Error loading AcStandards Services

I’ve had a lot of questions regarding this error message, so I’ve decided to do a follow up post. I wrote about this message in an earlier post entitled “Civil 3D 2006 Installation Issues.”

Read the AutoCAD 2006 installation guide (ACAD_SIG.pdf) before you install any of the 2006 products (each version of each product has its own installation guide). On page 2 of the guide you’ll find the following, “The AutoCAD 2006 installation process may stop if certain applications, such as Microsoft Outlook or virus-checking programs, are running. Close all running applications to avoid possible data loss.”

The error message “Error loading AcStandards Services” has been an issue with Autodesk products for quite some time, but is ‘typically’ the result of NOT disabling your virus scanner before an installation. In effect, your virus scanner is not allowing the installation of AutoCAD to properly complete. As a matter of fact, when I take a support request centered around a bad install, the problem is usually related to the virus scanner not being disabled before installation, but is simple to resolve by repairing the installation.

You can repair an AutoCAD installation from the Windows Control Panel. Select “Add or Remove Programs,” select your AutoCAD installation, and select the “Change” button. By the way – if you don’t disable the virus scanner before a repair, it stands to reason the repair probably won’t succeed

Play it safe before installing, be sure to read the directions first. If someone else is installing the software for you (IT Department, etc), you might point them to the guide.

Cheers!