Gary - former developer

Q: Not the original floppy

I'm applying for a job that lists "AutoCAD expert" as one of the requirements. Well I saw a demo of AutoCAD once (VERY complex) several years ago. But I want to act like I have at least SOME expertise with it when I interview.

 

SO, I downloaded a copy of AutoCAD R12 (circa 1992) from the Macintosh Garden (www.macintoshgarden.org) and tried to use it. The software was originally shipped on six 1.44 MB floppy disks. So I put the download on 1.44 diskettes and fired the Installer up. It came back with a message stating that I didn't have the original diskettes (duh!) and I should go get the originals.

 

I contacted AutoDesk but they just blew me off with the "unsupported", "retired", "you want WHAT?" sort of response. Then they offered a new copy for $4000 and it was MY turn to laugh.

 

What can I do to make the R12 release install on my Mac?

 

 

Gary

Posted on Jun 18, 2012 12:29 PM

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Q: Not the original floppy

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  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jun 19, 2012 7:40 AM in response to Gary - former developer
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Jun 19, 2012 7:40 AM in response to Gary - former developer

    Nothing. AutoCAD used copy protection to prevent someone from doing just what you're attempting, installing the software from duplicated floppies distributed illegally. If you can't find original diskettes, you'll need to buy a newer Mac or Windows system and get the most current release of AutoCAD.

     

    I doubt very much that a few days of working with a twenty-year-old version of AutoCAD on an obsolete platform is going to qualify you even remotely as an "AutoCAD expert" in any case. So you're almost certainly wasting your time. Trust me, anyone who would interview you is going to know very quickly that you don't qualify unless you have a lot of experience with other CAD packages and just need to get familiar with the AutoCAD interface.

     

    Regards.

  • by Gary - former developer,

    Gary - former developer Gary - former developer Jun 19, 2012 1:46 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Jun 19, 2012 1:46 PM in response to varjak paw

    >unless you have a lot of experience with other CAD packages and just need to get familiar with the AutoCAD interface.

     

    That sums it up nicely. I was on the Unigraphics (a REALLY expensive CAD/CAM product) development team for 7 years.

     

    So I'm looking for a "familiarity" with the product so I won't look like a complete neophite.

     

     

    Gary

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jun 19, 2012 2:18 PM in response to Gary - former developer
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Jun 19, 2012 2:18 PM in response to Gary - former developer

    OK, then you might be able to pull it off. I'd strongly suggest, though, that you find a modern machine and get hold of one of the "free trial" versions of Autodesk's current software. Even if you could find an original set of those old flopplies, the software from 20 years ago is going to be so radically different from anything even remotely recent as to be virtually unrelated. Autodesk's free trial versions can be found here:

     

    http://usa.autodesk.com/products/free-product-trials

     

    Regards.

  • by Gary - former developer,

    Gary - former developer Gary - former developer Jun 19, 2012 4:41 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Jun 19, 2012 4:41 PM in response to varjak paw

    Thanks for the link.

     

    I have to do this without spending any $$$ so that means it has to run on Mac OS 9 or earlier. Thus my interest in the R12 version.

     

    Gary

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jun 20, 2012 7:00 AM in response to Gary - former developer
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Jun 20, 2012 7:00 AM in response to Gary - former developer

    You truly don't have access to any computer newer than an old Mac OS 9 system? Then you're going to have to find the original set of floppies. But I really think it will be a waste of time. That old version of AutoCAD will bear absolutely no resemblance to any version that would be in current use at any company and hence will do you no good in helping you establish expertise in using AutoCAD. Up to you, though.

     

    Regards.

  • by Gary - former developer,

    Gary - former developer Gary - former developer Jun 20, 2012 5:04 PM in response to varjak paw
    Level 1 (96 points)
    Jun 20, 2012 5:04 PM in response to varjak paw

    Actually I DO have a computer capable of running X. But after suffering through about 20 versions (Developer releases and 10.0.n & 10.1.n) I gave up and tossed X in the trash. 3 Kernel Panics that wiped out my system to the point that Apple Support told me to reformat and reinstall. 2 month's work gone.

     

    And backups? Nope. Apple insisted that I didn't need them (particularly since none had been released by anyone yet).

     

    X will never appear on any of my computers ever again.

     

     

    Gary

  • by varjak paw,

    varjak paw varjak paw Jun 21, 2012 6:40 AM in response to Gary - former developer
    Level 10 (169,890 points)
    Jun 21, 2012 6:40 AM in response to Gary - former developer

    If your only experience with Mac OS X, presuming that's what you mean by "X", is with the early developer releases, 10.0 and 10.1, then you have not experienced Mac OS X. Those releases you mention were, even by Apple's own measure, basically previews. Mac OS X became truly stable and usable as of 10.2. In any case, no current or recent version of AutoCAD would run on such an old system and OS in any case. But AutoCAD runs on Windows as well; just sayin'.

     

    In any case, if you were applying with my company  for a job that required AutoCAD expertise and all you could show would be a few days experience wiht a 20-year-old version, you wouldn't even make it to the interview stage. But perhaps the position you're applying for differs in what they consider "expert".

     

    Nothing more I can say on the issue. How you proceed from here is up to you.

     

    Regards.