Startimes — Solidworks 2010
If you are looking for information on what made this version distinct, here are the major capabilities introduced in the 2010 release:
Assembly Visualization:
Multibody Part Mold Tools:
SolidWorks Sustainability (Introduction):
User Interface Tweaks:
To conclude our long-form investigation into Solidworks 2010 startimes:
If you are a technician searching for a solution to slow boot-up sequences, Part 2 of this article (registry edits and Software OpenGL) will reduce your start times by 70%.
If you are looking for a specific file or forum related to a broadcasting company named StarTimes using SolidWorks 2010, those legacy files are likely stored on old FTP servers (try ftp://ftp.star-times.com/engineering/3D – though likely defunct).
Finally, if you are simply a CAD enthusiast who typed this phrase into Google by accident, know this: SolidWorks 2010 remains a masterpiece of engineering software. With the right tweaks to conquer the "Startimes" (startup timing) headaches, you can keep this legacy beast running for another decade.
Have a specific "Startimes" error we didn't cover? Leave a comment below (or search the SolidWorks 2010 Help Forum – Archive ID #4421).
Keywords used: Solidworks 2010 startimes, SW 2010 slow startup, SolidWorks 2010 Windows 11, fix SolidWorks 2010 license, legacy CAD optimization.
Considering the 2010 release of SolidWorks and the community-driven context of
(a popular forum used for software discussions and troubleshooting), here is a look at how this version redefined the CAD landscape. SolidWorks 2010: The Drawing Efficiency Pivot
Released with a focus on speed and productivity, SolidWorks 2010 aimed to reduce the "clicks" required to move from a 3D model to a finalized engineering drawing. Heads-Up Display (HUD):
A major addition was the "Rapid Dimension" widget, which appeared automatically when adding dimensions. This allowed users to place dimensions on either side of a drawing with a simple mouse gesture, automatically shifting existing dimensions to prevent overlap. Assembly Management:
The Bill of Materials (BOM) became interactive. Clicking a component in a drawing would instantly highlight its corresponding entry in the BOM table, making complex assembly navigation much faster. Cosmetic Threads: Solidworks 2010 startimes
For the first time, users could generate cosmetic threads directly on the drawing edge rather than needing to model them in 3D first. These threads were smart enough to apply back to the 3D model automatically. Historical System Requirements
For users on forums like StarTimes seeking to run this legacy software, these were the baseline specs: Processor:
Intel Core 2 Duo (Minimum); Core i7 was the recommended high-performance choice at the time.
4GB was the standard recommendation for most tasks, though modern versions now demand a minimum of 16GB. OS Compatibility: It was designed for Windows XP Professional (SP3) Windows Vista (SP2)
While Windows 7 was later supported (starting with SP1), versions of SolidWorks prior to 2015 SP5 are generally not compatible with Windows 10 or 11. SOLIDWORKS Forums SolidWorks 2010 vs. Modern Standards SolidWorks 2010 Modern SolidWorks (2024+) Primary Storage HDD (100GB+) SSD (High Speed) OS Support Windows XP / Vista Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit) NVIDIA Quadro FX range Modern RTX PRO series
If you are looking to get this running today, you will likely need a virtual machine
or a legacy PC to handle the older operating system requirements. license activation troubleshooting common on forums like StarTimes? SolidWorks 2010 Preview: Holes & Cosmetic Threads
If you genuinely need a comparison or integration with Startimes (e.g., running SolidWorks on Startimes hardware or a Startimes engineering project), please clarify. For now, the write-up addresses the most likely technical need.
If you need SolidWorks 2010 for a specific legacy project, consider these legal alternatives:
SolidWorks 2010 (version 18) marked a significant evolutionary point in Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, prioritizing reliability, performance, and user workflow
over experimental features. Released in late 2009, it arrived during a period of economic tightening, positioning itself as a "pinnacle" release designed to maximize engineer productivity through refined, "rock-solid" tools. design-engine.com Key Technological Advancements
While many updates were iterative, several features introduced in SolidWorks 2010 became foundational to the modern CAD experience: Mouse Gestures:
This release introduced the gesture-based menu system, allowing users to access commands by right-clicking and dragging the mouse. It significantly reduced mouse travel and increased modeling speed across sketches, parts, and assemblies. Sustainability Xpress:
A watershed moment for "green" engineering, this tool allowed designers to evaluate the environmental impact of their material choices and manufacturing processes directly within the interface. Assembly Visualization:
Users gained a new tool to interrogate assemblies against various properties (like mass or custom density), displaying data visually—much like a "parts list with pizzazz". Performance Optimization: If you are looking for information on what
Major focus was placed on "rebuild time," with the software being re-engineered to significantly cut the time required to regenerate complex feature histories. SolidWorks Hardware and System Context
SolidWorks 2010 was designed to bridge the transition between older workstations and the modern 64-bit era: Operating Systems:
It supported Windows XP (SP3) and Vista (SP2), though it was highly optimized for the then-new Windows 7 64-bit Memory Requirements: A minimum of 4GB of RAM
was recommended for handling large assemblies, a high bar for 2010 that reflected the increasing complexity of industrial designs.
The release required certified workstations cards, such as the NVIDIA Quadro FX series, to ensure stability during intensive graphical operations. SOLIDWORKS Forums Legacy and Impact New PC req for solidworks 2010
The hum of the office was different in 2010. It was the year of the sleek workstation, the transition to 64-bit power, and for , the year that "SolidWorks 2010" became his entire world.
was a junior designer at a firm that specialized in custom medical equipment. Before the upgrade, he’d spent half his life staring at the "hourglass" cursor on Windows XP. But when the IT team installed SolidWorks 2010, everything shifted. The interface felt sharper, and the new features—like the much-hyped Rapid Dimensioning—felt like magic.
One Tuesday, a high-priority "Startime" project landed on his desk. In the industry, "Startime" was slang for those rare, high-stakes contracts that required a prototype to be designed and simulated by sunrise. A local clinic needed a specialized ventilation housing for a unique patient emergency.
Elias stayed late, the office lights dimming as the sun dipped. He opened a fresh assembly. The 2010 version handled his complex mates with a fluidity he hadn’t felt before. He used the new Mouse Gestures
—a revolutionary feature at the time—to flick his wrist and trigger the "Line" tool without ever touching the toolbar.
By midnight, the geometry was done. Now came the stress test: Simulation
. In previous years, this would have crashed his machine. But SolidWorks 2010 had improved its multi-processor support. He hit "Run." The fans on his workstation whirred like a jet taking off. He watched the stress markers bloom across the digital housing—red for tension, blue for safety.
The clock hit 3:00 AM. The design held. He spent the remaining "startimes" hours using PhotoView 360
to create a realistic render. By the time his boss walked in at 8:00 AM with a cup of coffee, Elias didn’t just have a blueprint; he had a 3D image that looked like it had already been manufactured. "Is it ready?" his boss asked.
Elias just pointed at the screen. The ventilation unit sat there in high-gloss digital chrome. "2010 made it happen," Elias said, finally leaning back. That was the year he stopped being a "junior" and became the guy who could beat the sunrise. Key Features of SolidWorks 2010 Mouse Gestures: Assembly Visualization:
Allowed users to perform commands by holding the right mouse button and moving the mouse in a specific direction. Rapid Dimensioning:
A tool that automatically placed and spaced dimensions in drawings to save time. PhotoView 360:
The updated rendering engine that replaced PhotoWorks for easier, faster high-quality visuals. Sustainability Xpress:
Introduced in this version to help designers assess the environmental impact of their material choices. System Context Operating System:
Ironically, running Solidworks 2010 on a modern PC is often slower than running it on native hardware from 2010. Why? Because Microsoft changed how Windows 10/11 handles legacy DirectX 9 and XP-era threading.
The "Startimes" SSD Fix: If you have a modern PC with an NVMe SSD, you must disable Write Caching for the Solidworks 2010 directory. Surprisingly, the old I/O calls of SW2010 conflict with modern caching algorithms.
This reduces startimes from 60 seconds to approximately 12 seconds.
Subject: Has anyone successfully installed SolidWorks 2010 recently? (Startimes version)
Body: Hey everyone,
I’m trying to resurrect an old project from the archives and I specifically need SolidWorks 2010 to ensure I don’t break the assembly references. I’ve seen the SolidWorks 2010 Startimes version floating around on older forum archives.
Does anyone have experience installing this specific build on a modern Windows 10 PC?
If you have used this version recently, let me know if it’s stable enough for light work or if I’m better off just trying to upgrade the files in a newer version.
Thanks!
SolidWorks 2010 tried to pre-load collaboration servers (eDrawings, PDM Works). If you aren't on a network, disable these.