Problem

This article will go over the process of disabling the Feedback Program option that may have been enabled during installation when the user is experiencing performance issues with CAMWorks.

Some users have reported a degradation in CAMWorks performance, following Windows updates. 
These reports started in early March of 2024. Symptoms include slow opening and closing of 
SOLIDWORKS .slpdrt, .sldasm, and .slddrw files and overall sluggish performance compared to 
before the Windows update. It has also been suggested that this may have occurred after updating 
to Windows 11.

While the exact cause has not been determined, it appears that a Windows update has affected 
how CAMWorks collects product usage through participating in the CAMWorks Feedback Program. 
By default, participation is enabled during the CAMWorks installation.

Solution

When going into the Registry Editor, do not modify or delete anything except what is listed below. If you do not feel comfortable performing the steps listed below, please contact Technical Support.

Currently, there is no UI to disable participation in the Feedback Program. Users will need to edit the 
registry to disable the Feedback Program:

1. Close all programs, including SOLIDWORKS and CAMWorks Solids
2. Open Windows Search, search for REGEDIT, and then hit Enter to open the Registry Editor

3. Navigate to the Registry Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\TekSoft\CAMWorks
4. Depending on the version of CAMWorks that is being run from the key above, expand and 
   select either CAMWorks 2024, CAMWorks 2023, CAMWorks 2022, or CAMWorks 2021. 
5. After selecting the version key, we will find the key “Feedback”. Example:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\TekSoft\CAMWorks\CAMWorks\2024x64\Feedback

6. Under Feedback, we will find the DWORDS “ReceiveAlerts” and “SendFeedback". Most 
   likely, the value of each will be 1. 

   

7. Edit each DWORD and change the value from 1 to 0, with the type set to Hexadecimal.

   

   

8. After restarting CAMWorks, the performance should be improved.

For additional support, existing customers can submit a ticket or new customers can contact Hawk Ridge Systems.