Checkin System Requirements

If you’re upgrading from AutoCAD 2010 or another recent release, and you
work mostly or entirely in 2D, you’re probably already current with system
requirements. In fact, if your work is mostly or entirely 2D — and therefore,
this applies especially for LT users — AutoCAD 2011 will run fine on pretty
well any computer that will run Windows 7, Vista, or XP.

AutoCAD’s requirements for running in Windows 7 or Vista are substantially
higher than for running in XP. This section covers the details.
You should know the following before you upgrade from any older AutoCAD
release:
✓ Wash those old Windows: AutoCAD 2011 does not support older versions
of Windows, such as Windows 2000, NT, 98, or Me. For AutoCAD
2011, you have three choices of operating system:
• Windows XP (Home or Professional, SP2 or later)
• Windows Vista (Enterprise, Business, Ultimate, or Home Premium,
SP1 or later)
• Windows 7 (Enterprise, Ultimate, Professional, or Home Premium)
If you like to be cutting edge, there are 64-bit versions of AutoCAD 2011
and AutoCAD LT 2011 that run in the 64-bit versions of XP, Vista, and
Windows 7.
 DWG file compatibility: AutoCAD’s DWG file format changed with
AutoCAD 2010. Users of that version can open drawings created
in AutoCAD 2011, but you have to use the Save As option on the
Application Menu, or the SAVEAS command, to create DWG files for
users of AutoCAD 2009 and earlier versions. You can save as far back as
Release 14, and if you need to go even further back, you can save to the
Release 12 DXF format. Visit the online help index for instructions.
Application compatibility: If you use third-party applications with a previous
AutoCAD release, they may not work with AutoCAD 2011. AutoCAD
applications developed with the .NET or the ObjectARX (AutoCAD
Runtime eXtension) interfaces will probably need to be recompiled.
Many LSP (AutoLISP) programs written for the last several versions of
AutoCAD should work without change.
Built-in support for VBA applications is not included in AutoCAD 2011.
For this release only, you can continue to run VBA applications, but you
first have to download and install the VBA installer from Autodesk’s
Web site. At the time this book went to press, the URL has not been
finalized; just go to www.autodesk.com and enter VBA installer in the
Search box. There are 32- and 64-bit versions, so make sure you download
the right one for your system.
Computer system requirements: For AutoCAD 2011, Autodesk recommends
a 1.6 GHz or better Intel or AMD processor with at least 2 GB of
RAM if running in Windows XP, and a 3.0 GHz or better chip and 2 GB of
RAM if running in Windows Vista or Windows 7. Multiple processors and
dual core are supported. You also need a 1024 x 768 or higher display
resolution with True Color graphics, 1 GB to 1.6GB of available hard disk
space, an Internet connection, and Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or later.

Additional requirements for working in 3D: AutoCAD recommends a
3 GHz or better processor; 2 GB or more of RAM; a workstation-class,
Direct3D-capable graphics card with at least 128 MB of memory; and an
additional 2 GB of hard disk space beyond the 1 GB required for installation.