Solving Errors in Serif Affinity Designer: Step-by-Step Guide

Solving is a powerful design and engineering application used by professionals for complex modeling and simulation tasks. While widely relied upon for its precision, users operating on Windows 10 and Windows 11 systems in 2025 frequently encounter specific installation and runtime issues. Common causes for these disruptions include corrupted installation media, conflict with strict Windows security protocols, and outdated graphics drivers incompatible with the latest rendering engine. This guide provides targeted solutions to get your Solving workspace operational again without unnecessary downtime.

Common Errors

• Installation Error 0x80070570: Indicates file corruption or unreadable data during the setup process, often caused by faulty media or memory issues.
• Activation Failed (License Error): Occurs when the software cannot verify your entitlement with the Solving servers, often due to network firewalls.
• Crash on Startup (White Screen): The application launches but immediately freezes or closes, typically linked to GPU driver conflicts.
• Error 0xc000007b: A system-level error indicating missing or mismatched Visual C++ Redistributable libraries required by Solving.
• "Cannot Read License File": A permission-based error where Solving lacks the rights to access its local license configuration.

Fix 1: Installation Error 0x80070570

This error halts the installation process, signaling that Windows cannot read the required files from the source. It usually stems from a corrupted installer download or issues with the installation drive.

1. Navigate to your Downloads folder and delete the existing Solving installer file.
2. Download a fresh copy of the installer from the official Solving account portal to ensure file integrity.
3. Right-click the new installer executable and select Run as administrator to bypass basic permission blocks.
4. If installing from a USB drive, copy the installer to your local C: drive (e.g., C:TempSolving) and run it from there to rule out USB read errors.

Fix 2: Activation Failed

Activation failures in 2025 are often caused by overzealous security software blocking the handshake between your PC and Solving's licensing servers. This requires a temporary adjustment to your network settings.

1. Close Solving completely via Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
2. Press Windows Key + I to open Settings, then go to Privacy & security > Windows Security.
3. Select Firewall & network protection and click on your active network (Private or Public).
4. Toggle Microsoft Defender Firewall to "Off" temporarily.
5. Launch Solving, complete the activation process, and immediately turn the Firewall back on.

Fix 3: Crash on Startup (White Screen)

When Solving opens to a blank or white screen and then crashes, it is almost exclusively a graphics processing issue. The software requires specific OpenGL or DirectX support that generic Windows drivers may not provide.

1. Right-click your desktop and open Device Manager (or search for it in the Start menu).
2. Expand Display adapters to identify your dedicated GPU (e.g., NVIDIA RTX or AMD Radeon).
3. Visit the GPU manufacturer's website directly to download the "Studio" or "Pro" driver version, not the "Game Ready" driver.
4. Install the driver using the "Clean Install" option if available.
5. Restart your computer and launch Solving again.

Fix 4: Application Error 0xc000007b

This cryptic code means Solving is trying to use a 32-bit dependency on a 64-bit system, or a required system library is missing. It is resolved by refreshing the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables.

1. Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
2. Search for "Visual C++" and note the versions installed (2015-2022 are critical for Solving).
3. Download the latest Visual C++ Redistributable All-in-One installer from a reputable source or Microsoft's official site.
4. Run the installer to repair or update both x86 and x64 libraries.
5. Reboot your system to register the new DLL files correctly.

Fix 5: "Cannot Read License File" Error

This error appears when the Solving application lacks the necessary folder permissions to read its own configuration data, often occurring after a Windows update resets folder security.

1. Navigate to the Solving installation directory, typically C:Program FilesSolving or C:ProgramDataSolvingLicense.
2. Right-click the License folder and select Properties.
3. Click the Security tab and select the Edit button.
4. Highlight your user account in the list and check the box for Full control under the "Allow" column.
5. Click Apply and retry launching the software.

Prevention Tips

• Maintain Clean Backups: regularly export your Solving workspace settings and custom preferences to an external drive to restore them quickly after a reinstall.
• Delay Major Windows Updates: Defer "Feature Updates" for Windows 11 by 2-3 weeks to allow Solving developers to patch compatibility issues.
• Use Dedicated Graphics Mode: For laptops, ensure Solving is set to "High Performance" in Windows Graphics Settings to prevent it from trying to run on the weaker integrated chip.
• Keep Drivers Stable: stick to "Long-Term Support" (LTS) drivers for your graphics card rather than updating to every new beta release.

When to Contact Support

While most issues are resolvable locally, you should contact Solving technical support if you encounter persistent License Server Time-out errors that firewall changes don't fix, as this often indicates an account-level block. Additionally, reach out if you experience repeatable file corruption when saving projects, as this may signal a deeper bug in the software version. Before contacting them, prepare your Solving log files (usually found in %APPDATA%) and a screenshot of your System Information (msinfo32) to expedite the process.