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Could Not Get The AutoCAD Blocks Collection
This error is typically caused by an error in the Windows Registry with respect to AutoCAD's ActiveX interface. The only way
to fix this is to either repair or reinstall AutoCAD. There have been a couple cases where it was a conflict with some other
3rd party software but 95% of the time this is a registry problem.
Typical Causes of AutoCAD Registry Errors
T
here are several things that can cause an error in the Windows Registry but the most common causes are:
• You ran a registry cleaning software that removed some of the AutoCAD registry entries. The AutoCAD installation
Read
• You are running multiple versions of AutoCAD on your computer. If you are running multiple versions it is
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that you always run in Power User or Administrator mode so AutoCAD can properly
write to the registry. When running as a Normal User or Restricted User you may not be able to write to the
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE portion of the registry and hence AutoCAD may not be able to properly update the
registry values when you switch between the different version. To make matters worse Windows only has one
"AutoCAD.Application" object in the registry and this will point to the current version that was used last. So it may point
to:
• "AutoCAD.Application.15" = AutoCAD 2000, AutoCAD 2000i, or AutoCAD 2002
• "AutoCAD.Application.16" = AutoCAD 2004
• "AutoCAD.Application.16.1" = AutoCAD 2005
• "AutoCAD.Application.16.2" = AutoCAD 2006
Then add to that the fact that ADT, MDT, LDDT, and AutoCAD are all really considered "AutoCAD.Application".
• You uninstalled an older version of AutoCAD after installing the newer version. This is why Autodesk recommends
uninstalling the old version first before installing the new version. Essentially the old version was never designed to check
for the new version and hence it may uninstall registry keys or files that the new version needs.
Why you shouldn't run more than one version of AutoCAD on a computer
• The most important reason is that it is illegal if you purchased an upgrade to keep the old version installed past
120 days. Read the License.rtf in the AutoCAD directory if you don't believe me. Legally you are just as liable
as having a license that you did not pay for after the 120 day period. Now we haven't heard of Autodesk even
enforcing it but if you do get audited you could end up paying a heathy sum of money.
• In the case of AutoCAD 2004-2006 the file formats are essentially the same and all files created in 2006 should
open perfectly fine in 2004. So it makes very little sense to have both installed at the same time unless you have
custom programs that do not run in the newer version.
How to Fix the Registry in AutoCAD 2004 - 2006
Please search the AutoCAD help for "Reinstall or Repair AutoCAD" and follow the steps there. Basically you are going to
want to be logged in as the "Administrator" on your computer and either insert the original installation CD or use the Control
Panel - Add or Remove Programs to Reinstall or Repair the installation. Then select the Repair Option and then the Repair
Registry.