Revit 2011 Hangs at Splash Screen or Crashes with Unrecoverable Error

You launch Revit 2011 and it doesn’t get past the splash screen.  Or you launch it and you see the splash screen followed by an unrecoverable error message.  So what do you try next?

I have included the 3 most common causes for this behavior below, in the most common order.  If you run into a scenario where these do not resolve the issue please do not hesitate to let us know!

1.  WSCommcntr2.exe Process

I’ve included a technical solution for this one below.  The technical solution is for AutoCAD, but the same process applies for Revit 2011:

http://usa.autodesk.com/getdoc/id=TS15228698

2.  Corrupt WSCommCntrData.xml File

If the WSCommCntrData.xml file becomes corrupt, Revit may hang when attempting to read it at startup.

While Revit is closed, move or delete the WSCommCntrData.xml file at the location below:

Windows XP
C:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\<Autodesk Revit Version>\ENU\Components\WebServices\WSCommCntrData.xml

Windows Vista & Windows 7
C:\Users\%username%\Appdata\local\Autodesk\Revit\<Autodesk Revit Version>\ENU\Components\WebServices\WSCommCntrData.xml

3.  Corrupt UIState.dat File

This could also be potentially related to a corrupt UIState.dat file.  While Revit is closed, move or delete the UIState.dat file at the location below:

Windows XPC:\Documents and Settings\%username%\Local Settings\Application Data\Autodesk\Revit\<Autodesk Revit Version>\UIState.dat

Windows Vista & Windows 7C:\Users\%username%\Appdata\local\Autodesk\Revit\<Autodesk Revit Version>\UIState.dat

#2 & #3 are user-specific, so if you see this behavior where it happens to one user but not another on the same workstation, this is typically the conflict.

Original post taken from the Revit Clinic blog