When I installed Autodesk 3D Studio Max 2009 on Parallels, 3ds opens and has an error saying that it failed to initialize direct3d and to restart 3ds using the -h option. After doing some searching, I discovered that this error occurs for those whose graphics and video cards are insufficient to run 3ds. Does this mean that 3ds 2009 cant be run on Parallels? I am very confused here because I read everywhere that 3ds DOES work on Parallels, but over at the 3ds forums they seem to say it wont...
Are the DirectX Shaders enabled in Parallels? (Configuration Editor>Video) Are Parallels Tools installed in the Guest?
Parallels Tools are installed and when I enabled DirectX Shaders, 3DS now crashes when it starts and I have to completely shut down the VM to get anything to run again.
From the page John posted the release of 3D Studio MAX that works with Parallels is release 9 which dates back to 2006 after that Autodesk released 3ds 2008 and 2009. I think 3ds max 2009 requires compatibility with pixel shaders (or shader model) 2.0 or later to work, which PDM 3 doesn't have but maybe PDM 4 will have (currently in development). Even with Pixel Shaders 2.0 some functions won't work, for those it requires version 3.0, you can see it here: http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/item?siteID=123112&id=10032262 From that table you can see that the graphic cards that only have pixel shaders/shader model 2.0 have limitations even for just previewing. I suspect that without pixel shaders 2.0 it just doesn't work, hence insufficient to run that version of 3DS.
I see. I think got 3ds 8 to work at least without graphics errors...but in the process I got quite a few viruses so byebye windows for now. Will try again later, since Im not really in desperate need of either just yet. Thanks for all the help!
