Tech help please: XP Installshield

Sever · 01-05-2009, 10:08 AM

Problem: Unable to progress past the installshield "preparation" stage while trying to install various games. Installshield (and the initial game/disk menu) close after a few minutes, but the process remains in the task manager indefinitely. Only 1 out of 5 programs have installed. Not my machine. Any ideas?

Bungleau · 01-05-2009, 10:42 AM

Check for installshield logs.

Are you installing as administrator? or a user with administrator privileges? They don't always behave the same...

Check the various windows defensive things (Defender, etc.) to make sure they're not *helping* you out.

ElfBane · 01-05-2009, 03:36 PM

Yea, what he said...make sure the AV is paused/off.

Felix The Assassin · 01-05-2009, 08:45 PM

New machine old game? Could be drive issue. Attempt game on different machine. Swap in a slower drive.

Old machine new game? Hardware issue. Get new machine.

New game old installshield? Software conflict. Update as required.

As "B" pointed out 'defender' has become a culprit in recent times.

Sever · 01-05-2009, 10:27 PM

Thanks for speedy responses.

In a nutshell:
-Account is an administrator account
-AV is off (but i think i might be able to make it "offer" in the task manager...)
-The games are a mixed bunch of old, new and demo games. All have been succesfully installed on at least one other system. Mine. The only game to succesfully install has been Vampire: Bloodlines. Others like Red Alert, Lego Indiana Jones, Thief 2 will not. If there's a fault pattern in teh games themselves, i can't see it. The machine is slightly newer than my own machine and running very similar hardware and software.
-Probably a silly question, before i ask, but Defender?...

Bungleau · 01-05-2009, 10:34 PM

There is a difference between "an" administrator account and "the" administrator account. "The" account has more privileges, and can sometimes make a difference.

That being said, older games probably don't care all that much.

Defender is the MS Firewall utility, although it appears to be called just "Firewall" on my XP machine here. Check its status at Control Panel / Security Center, and click on "Manage Firewall Settings" on the bottom.

Sever · 01-05-2009, 10:44 PM

Hey B.

Will try that stuff now. Think i might be onto a winner with the AV though...

Felix The Assassin · 01-05-2009, 11:31 PM

I think it's standard issue nowadays. It's on the spousal unit's store bought Dell anyway.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...r/default.mspx

It has made itself very involved with "your" security and whatnot.

Sever · 01-05-2009, 11:50 PM

Thanks Felix.

This one doesn't run it, but i know how involved those hypocritical anti-spyware programs can be, so if it was running, i'd have turned it off at the first sign of trouble.

Anywho, after some stuffing around, the problem turned out to be a latent task for some kodak photo software. Killing the process got the show on the road like a dose of the clap.

The AV stuff was just the main distractor.

Interestingly, i tried installing from the big kahuna admin account, but the setup.exe itself failed to open, and just queued itself up in teh task manager. Opening the task manager in that account revealed a truly impressive list worthless junk processes. Evidently there's a lot of excess baggage on this machine...

Thanks all for the help.

01-05-2009, 10:08 AM	#1
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	Tech help please: XP Installshield Problem: Unable to progress past the installshield "preparation" stage while trying to install various games. Installshield (and the initial game/disk menu) close after a few minutes, but the process remains in the task manager indefinitely. Only 1 out of 5 programs have installed. Not my machine. Any ideas? __________________ Say say, oh playmate i cannot play with you my dolly's got the flu boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

01-05-2009, 10:42 AM	#2
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield Check for installshield logs. Are you installing as administrator? or a user with administrator privileges? They don't always behave the same... Check the various windows defensive things (Defender, etc.) to make sure they're not helping you out. __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

01-05-2009, 03:36 PM	#3
ElfBane Mephistopheles Join Date: March 21, 2004 Location: Cape Canaveral, FL Age: 70 Posts: 1,450	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield Yea, what he said...make sure the AV is paused/off. __________________ They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790), Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759. Iraq and Afghan fatalities: 6,855 and counting. Silence IS consent.

01-05-2009, 08:45 PM	#4
Felix The Assassin The Dreadnoks Join Date: September 27, 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 62 Posts: 3,608	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield New machine old game? Could be drive issue. Attempt game on different machine. Swap in a slower drive. Old machine new game? Hardware issue. Get new machine. New game old installshield? Software conflict. Update as required. As "B" pointed out 'defender' has become a culprit in recent times. __________________ The Lizzie Palmer Tribute Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy 35th President of The United States The Last Shot Honor The Fallen Jesus died for our sins, and American Soldiers died for our freedom. If you don't stand behind our Soldiers, please feel free to stand in front of them.

01-05-2009, 10:27 PM	#5
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield Thanks for speedy responses. In a nutshell: -Account is an administrator account -AV is off (but i think i might be able to make it "offer" in the task manager...) -The games are a mixed bunch of old, new and demo games. All have been succesfully installed on at least one other system. Mine. The only game to succesfully install has been Vampire: Bloodlines. Others like Red Alert, Lego Indiana Jones, Thief 2 will not. If there's a fault pattern in teh games themselves, i can't see it. The machine is slightly newer than my own machine and running very similar hardware and software. -Probably a silly question, before i ask, but Defender?... __________________ Say say, oh playmate i cannot play with you my dolly's got the flu boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

01-05-2009, 10:34 PM	#6
Bungleau 40th Level Warrior Join Date: October 29, 2001 Location: Western Wilds of Michigan Posts: 11,752	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield There is a difference between "an" administrator account and "the" administrator account. "The" account has more privileges, and can sometimes make a difference. That being said, older games probably don't care all that much. Defender is the MS Firewall utility, although it appears to be called just "Firewall" on my XP machine here. Check its status at Control Panel / Security Center, and click on "Manage Firewall Settings" on the bottom. __________________ B Save Early, Save Often Save Before, Save After Two-Star General, Spelling Soldiers -+-+-+ Give 'em a hug one more time. It might be the last.

01-05-2009, 10:44 PM	#7
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield Hey B. Will try that stuff now. Think i might be onto a winner with the AV though... __________________ Say say, oh playmate i cannot play with you my dolly's got the flu boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

01-05-2009, 11:31 PM	#8
Felix The Assassin The Dreadnoks Join Date: September 27, 2001 Location: Orlando, FL Age: 62 Posts: 3,608	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield I think it's standard issue nowadays. It's on the spousal unit's store bought Dell anyway. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...r/default.mspx It has made itself very involved with "your" security and whatnot. __________________ The Lizzie Palmer Tribute Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty. John F. Kennedy 35th President of The United States The Last Shot Honor The Fallen Jesus died for our sins, and American Soldiers died for our freedom. If you don't stand behind our Soldiers, please feel free to stand in front of them.

01-05-2009, 11:50 PM	#9
Sever Ma'at - Goddess of Truth & Justice Join Date: October 31, 2002 Location: Western Australia Age: 44 Posts: 3,293	Re: Tech help please: XP Installshield Thanks Felix. This one doesn't run it, but i know how involved those hypocritical anti-spyware programs can be, so if it was running, i'd have turned it off at the first sign of trouble. Anywho, after some stuffing around, the problem turned out to be a latent task for some kodak photo software. Killing the process got the show on the road like a dose of the clap. The AV stuff was just the main distractor. Interestingly, i tried installing from the big kahuna admin account, but the setup.exe itself failed to open, and just queued itself up in teh task manager. Opening the task manager in that account revealed a truly impressive list worthless junk processes. Evidently there's a lot of excess baggage on this machine... Thanks all for the help. __________________ Say say, oh playmate i cannot play with you my dolly's got the flu boo hoo hoo hoo hoo hoo

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