LDD won't start

[Jetro]

I wasn't sure where to turn with this so I'm posting it here in the hope someone can help me out here.

LDD won't start.

I'm on a new laptop and have been busy installing software. One of the first things to go on the laptop was a complete suite of LEGO CAD applications, including LDD. Initially it worked fine, but today when I tried to run LDD it simply wouldn't start. That is... the application starts up and then hangs on the "Launching application..." screen. Unfortunately I have no idea what software I have installed after LDD. I did notice some curious differences between this installation and another one I have on a different computer, to do with some parts not showing up in the extended mode that were available (and still are) on the other computer.

So here is what I have tried so far:

The only way to get out of this screen (and I have given it plenty of time) is to end the application. Thinking maybe somehow some vital component was affected (by the anti-virus or anti-everything else software, although that has never before happened to me) I decided to download the latest version of LDD and install it on top of the existing application - no luck.

Then I uninstalled LDD, rebooted, re-installed and... again, no luck.

I don't get any error messages, it simply hangs.

System specs: Windows 7 Home Premium

If you need more, please ask.

[Calabar]

Did you read the suggestion provided in this pinned topic?

[Fallenangel]

I also have a startup-related issue. When I click on an LXF file and use "Open With", LDD starts up but does not automatically open the selected file. I thus have to save an LXF file to my computer every time I want to open it. Can this be circumvented?

And I might as well have all my questions answered at the same time, so is there a way to have multiple files open at once?

Edited January 9, 2012 by Fallenangel

[Alasdair Ryan]

I might be wrong but i think it might be something to do with the graphics card not being good enough,mind you if it is a new laptop than it should have a good graphics card.

[AndyC]

@Jetro: LDD tries to check the internet for an updated version at startup, I wonder if maybe you have third party firewall software that might be stalling it?

@FallenAngel: Sounds like whatever Browser you're using isn't handling files correctly and is assuming that executablename filename will open a file, wheras LDD is registered to require executablename -open filename. If you can customise the command sent, that could fix it otherwise it should probably be filed as a browser bug. As far as I know LDD is single-instanced, so you can't open multiple files at once.

[Fallenangel]

So it's an issue with the browser, then. Thanks.

[Jetro]

@Calabar - completely overlooked that. thanks!

@Alasdair Ryan - not sure why completely uninstalling LDD and then reinstalling worked. I'd rule out the graphics card (NVIDIA GeForce GT 540M, 2GB VRAM)since after reinstalling I was able to use the same graphics acceleration as before.

If graphics can be such an issue, maybe LDD should include a failsafe mode that allows you to change graphics settings without having to go through this. Also, who does LDD not install everything when I ask it to uninstall. I understand it not deleting my models, but leaving behind stuff that can impede a successful update is rather sloppy!