BC Installation stalls out before it even starts

[KypFisto]

Okay, I've had this copy of BC since 2002 when I first bought it and I've never run into this issue before in my recollection.

I've got a fresh install of Windows XP and I tried to install BC. Autorun pops up, I hit install, the demoshield splash screen pops up for a second and then nothing. setup.exe is still running under processes in my task manager but not under applications. If I try to install it again, it starts a new "setup.exe" task and nothing still happens.

The disk is scratched up but I've been able to successfully copy all the files from the CD to my computer and try to install from there but the same thing happens. I cleaned it anyway just in case and the results didn't change.

I've also tried installation by manually exploring the disk and going through "Run" on the start menu but it does the same thing.

So what I'm wondering is if anybody else has encountered this problem or if anyone might know if there is any way of fixing/getting around it?

[MLeo]

Sometimes scratching doesn't have to cause read errors, the computer just reads it differently (ie. not correctly).

Try doing first Win+D (to minimize all windows) and then starting setup.exe (through Win+R and then D:\setup.exe, assuming D is your CD-rom drive) and looking if there isn't some window that does pop up (but isn't enough to pop up under applications).

Have you also checked your Event log (Event Viewer in Administration Tools) to see if some error has been reported?

[KypFisto]

I tried doing the minimize and run but it did the same thing. Autorun pops up, I hit install, demoshield splashscreen pops up then goes away and I have the arrow hourglass for about a second or two after that and then nothing.

I've also checked my event log and nothing has popped up there either.

[MLeo]

What version of Windows are you running?

If it's vista, try installing as Administrator (go to your CD rom drive through the explorer, right click on setup.exe and click "Run as Administrator"

[KypFisto]

I'm running XP, but I tried "Run as..." anyway just in case and it didn't help.

[CJLarkin]

I've had this problem recently.
Try shutting down all unnecessary processes in the Task Manager, (i mean ALL, except for the bare minimum), then try. If it works, install BC and then reboot. If it doesn't, then reboot anyway, and post back saying that it's still not working.
In any case, I hope this helps!

[KypFisto]

Didn't work either. I even turned of my antivirus just in case that was interfering. So, if there is a process preventing installation, it's one I didn't identify as non-essential.

[CJLarkin]

Try it again, but this time make it every single process that you are certain isn't necessary to run windows.

Also, before you try, delete the existing temp folder (Something like C:/Documents and Settings/<user>/Application Data/...) keep exploring till you find it.

[KypFisto]

I shut down everything the task manager let me shut down and it still gave me the same grief.

[MLeo]

I think the CD is scratched too much. :'(

[CJLarkin]

Surely that would come up with some sort of an error, though? I still think that it's an InstallShield problem, because the symptoms he/she has described are exactly the same to those which I have experienced in the past.

[KypFisto]

It's a he  :lol:

And I don't get any errors, it just...stalls out. I'm still trying to figure this out but I've nearly exhausted all the options open to me as far as getting this copy to work again.

[FourChan]

Okay, lets beat all steps one at a time. I'll be like a Dell techy, have you tried installation in another computer? If it installs in another computer then it's your PC, somethings mixed up, if it doesn't then it's the disk. Lets go from there.

[El]

There used to be a number of reports of stalled installs under XP, although its been a while since I've seen any.
Try leaving it until it carries on (some people had to leave it half an hour plus before it fired up and carried on its merry way).

Failing that, make sure your XP install is up to date, service packed up etc.

[LJ]

I think you could just copy the files off the CD (the are uncompressed if I remember correctly), do a bit of directory dancing and then it would run.  It has been a long time since I last installed it tho, so I can't help with specifics.

[KypFisto]

I tried the CD on a laptop I have running XP and it installed and played fine. I even did an entire quick battle against Cardassians and it didn't so much as freeze on me.

My conclusion is my problem is probably isolated to something specifically on my computer affecting the installation. I'm gonna leave setup.exe running just in case it decides to install after a few hours, but if it doesn't...anybody have more suggestions?

[CJLarkin]

I still think that terminating all non-essential processes (ie ones that you can't close!) is the solution. I've had the same problem on both XP and Vista. Perhaps there is a service running which is interfering? Perhaps you should turn said process off? Or maybe setup.exe (from last attempt) is still running?

Oh, how did deleting the temp folders go?

[MLeo]

Copy the BC directory from your laptop to your desktop (or to the computer you want to install it on).

It will run.

[KypFisto]

That'll serve as a solution for now. I just wish I didn't have to install it on another computer to get it on the one I actually want to play on.

CJ: I wasn't running anything besides the bare bones XP stuff when I tried installation that time. I know there's something off somewhere but I want to be able to pinpoint it before I start throwing anymore switches. I'll give deleting the temp folders a try before copying the directory, but I'm not expecting much.

And as a by the way, setup.exe for BC has been running since the last time I posted. Nothing's happened yet and I have to shut down for a little while.

I'll update when I get back.

[KypFisto]

Nothing happened, but I manually copied and pasted the folders onto my desktop so I can use it. Game runs fine, but I can't patch it because it doesn't recognize it as an actual install of BC. Any help with that as well? Besides patching my laptop and recopying the files?