Problem running Programs in Win2K

[Variable]

It seems there are some programs (mostly setup.exe applications) that just won't run on my computer.
I just freshly installed Win2K and now I'm adding all those programs.
But when I tried to install Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.05 just now the installation wouldn't start.
First the files would be extracted like normal but then no setup would be started.
I don't have a clue what is causing this.

[Variable]

I just downloaded it again and it's the same thing. So it isn't the program. It's my system...

I already tried giving Win2K a bigger Swapfile but still the same thing.

[Variable]

And strangely I don't get ANY error Message. None at all.
The program just closes.

[Beemer]

This won't be to much of a help but I just did a fresh install of WinY2K and I installed Acrobat fine.

Cheers!

[M_Six]

Variable,

How are you logged in to your Win2K box? As Administrator or as a user? As a user you may not be able to install programs. Log in as Administrator and either install the program or add your username to the Administrators group.

[Variable]

I think I'm logged in as an Admin.

...

I looked it up under Users/Passowrds in the Control Panel and it shows my name as an Administrator.
User Name: Group:
My Name Administrators


Also I was able to install other programs.
(Office2000, Dreamweaver, Photoshop5 etc etc.)
Only this program and another one just won't let themselves be installed.

At first it shows the file extraction and then when the install-shield-wizard or whatever should come up nothing happens.
And the Task-Manager shows NO Applications running.

[This message has been edited by Variable (edited 03-26-2001).]

[M_Six]

Hmmm. Weird. When you bring up Task manager, don't just look at applications. Look at processes and see if there's a setup.exe or install.exe running. I've installed Acrobat Reader on dozens of Win2k boxes, so I know it will work. Why it doesn't work on yours is tough to say without seeing it.

Try rebooting and then try installing Acrobat immediately, before you do anything else. Also, does Photoshop5 install Acrobat Reader by default? I don't think one version of Acrobat will overwrite another. Make sure there are no previous versions running.

[Variable]

No, Acrobat is NOT installed!
Task Manager only shows Acro405eng.exe running (that unpacks the installation files) and then nothing. After a while even that disappears by itself.

[Variable]

Also MS PhotoEditor gives me problems!
I start the program. It appears in the task-bar (and also in the task-manager) but the program will NOT appear! Nothing I have an empty desktop!!

[M_Six]

Ok. Let's go back to basics. Describe your system. Motherboard, hard drives, processor, RAM, etc.

[Variable]

I'm sure that isn't it.

Latop, PIII 600, 256MB RAM, ATI Rage LT Pro AGP2x, PCMCIA-NIC, MS Explorer Mouse USB, ...

[M_Six]

My apologies, Variable, but I'm out of ideas. I'm not very good at remote troubleshooting. I pretty much have to see what I'm doing to figure things out. Sorry I couldn't be of more help.

[Variable]

This has me stumped too!
Usually it takes me 5 minutes to figure out what's wrong but this.... no errors nothing! It just doesn't run!

BTW: Is there a way to distinguish a UK-Win2K from a US-Win2K? I have an English Win2K but I'm not sure it's really the US version.

[This message has been edited by Variable (edited 03-26-2001).]

[M_Six]

Just a guess, if during setup the Date/Time box defaults to PST, it's probably the US version. I've never installed a non-US version, so I could be "Auf dem Holz weg" on that.

[Variable]

Seems like I'm back at re-installing....

[M_Six]

I just ran a search on TechNet about your problem and came up with zilch. Maybe it was an install glitch.

[Variable]

Okay I'm back...
I do as you said.

[M_Six]

Variable,

This may be the answer. I was having a devil of a time getting Office 2K to install on a new machine with a fresh Win2K install. I checked TechNet and found a problem with the \Winnt\Installer folder. Make sure the "Everyone" Group has full permissions. Just right-click on the file, go to Security, highlight "Everyone", and check Full Access. Reboot and try installing your programs. It worked for me.

[captpete]

Check Windows Installer. You can open Group Policy editor and check how Installer is configured.

[Variable]

Just did it...
Is it better to log in as Admin or with a username.
And is it better to log in automatically or to enter username and password every time?

[M_Six]

Log in the first time as Administrator and load all your programs. From then on you can auto-login as whomever. Whether or not you give yourself (username) admin privileges with an auto-login depends on how physically secure your laptop is. If others may have occasional access to your laptop, you may want to retain admin privileges for the administrator only.

[Variable]

Whaaa...
I have this problem with MS Photo Editor again!!!

It ran fine than I closed it and wnt away for 5 minutes and left the computer running.
Tried to open a picture with it and .... nothing.
MS PhotoEditor pops up at the taskbar but nothing else.
I tried re-installing it.
Nothing still the same!!!!

BTW: Where do I find the the Group policy editor. I checked Installer and it seems Admins (that's what I 'm logged in as have full access but everyone has only limited access). But that doesn't help me with this problem, does it?

Maybe I should install the SP1??

[This message has been edited by Variable (edited 03-27-2001).]

[M_Six]

Oops. Sorry. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[This message has been edited by M_Six (edited 03-27-2001).]

[M_Six]

You don't need Group policy Editor to check on \Winnt\Installer. Just right click on the folder and check permissions under properties. Make sure Everyone has full permission.

[wahrez]

Variable,

I'm running Win2K, as you know, and I have had some problems installing certain apps under certain conditiions.

What applications/tsr's do you have running while trying to install Acrobat?

You might want to try closing any unecessary apps and stoping unecessary services (such as IIS) while you install the program.

[elmiko]

I've had a similar W2K problem where launch of installation directly from WinZip or equivalent doesn't work. When this happens. I extract all files to a temporary directory, close WinZip, then run install or setup from the temporary directory. After successful install, delete the temporary directory. Works every time.

[Variable]

Right now I don't have the Problem with Acrobat anymore (did a reisntall of Win2K).

But MS Photoeditor is giving me trouble.
It seems to start (either run from start-menue or by double-clicking a pic-file), it appears in the task-bar and then nothing else happens! No windows appears nothing!
When I look in the Taskmanager it says MS Phot Editor is running.
I already de-installed it and re-installed it but nothing.

At the beginning it was running fine.
I had it open than I closed it and went away for 5 minutes and left the computer running.
I came back, tried to open a picture with it and .... nothing.
This is really strange. It went from running perfectly fine to totally crapping out in under 5 minutes on a computer where NOTHING happened (nobody touched it) and that was running!

[M_Six]

Truly bizarre. I'm have horrifying issues with Win2K, too. This is the first time, after dozens of successful installs, that I've had problems.

Variable, when Photo Ed is showing on the Task Bar, can you right click on it and maximize it?

[Variable]

NO!!! Then I wouldn't be posting!
I know THAT much about Windows!

I said I just get this thing in the Taskbar NOTHING ELSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[M_Six]

Whoa. Sorry I asked. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif

[Variable]

This is really maddening.
I just tried to correct the problem by installing the SP1.
But still nothing!
And I have absolutely no clue what is going wrong!

[hyperion]

I have had a few problems with installing acrobat reader 4.05. Most of those occurred with the ar405eng.exe file. I downloaded the other form of it rs405eng.exe and it worked. The second method I have used was to use the version on my Photoshop 5.5 CD.

As to the problem with MS Photo.. does it to me also but then I use photoshop and leave the MSphoto alone.

[Variable]

I jus use it to take a quick (full size) look at Photos (it's faster than most other apps for that).
But what frustrates me is that I don't have a clue WHY it does this...
That's one of those times where you could bite yourself in the @ss out of frustration ;-)

[Loveless]

I noticed when ever I have outlook open, most setup.exe will take forever or very longer than usual to load

[Variable]

Thank you, BUT THE SETUP PROBLEM WAS SOLVED BY MY REINSTALLING WIN2K!!!!
I ONLY HAVE PROBLEMS RUNNING MS PHOTO EDITOR 2000 (PART OF MS OFFICE 2000 PREMIUM)

[Beemer]

Myself, I don't like MS Photo Editor for viewing pictures. I make a Folder on my hard drive, Enable Thumbnail View, Create a shortcut to my desktop, Do the Properties on the shortcut and Run: "Maximized". I hide the toolbars, view thumbnails, Arrange Icons Automatically, Now when I view a pic, I hit the F11 key and close the browser window. From now on when I view the folder, there is only the Menu toolbar opening, and when I open a pic, it opens in full screen. No bars of any type. I make up folders with different groups of pics and prepare them in the same manner.

I don't need a editing program to view my pic's when I am showing them to friends. I don't ever install Phot Editor as it isn't as powerful as the programs I do use for editing photos or graphics. It sucks as an editor.

My pic's open much faster with I.E. and no toolbars.

If you decide to take this route, you must uninstall Photo Editor as it takes over your system for viewing photos and you can't stop it from doing this without uninstalling it.

Cheers!

[U-96]

I use a really smart freeware app called Irfanview, it can be found by a websearch (or perhaps at download.com etc)

It has some very useful tweaking and batch processing options for handling large numbers of images.