Ansys stores configuration files in your user folder. Corrupted settings often cause this crash. Close all Ansys sessions.
Missing or corrupted Windows Component Object Model (COM) registrations can prevent AnsysWBU.exe from communicating with the system.
For persistent issues, the diagnostic file itself is your most powerful tool. This is a more advanced but very effective step.
In the Workbench Project Schematic, right-click the or Solution cell. Ansys stores configuration files in your user folder
: Open the .err , .log , or .txt diagnostic file referenced in the error window. Scroll to the bottom 20 lines to identify the exact module (e.g., Graphics.dll , Solver.dll ) that triggered the exception. 2. Primary Causes and Verified Solutions
The error is one of the most common and frustrating crashes in ANSYS Workbench. It signifies that the main Workbench user interface executable ( ansyswbu.exe ) unceremoniously crashed.
The ansyswbu.exe process bridges the geometry, meshing, physics setup, and post-processing modules. A breakdown in any of these handshakes will destabilize the executable. Graphics Driver and API Incompatibilities Missing or corrupted Windows Component Object Model (COM)
Also check AppData\Roaming\Ansys\vXXX (where XXX is your version) and consider renaming the version folder to vXXX_old to reset your user preferences. 2. Graphics Card Drivers and Hardware Acceleration
Ensure your Windows user has full control over the Ansys installation directory and the project directory. Right-click the Ansys folder in C:\Program Files\ANSYS Inc .
ANSYS includes a diagnostic tool:
Saving a project to a network drive, using unsupported characters in file names, or an unexpected power loss can corrupt .wbpj (Workbench project) or associated .mechdb , .files folders.
Ensure is checked, or manually set it to at least 1.5 times your physical RAM capacity.
The working directory of your current project (look for files ending in .dmp , .err , or exception.log ). What to Look For In the Workbench Project Schematic, right-click the or