Looking for some good CAD software

#1 · July 3, 2010, 9:41 pm

That won't break me up.

Friday the electric came on and off about four times in a matter of minutes (so my son told me as I was in the field). I started up my computer and it wouldn't load. It would get most of the way there but not one program would open. I tried restore and recovery. It's toast. I had to write a synthetic check in order to get a new computer. It has windows 7. Luckily all of my data is on the hard drive. I installed my two old hard drives onto my new computer so I didn't lose anything thank goodness.

I was crossing my fingers that my old ACADR14 would work with Windows 7 as I heard it was more compatible than Vista was.

Well it works for about 3 seconds. Which is better than Vista but still does me no good to draw a plat. I'm fast but not that fast. 🙂

Anybody recommend a CAD program that hopefully has a full use 30 day free trial? For about 500-1000 bucks.

I'm in a bind. I have two jobs complete except for drafting and of course getting paid. One I am supposed to deliver on monday and I have no way to draw it. 🙁

I tell you what when things are looking up you better look down because your about to step in a pile of crap. 😛

I put this in 'land surveying' because it didn't show up for me in the other category.

#2 · July 3, 2010, 9:47 pm

I will not use an Auto Desk product. Look at General Cad if all you need is 2-D. I have used Traverse PC for years for the comps and rough drawing and take it into General Cad for the final look. Traverse PC is almost to the point where I will stop using the Cad, but not quite yet for me.
jud

#3 · July 3, 2010, 9:50 pm

I do not know what motherboard you were using.

The last computer that the motherboard failed on me was a MSI and I replaced it with the same exact one and installed my previous hard drive and it booted up and ran flawlessly. It needed a few upgrades and that was all.

Good Luck

#4 · July 3, 2010, 9:57 pm

When I did recovery I got a windows configuration error (code purple).

I looked it up on the internet and it said it was something done by the computer company to make sure their software didn't get pirated or something. It's not stolen. It came with the computer. But the computer "Believes" it's stolen I guess. It said to get out my computer books and call the number. Yeah like I still have those. (I probably do just don't have a clue where they could be)

Basically I would have had to send off for a cd to 'fix' my hard drive and make it bootable again and I would have lost everything on my hard drive if I did this. Which I can't do that.

My hard drive is good and I am pretty sure I can get it up and running as a seperate operating system on this new computer, eventually. My old computer is about 5 years old I think and has been acting up for a while now. Used to just shut off without warning and I think the electric pretty much finished it.

#5 · July 3, 2010, 10:06 pm

Off the top of my head, it sounds like a "overheat problem",when was the last time you blew the dust out of it? I learned the hard way, so say two of my computer "nerd" kids.

#6 · July 3, 2010, 10:41 pm

John:

You need to quit walking under ladders and in front of black cats. Sheesh, sounds like you need a break from bad stuff.

Hope you get it worked out.

Can you pick a program that most closely resembles what you're used to and take advantage of the trial period until you can get things worked out?

#7 · July 3, 2010, 10:57 pm

John,
I use the cogo package that the folks that make Inforetriever market.
It does everything I need it to do and you can add the legal writer and get it to write your deeds off of your cogo points, you can also add their tinmaster software, if you need to create contours.
I can export it directly to a dxf and open that Autocad LT.
I bet you could get all of the programs I use for about $1000.
You can buy AGT's package and get the inforetriever software as well, which I also use.
However, I still use a dos based program to download from my handheld to my computer and I have not tried to download with AGT's cogo program.
Hope this helps,

#8 · July 3, 2010, 11:05 pm

I recently built a new box with windows 7. R14 just won't work in that environment.
My solution was to install VMWARE (free) and install windows 98 as a virtual machine.
Works like a charm, 98 starts in seconds, R14 runs like the wind.