I tried to install Houdini today and it keeps crashing. hkey.exe will crash at install. hescape.exe and houdinifx.exe will both crash within seconds of opening the program. I installed with both antivirus and Firewall software turned off. Thanks for taking the time to look at this. I am really hoping I can start to learn this software.

My system specs:
Windows 7 64 bit
8 gig memory
Nvidia Geforce GTX 680
All windows patches applied, Newest graphics driver.

I tried both:
Production build (13.0.509)
Latest daily build (13.0.543)

Error messages I receive are:
Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 9/22/2014 10:04:09 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: S
Description:
Faulting application name: houdinifx.exe, version: 13.0.0.543, time stamp: 0x541fbb66
Faulting module name: MSVCR90.dll, version: 9.0.30729.6161, time stamp: 0x4dace4e7
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000001e480
Faulting process id: 0x2194
Faulting application start time: 0x01cfd6ebc628af73
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 13.0.543\bin\houdinifx.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll
Report Id: 0cbd633f-42df-11e4-b362-000272ae5183
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event [schemas.microsoft.com]“>
<System>
<Provider Name=”Application Error“ />
<EventID Qualifiers=”0“>1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime=”2014-09-23T05:04:09.000000000Z“ />
<EventRecordID>7910</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>S</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>houdinifx.exe</Data>
<Data>13.0.0.543</Data>
<Data>541fbb66</Data>
<Data>MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>9.0.30729.6161</Data>
<Data>4dace4e7</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>000000000001e480</Data>
<Data>2194</Data>
<Data>01cfd6ebc628af73</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 13.0.543\bin\houdinifx.exe</Data>
<Data>C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>0cbd633f-42df-11e4-b362-000272ae5183</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 9/22/2014 10:03:25 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: S
Description:
Faulting application name: hkey.exe, version: 13.0.0.543, time stamp: 0x541fbce7
Faulting module name: MSVCR90.dll, version: 9.0.30729.6161, time stamp: 0x4dace4e7
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000001e480
Faulting process id: 0x1370
Faulting application start time: 0x01cfd6ebafbe4a1d
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 13.0.543\bin\hkey.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll
Report Id: f2a0213c-42de-11e4-b362-000272ae5183
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns=”http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event [schemas.microsoft.com]“>
<System>
<Provider Name=”Application Error“ />
<EventID Qualifiers=”0“>1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime=”2014-09-23T05:03:25.000000000Z“ />
<EventRecordID>7908</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>S</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>hkey.exe</Data>
<Data>13.0.0.543</Data>
<Data>541fbce7</Data>
<Data>MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>9.0.30729.6161</Data>
<Data>4dace4e7</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>000000000001e480</Data>
<Data>1370</Data>
<Data>01cfd6ebafbe4a1d</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 13.0.543\bin\hkey.exe</Data>
<Data>C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>f2a0213c-42de-11e4-b362-000272ae5183</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 9/22/2014 10:01:45 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: S
Description:
Faulting application name: hescape.exe, version: 13.0.0.543, time stamp: 0x541fbb4e
Faulting module name: MSVCR90.dll, version: 9.0.30729.6161, time stamp: 0x4dace4e7
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000001e480
Faulting process id: 0x728
Faulting application start time: 0x01cfd6eb61f24b5f
Faulting application path: C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 13.0.543\bin\hescape.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll
Report Id: b6872fa6-42de-11e4-b362-000272ae5183
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns=”http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event [schemas.microsoft.com]“>
<System>
<Provider Name=”Application Error“ />
<EventID Qualifiers=”0“>1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime=”2014-09-23T05:01:45.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>7906</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>S</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>hescape.exe</Data>
<Data>13.0.0.543</Data>
<Data>541fbb4e</Data>
<Data>MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>9.0.30729.6161</Data>
<Data>4dace4e7</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>000000000001e480</Data>
<Data>728</Data>
<Data>01cfd6eb61f24b5f</Data>
<Data>C:\Program Files\Side Effects Software\Houdini 13.0.543\bin\hescape.exe</Data>
<Data>C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>b6872fa6-42de-11e4-b362-000272ae5183</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

After some more investigation it turns out the msvcr90.dll is the problem. For some reason it hates Houdini. If I rename it I get an error saying it can't be found, but Houdini no longer crashes.

I am reluctant to keep the name turned off since it seems to have undesirable effects on my system. Explorer takes forever to open, etc.

Any ideas on how I can get Houdini to like this file?

TIA

Sounds like you have probably installed the VC9 build of Houdini, maybe try the VC11 build and see if it works any better?

Of course the VC9 build should work, but…

Thanks for the tip, but I tried both versions. Started with VC11 and when that failed I tried VC9. Same issue. I even tried the 32 bit version.

Are you sure you have Windows 7 SP1 (Service Pack 1) installed?

edward: positive.

Perhaps you have something in your PATH environment that is interfering. First, go look at your environment variables. Right-click on Computer > Properties on the Start menu. Now click on Advanced System Properties on the left. Then on the Advanced Tab, click on the Environment Variables button.

- Make sure that you have no other copies of Houdini running. To be safe, you might want to uninstall all Houdini installations, and then reinstall only the latest VC11 64-bit daily build.
- Confirm that your only have Path listed under System Variables
- Make a backup copy of your Path environment variable:
- Double-click on Path. Rename it from Path to PathX so that we try a default value. Copy the environment variable's value before clicking OK.
- Click on the New… button, for the name put in Path as the variables new name and then paste the previous value into the Variable Name field.
- Now we can edit the Path environment variable. Remove all paths that do not have %SystemRoot% root in it. In my case, the variable value becomes:
%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\

- Now try running Houdini FX from from the VC11 install of Houdini.

Edward thanks for trying to help but still no luck. I trimmed my environment variables to this.



Then I uninstalled Houdini, rebooted and reinstalled VC11. Still same issue.

Hkey.exe crashes immediately when trying to set up license.
Houdinifx crashes within seconds of opening the program, or immediately if I click on anything.

Ok, so when you run the License Administrator from the Start Menu for your VC11 install, what's the error report on that crash? I'm looking for the message related to MSVCR110.DLL.

PS. Do you have any copies of Visual Studio installed on your computer?

PPS. On a long shot, try downloading and installing this:
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30679 [microsoft.com]

Edward: Thank you for continuing to help me with this.

This is the file that is giving me problems:



It is in this path:

C:\WINDOWS\winsxs\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251

If I rename it then Houdini throws and error that it can't find it at start up, but then it continues to work without crashing.

I do not have any Visual Studio programs installed except for the redistributable ones. I have uninstalled 2008 and reinstalled it. I also just repaired the one you linked. So far still crashing

This is the error I receive when I open the license administrator:
Log Name: Application
Source: Application Error
Date: 9/23/2014 9:24:41 PM
Event ID: 1000
Task Category: (100)
Level: Error
Keywords: Classic
User: N/A
Computer: S
Description:
Faulting application name: hkey.exe, version: 13.0.0.509, time stamp: 0x53f2e45e
Faulting module name: MSVCR90.dll, version: 9.0.30729.6161, time stamp: 0x4dace4e7
Exception code: 0xc0000005
Fault offset: 0x000000000001e480
Faulting process id: 0x1f98
Faulting application start time: 0x01cfd7af6e84de96
Faulting application path: C:\Houdini\bin\hkey.exe
Faulting module path: C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll
Report Id: b36e7431-43a2-11e4-b189-000272ae5183
Event Xml:
<Event xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/win/2004/08/events/event [schemas.microsoft.com]“>
<System>
<Provider Name=”Application Error“ />
<EventID Qualifiers=”0“>1000</EventID>
<Level>2</Level>
<Task>100</Task>
<Keywords>0x80000000000000</Keywords>
<TimeCreated SystemTime=”2014-09-24T04:24:41.000000000Z" />
<EventRecordID>9266</EventRecordID>
<Channel>Application</Channel>
<Computer>S</Computer>
<Security />
</System>
<EventData>
<Data>hkey.exe</Data>
<Data>13.0.0.509</Data>
<Data>53f2e45e</Data>
<Data>MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>9.0.30729.6161</Data>
<Data>4dace4e7</Data>
<Data>c0000005</Data>
<Data>000000000001e480</Data>
<Data>1f98</Data>
<Data>01cfd7af6e84de96</Data>
<Data>C:\Houdini\bin\hkey.exe</Data>
<Data>C:\Windows\WinSxS\amd64_microsoft.vc90.crt_1fc8b3b9a1e18e3b_9.0.30729.6161_none_08e61857a83bc251\MSVCR90.dll</Data>
<Data>b36e7431-43a2-11e4-b189-000272ae5183</Data>
</EventData>
</Event>

Are you sure you're running the VC11 installer? The VC11 build of Houdini should use MSVCR110.DLL, not MSVCR90.DLL at all! Did you install some HDK plugins into your system at some point? Look for “houdini13.0” folders in your system and rename them to something else like “houdini13.0.old”.

Edward - I had an old trial of Houdini 12.xx can't remember the number but I have installed a new SSD since then and did a clean install of windows so I doubt that that is causing the issue.

I put Houdini on my work computer as a test to see if it installed fine. And it did using the same installer. And it is using the msvcr110.dll file. I tested it by renaming that file and Houdini wouldn't even load with it renamed.

Do you or anyone know of a command line switch I can use to install the program to force it to use msvcr110.dll ?

Thanks,

Renamed the MSVCR110.DLL file on my home computer and Houdini won't even open until I change the name back. Tried the new build from today, still same issue.

For now I think I am just going to put a shortcut on my desktop to the MSVCR90.DLL file and just rename it every time I want to use Houdini. Hopefully that won't bite me in the rear later on down the road.

Thanks for the help Edward and eetu.

Can you try profiling the load of hkey.exe using the Dependency Walker? (make sure you do *NOT* have MSVCR90.DLL renamed)

http://www.dependencywalker.com/ [dependencywalker.com]

I'm curious as to what's trying to load MSVCR90.DLL when nothing should be.

If you first installed VC9 and then VC11, maybe some of the running houdini/licence services did not get overwritten, and are still VC9?

Fixed!!

Or at least I found to culprit!

Edward thanks for pointing me in the right direction. Using DependencyWalker I was able to track the problem down to Wintab32.dll. This is installed with my tablet. I got the latest drivers from them but the issue remains. At least I know where the problem is and I will email them to so they can get new drivers out.

I removed the tablet driver software and Houdini works like a champ now!

Thanks again everyone for the help!

Is there a place where we can download the tablet drivers that you're using?

Another long shot idea:
- Reinstall your tablet driver
- Now install this: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=15336 [microsoft.com]
- Reboot
- Check for security updates and install any that show up. Reboot.
- Now try running Houdini