With the new type of installer, the Autodesk components inside an installer (VRED2024) downloaded from Accounts might get updated. These updates could be to deliver newer features, collect data, reduce software piracy, delivery security fixes, or something else.

When a bootstrap is downloaded, all updated versions of components from Accounts are enumerated and a new installer is dynamically generated and downloaded containing the latest components. This means that if an updated component is rolled out after an initial product release, then the newer component becomes part of the newly dynamically generated installer, which is downloaded via the bootstrap.

How the new differs from the old, with the old installer, the component would not have been updated. It would contain the same version of the component as originally shipped.

At present, VRED the dot update releases and hotfixes (e.g., 2023.1, 2023.2, but not 2023.0) still have the On-Demand Installation Service installers available from the Updates section of Accounts.

Installing

After Autodesk VRED software is downloaded, the downloaded files are found in various places on your computer. If you downloaded your software from Autodesk Account or another source, check the default download folder for your Web browser, Desktop, the Downloads folder, or the System > Autodesk folder.

Look for installation file names for both Mac and Windows systems that follow the format, Title_Version_Language_Operating System.Extension. For example, AutoCAD_2016_English_Win_32_64bit_wi_en-us_Setup.exe.

Identifying Valid Installation Files

Where installation files are written to depends on the installation framework used. To determine this, refer to Does my product or update use the Autodesk New Installation Experience or the Classic Installer?.

• The 2024 new installation experience will write files to C:\Autodesk\WI.
• The classic installer will write to the locations in the table below.

Files downloaded during Install Now (Windows only) are intended for a one-time automated download and installation process. These cannot be used for additional installations, and may result in a Communication Failure Error, if launched manually.

Here's how to tell if the files you have can be used for successful installation or if you need to download new files:

Icon	Name or Suffix	Type and Behavior
	_dlm.sfx.exe	This is a compressed installation file. Launching it extracts contents to a folder with the suffix _dlm in the System > Autodesk directory and starts the installation process. Installation packages larger than 2 GB download as multiple files that can be identified by the file name: dlm_001_002.sfx.exe and dlm_002_002.sfx.exe, indicating files 1 of 2 and 2 of 2.
	_dlm	This is an installation folder containing fully downloaded and extracted installation files. Launching the Setup.exe file starts the installation.
	_Setup_webinstall.exe	THis is an installation management file. Launching it starts the Install Now process that downloads, extracts, and installf files in one process. You must be online to complete the installation successfully.
	_Setup.exe or AutodeskInstallNow.exe	This is an Install Now files from a previous installation. Launching it results in a Communication Failure Error and cannot be used for additional installation attempts.
	_Setup_exe	This is an Install Now folder from a previous installation. Launching the Setup.exe file results in a Communication Failure Error and cannot be used for additional installation attempts.

The software must be installed after all necessary files are downloaded, in order to use the software. For further information, see Download & Install.