Desktop Connector Install Issue

January 1, 2026 Gregory Lee

Issue:
During installation of Autodesk Desktop Connector, the progress bar regresses at a certain point and the installation fails with Error 1603.

Causes:
Error 1603 may occur due to:

Outdated or corrupted .NET components
Residual or mismatched Autodesk registry entries from previous installations

The issue is typically confirmed by reviewing the Desktop Connector installation logs.

Solution:
1. Review Installation Logs

Check the installation logs located at:

C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Autodesk\ODIS

Open the install.log or journal file and look for entries similar to the following:

Exception occurred: Dynamic exception type: class boost::filesystem::filesystem_error

std::exception::what: boost::filesystem::is_empty: The system cannot find the file specified

Or:

Unable to get package upi2 for upgrade code: {xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx}

Error code: DDA_STATUS_DB_RECORD_NOT_FOUND

If these lines—or similar errors—are present, proceed with the following steps.

2. Repair .NET and Clean Registry

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Windows Event Viewer.

Navigate to Windows Logs → Application.
Look for any .NET Runtime errors.

2. If .NET errors are present:
Uninstall all existing .NET components from the system.

3. Download .NET Runtime 8 (all three components).

Ensure you download the correct runtime packages for your system.
(Typically includes Runtime, Desktop Runtime, and ASP.NET Core Runtime.)

4. Install the newly downloaded .NET Runtime components.

5. Open Registry Editor (Run as Administrator).

6. Search for ‘Autodesk Desktop Connector’ registry entries.

Delete any remaining entries.

⚠️ Warning: Be careful when editing the registry. Deleting unrelated keys can affect system behavior.

7. Restart the computer.

8. Reinstall Autodesk Desktop Connector.
The installation should now complete successfully.

About the Author

Sr Technical Support Specialist<br><br> Skilled in AutoCAD, Mixed-use, Renovation, Revit, and Sustainable Design. Strong arts and design professional with a BA in Urban design focused in Architecture from University of Washington.
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