Hello,

I tried to run Houdini Apprentice just after installation, but cannot get into any program of Houdini with an ui. For example when I try to open the license administrator to get an Apprentice license the Houdini console shows errors until hkey doesn't work anymore. The errors are:

ERROR: Couldn't open resource file “resources” (No such file or directory)
UT_Interrupt: Couldn't find idialog.exe

then goes a while and finally the error:

Couldn't find font Proportional.9 - using default instead

repeats until it doesn't work anymore.

What I find strange is if I add the HOUDINI_PATH variable to the environment, pointing to the bin directory, the error with idialog.exe goes away, idialog opens and shows the same resources and font error like hkey. Setting the HOUDINI_OGL_SOFTWARE variable also didn't change anything.

Houdini version: 11.1.67 x64

The system is a Lenovo X121e Netbook with Radeon HD 6310 video adapter.

Software that might be important:
Windows 7 Professional x64
Comodo firewall 5.8
Avira AntiVir 12
Spyware Terminator 2012

Of course I allowed everything of Houdini software. I also tried installing and running Houdini while those programs were deactivated which unfortunately didn't change anything. I didn't try uninstalling any of the security programs, because nowadays I feel like needing all of those, since they address different security areas each.

Well, many thanks finally for any efforts to help me beeing able to learn Houdini.


Greetings

Various users have experienced problems with AntiVir and Houdini. The symptoms of your problem very sounds like some of those programs interfered with the Houdini installation. Instead of AntiVir, try Microsoft Security Essentials.

Hello edward,

thank you very much for having read my message and for your reply. Unfortunately this didn't help yet. To be sure for the time trying I uninstalled all of the mentioned security programs, restarted and did a new installation of Houdini. All of this didn't change anything in the described situation - exactly the same problem persists.

There's one small thing I have noticed though. When installing Houdini on another machine (desktop), near the end of the install a console window popped up showing the processing of a lot of fonts. The apprentice version did work there afterwards. This window never popped up on my netbook. Instead I only could see the processing of the fonts when I clicked “show details”.

Well, currently I can't think of anything else I could do, so I am hoping you or someone else knows of futher possibilities.

Greetings

Make sure that you have no Houdini related environment variables set before running the installer. Also try the latest H11.1 installer under Daily Builds.

Under details, what is the last font that is processed?

…for offering such great help, edward - this has helped now.

I guess I should have thought of removing the introduced environment variables prior performing a new installation. This time I have removed those before the installation, did a Windows update and used Houdini version 11.1.118 x64.

The only thing, which isn't so nice, is that on this netbook Houdini takes about ten minutes until it shows it's interface - maybe this has to do with some settings of Comodo Internet Security which now is the only resident security software running besides a Sandboxie container. Anyways, I will look into that.

Well, on the other hand noone said Houdini would run very well on such a computer. It runs finally and that I find great, since now I can learn about Houdini on the ways I take.

Thank you very much again, best wishes and have a nice weekend.

Greetings

There is a short info I want to add, just in case it may help someone: The last font that was processed, was “gautami.ttf”.

Hello once again,

it seems a special setting in Comodo Internet Security was the reason for slow performance of Houdini. After changing that and rebooting, Houdini starts several times faster now. The setting is mentioned at its description to possibly cause slowdown of the system. It is in the firewall extended settings: You have to disable monitoring of other NDIS-protocols than TCP/IP. Hopefully this helps someone else.

Greetings

If Houdini has managed to start without errors, the first time might take awhile on a slow machine while it generates icons. So I'm not sure that the Comodo setting is doing what you think its doing. Now that you have your icon cache generated, it might be worthwhile confirming whether it is slow again if you re-enable that Comodeo setting.

Having said all that, I'm not sure that extra “firewall” software is needed for Windows these days. I tend to trust the built-in firewall that it comes with it as long I know exactly what it is allowing/disallowing.

Anyhow, I'm glad Houdini is running for you.

Hello edward,

I checked what you wrote and you are right: Apparently it was the icon generation only. Strange: I'm quite sure I had opened Houdini two or even three times right after install and every time it took so long. Maybe that it works well now has something to do with the reboot afterwards. After all I'm on Windows ;-).

I tried the windows firewall alone once, but unfortunately it doesn't suffice by far. I want total control and very good usability, which I couldn't get it to give to me. Besides CIS has features additional to just a firewall which I find useful, but thanks that you care.

You are very generous, edward - many thanks for that. Best wishes for you.

Greetings