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....