The information in this article applies to:
I keep encountering errors, lockups, or the program exiting unexpectedly when I run Chief Architect on my Microsoft Windows computer. What might be the cause?
There are many different reasons why Chief Architect may be encountering errors or suddenly quitting, including the PC not meeting the System Requirements for running the software, needing to have updated drivers (particularly for the video card), or a third party application may be conflicting with the software's operation.
Before continuing, please access our Known Incompatibilities page to learn more about the software and hardware incompatibilities with Chief Architect software.
Since there are a number of possible causes for software failures, some basic troubleshooting is required in order to identify the reason for a particular issue. Please follow all of the recommendations in this article in order and do not skip any steps. When followed correctly, these instructions resolve almost all issues with Chief Architect software crashing on a Microsoft Windows computer.
Step 1 - Verify System Requirements
Step 2 - Download Program Updates
Step 3 - Basic Initial Troubleshooting
Step 4 - Restart in Safe Mode with Networking
Step 5 - Run the System File Checker
Step 6 - Create a New User Account
Step 7 - Advanced Troubleshooting
First, it is extremely important to make certain that your computer meets the minimum system requirements for running the software. The minimum, and recommended, system requirements for running the current version can be found on the website at the appropriate link for your program below.
Please note that running in an emulator, or virtual machine environment, such as Hyper-V, VMWare, Parallels, or VirtualBox is not supported.
If your computer does not meet the minimum system requirements for your version, then you should consider installing on an alternate system that does meet, or exceeds, the requirements.
If your computer meets the System Requirements for running the software, then the next step is to make sure you are using the most current program version of your Chief Architect software program.
In Chief Architect and Home Designer software programs, you can verify whether you have the latest program update by selecting Help> Download Program Updates from the program menu.
You can also access the Program Updates page on the website at the appropriate link below for your version.
If your Windows computer meets or exceeds the System Requirements, and you are running the most recent update available for your software, then these additional basic troubleshooting steps should be tested.
Ideally, you want to see a Driver Date from within the past 6 months listed for your video card.
If your system has switchable graphics, and the wrong chipset or video card is listed in Preferences, please contact your computer's manufacturer directly for instructions on how to adjust the system settings.
After testing the basic troubleshooting steps above, if you are still experiencing unexpected software termination with your Chief Architect software program on a Windows PC computer, then you should try restarting the system in Safe Mode with Networking by following the instructions in the Microsoft support article listed below.
Once you have completed the Safe Mode instructions, launch Chief Architect and test to see whether the behavior still occurs.
If starting up your Windows PC in Safe Mode resolves the program error, and if it continues when restarting Windows normally, then there is likely a conflict with a third party application running on your system.
To scan your computer for corruptions in the Windows system files, you can run the System File Checker tool included with Windows. Information on this utility can be located in the following Microsoft article.
If none of the above steps have resolved the software closing unexpectedly on your system, then you should create a brand new Administrator User Account on the computer. Create it with full administrative rights, log in using that account, and then attempt to use the software using the new account to test whether or not you continue to experience the same behavior.
For information on creating a new user account, please see the following Microsoft article below.
Finally, if you continue to experience problems with the software closing unexpectedly on your Microsoft Windows computer after going through all of these steps, please contact our Technical Support department directly, and include all of the following files listed below.
Please make sure you have already completed all of the earlier troubleshooting steps listed in this article before following the steps below, as these files will not be helpful unless all of the preliminarily steps have already been completed.
tool to create a folder with a copy of the file in which the error occurs, along with all referenced files.