Discreet warns Windows 2000 SP4 kills 3ds max files

#1 That's hilarious

#2 Actually you can thank Joe and I for finding this little problem and reporting it to Discreet to verify.

Here are some attaditional notes and points of interest that were not included in the advisory, as well as my own comments on it...
- I have never had the MAX files with SP4 go completely corrupt to the point where they are not usabe. I have also never seen this reported and I stay current on the Discreet support forums, so I don't think that the PC Authorities comments in the first part of its article are accurate at all.
- If you have upgraded to SP4 the files are still usable on your system or any other system using SP4. Meaning that your work is not lost and you can still continue to work with the files and export them to DTS or DSQs (for example) quite handily.
- Anyone not running SP4 will encounter a Max crash when they try to load the Max file (ie. unexpected error and return to desktop).
- Anyone not running SP4 will have their explorer.exe crash (not to be confused with IE) if they click on the file and try to access its meta data or properties.
- You can save your data out to a Filmbox (FBX) or 3DS file if you are paranoid about corruption or want to share your files with other still

Also please remember that as a general rule of thumb you should never upgrade your Service Packs until after its been available for about 6 months unless its absolutely necessary. This rule of thumb also works for drivers (such as your video card, chipset, sound, etc.).

Logan

#3 Thank you Logan... errr... thank you for what? I don't use windows anyway :P
Nah, really, great catch.

#4 Don't forget to back up your files!!!
:)

#5 Just a small update in regards to the problem with the Max files that I figured intersted parties would like to know.

[code]Attention All 3ds max

#6 Christ, the auto update feature on XP is the spawn of Satan, I've no idea why I enabled it in the first place :-( Sure enough, 832980 is there. Does anyone know what the Hotfix was, er, intended to fix? :-)

One thing the auto-update feature does provide is an insight into just how flaky and full of holes Windows is. Each update, be it for the OS or for Windows Media Player, has a description that starts with '...allowing a malicious user to access (insert important stuff) on your computer and run potentially damaging code...'. How nice.

** Opportunities with Microsoft **

Microsoft require a talented C/C++ 'Unchecked Buffer(r)' Developer, to work in their busy, demanding Security Development Team(tm). Like coding in C/C++, but just don't have time to check those buffer lengths? We have a comfy chair just for you, and like-minded people who say NO to the evils of debugging and testing critical systems.

:-D I'm not bitter, but I particularly like the scene from South Park:The Movie, where the US Army guy executes Bill Gates on stage, after the laptop crashes. Comedy.

-Darren.

#7 Latest Update...

Attention All 3ds max® and Autodesk® VIZ Customers,

SUBJECT: Interim FIX available for 3ds max and Autodesk VIZ (.max) file corruption caused by recent Microsoft Windows Updates. 

PROBLEM: 

The Microsoft Hotfix 823980 which has been made available through Windows Update to all Windows 2000 and XP operating systems and service packs causes the corruption of 3ds max and Autodesk VIZ (.max) files. 

As a result, all .max files saved with the Windows Hotfix 823980 installed will no longer load in 3ds max or Autodesk VIZ on systems without the fix. 

WHO IS AFFECTED: 

The following operating systems configurations will experience 3ds max and Autodesk VIZ file corruption: 

Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Hotfix KB 823980 under XP
Hotfix KB 823980 under Win2K SP3 or lower

Note: we previously thought this problem extended to Windows NT 4 SP6 but have found under further testing that it does not affect users on that Windows version. 

RESOLUTION: 

According to Microsoft, Hotfix 823980 addresses potential security issues in its operating system. As such, if you anticipate picking up Hotfix 823980 some time in the future - either manually or via automatic Windows updates through WinUpdate, you may consider updating to Hotfix 823980 now, and ALSO IMMEDIATELY follow the instructions below for adding the latest Hotfix described to address the .max file corruption issue. 

For those of you who have updated to Hotfix 823980 or Windows 2000 Service Pack 4 and encounter the problem described above, Microsoft has a new, early-version Hotfix available. 

For access to this early Hotfix, customers can call 800-936-4900 and request Hotfix - Q824136 for Windows 2000 or Windows XP. 

You will be asked to provide your Name, Email and Zip Code, and then the ~1Mb Hotfix will be sent to you via email attachment within about 10-15 minutes. The fix will only install if you have previously installed one of the affected hotfixes or service packs listed above in the "Who is Affected" section. 

WARNING - be sure to back-up any critical data on your system before installing the new MS Hotfix. After installation of the new Hotfix Q824136, you should open and resave any affected files. 

This Hotfix is expected to be fully tested and officially released through Microsoft within a couple of months. 

This new Hotfix is also available for some localized language versions of Windows. When requesting the Q824136 Hotfix, make sure to request the language that matches your installation of Windows. 

We are actively working with Microsoft to provide contact information outside of the U.S. and Canada. Check the Discreet Product Support site at http://www.discreet.com/support/max/, under Late Breaking Bulletins for international contact information when it becomes available. 

If you'd rather uninstall the Hotfix 823980, there are other work-around instructions that were sent in the last customer alert, and are also available through Discreet Product Support at http://www.discreet.com/support/max/, look under Late Breaking Bulletins. 

WARNING - be sure to back-up any critical data on your system before installing the new MS Hotfix, or implementing any alternative work-arounds. 

Discreet is a division of Autodesk, Inc. Autodesk, Discreet, 3ds max, and VIZ are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Autodesk Inc/Autodesk Canada Inc., in the USA and/or other countries. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. (c) Copyright 2003 Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved. 

Thank you for your continued interest in Discreet products. Discreet respects your time and privacy. If you would prefer not to receive future e-mails about our products or events, or have received this e-mail in error, please click here.

Logan

#8 For those you who are looking for HotFix 824136 to correct this problem (since you need HotFix 823980 to prevent MSBaster.exe from getting you) you can download it from the following locations.

This fix is not publicly available through the Microsoft website as it has not gone through full Microsoft regression testing. If you would like confirmation that this fix is designed to address your specific problem, or if you would like to confirm whether there are any special compatibility or installation issues associated with this fix, you are encouraged to speak to a Microsoft Support Professional in Product Support Services (in the U.S. call 800-936-4900).

Once installed, the user's computer may still appear to be vulnerable to the Blaster worm to some virus checking software, even though it isn't. This situation will be resolved when the official patch is release in the next month.
Q824136 Hotfix will not install on Windows 2000 SP2. You will need to update your system to Windows SP3 or SP4 before you are able to install this Hotfix. Discreet recommends updating all Windows 2000 systems to SP4 to support the beta Hotfix.

Q824136 Hotfix is available temporarily only until the official files go live on the Windows Update service.

Note: These file downloads are only temporary, if they go down it is because the download has been migrated to Windows Update.

Windows 2000 English
Windows XP English

If you require a version for another language, just change the country code that appears before the ".exe" to the one for your language (ie. German is DEU, Danish is DAN, Arabic is ARA, French is FRA, Spanis is ESN, Japanese is JPN, etc.).

#9 Thank you for that information.
I will try it as soon as possible because it's really annoying to be unable to reopen my work !!!!!
Hopefully I was just trying to export a MS3D file in dts, so I don't loose anything !!

#10 Did Discreet or Microsoft ever release an official patch for this problem?

#11 Yes it is available through Windows Update, it is patch 824136, and it has been available since mid-September.

Logan