able to access my projects without the looming dread of a crash derailing my efforts.

Conclusion: A Lesson in Tenacity and Adaptability
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This journey through Revit crashing on startup taught me valuable lessons beyond troubleshooting steps. It reinforced the importance of tenacity, adaptability, and the willingness to seek outside expertise. While Autodesk's support channels faltered, Imaginit.com stepped in as the unsung hero, unriddling the mystery that plagued my creative process.
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To anyone facing a similar ordeal, I offer this narrative as a testament that solutions exist even when conventional paths fail. If Revit crashes on startup have derailed your work, consider exploring avenues that extend beyond the ordinary. Sometimes, a fresh perspective and the expertise of professionals can make all the difference.
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Let's make our architectural journeys smoother, our creative processes uninterrupted, and our Revit experiences crash-free (and LESS EXPENSIVE THAN MINE). After all, the most remarkable designs should be hindered by the least remarkable crashes.
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Have you encountered a similar Revit crash saga? Or have you found unconventional solutions to software troubles? Share your experiences in the comments below! Let's continue the dialogue and help fellow designers overcome their challenges.