Can't install DoW !!

[artefact]

hey all,

Just bought WA, so went to reinstall DoW on my Win2K box. Have had DoW installed before, with no problem. Now it won't install.

Have deleted all registry enries that pertain to THQ or DoW, have tried copying the source to a HD and installing from there, to no avail.

Basically installer runs up to the last bit, preparing configuration and then drops out and crashes,

any suggestions well appreciated

cheers

[fifth_horseman]

Damaged CD, maybe? This might cause problems like this one.

[TBS]

Could be - try copying the CDs to your harddrive, if you get an error then the CD is damaged. Return the game for a replacement.

[artefact]

Thanks for the reply guys,

so far this is what I've done..

Made disk images of the install CDs, no probs, they mount fine, visually the CDs look fine.

The files get copied to the install folder then the installer crashes and the files are deleted, never get asked for the 2nd or 3rd CDs.

It seems similar to problems peeps have had with the Windows Installer, but I can't work out how to fix it.

cheers

actually hadn't done a simple copy of disk to HD, just did, and got the error

Error: -1603 Fatal Error during installation

[TBS]

I didnt mean make images - you just had to copy the files from the CDs onto the harddrive, but if youve been able to mount images ok then that still suggests that the disks are fine.

Now, make sure you have all the latest windows updates and run full virus and spyware scans.

[artefact]

Am completetely up to date on Windows updates, downloaded Windows Installer 3.0, have run Norton Antivirus, Spybot Search and Destroy, Spyware blaster, etc..

Still no dice.

I hope it's not the CD cos any damage is going to be my problem, as I bought it quite a while ago.

[TBS]

If you can copy all the data from the CD to your harddrive then the CD is fine.

Could you kill off all unneccesary processes and try installing again please.

I'd ask for a dxdiag but all I'm really interested in is free harddrive space - I trust that all relevant drives have plenty of space? (windows' drive and the drive you are attempting to install DoW to if you have multiple harddrives/partitions).

[artefact]

thanks TBS for the rapid response,

Will give it a go again when I finish work.

C drive has 3.3Gb free, other drives I've tried installing on have between 40 and 85Gb free.

Am also going to run a repair install of Win2K just incase, or maybe get around to opening that XP box that has been glaring at me from the shelf ;)

Was going to include dxdiag but the process [correct me if I'm getting this wrong] doesn't seem to get that far. I'm guessing it's an OS issue and that there's somesort of conflict.

[TBS]

Hmm, the dxdiag fails? That could well be indicative of an OS issue, yes.

[artefact]

ah sorry, by process I meant the install process, I'll post up the dxdiag when I get home, other games are running fine tho, GTA:SA, Farcry, Halflife2 etc,

dxdiag runs just fine, reports no errors [at least it didn't this morning]

just hoping that when I get DoW installed that i don't then have to deal with WA not installing ;)

[TBS]

There is a manual install process for WA so if that causes problems we can deal with it.

Have you tried the 2k repair install yet?

[fifth_horseman]

I have heard a lot of bad about Win2k's gaming compatibility from a number of people, and many of them agree it's better to go with 98SE (for low-end machines) or XP (for high-end stuff). Since you have your own copy of XP, maybe it's time to give it a spin?

[artefact]

Woohoo,

Did a reinstall of Win2K, installed my graphics drivers, installed directx9.0c, installed DoW, and WA all good. Except for the graphical glitching, run the tutorial and the IG command HQ looks like a burn victim.

Personally never had a problem till now with installing and running games under 2k, the XP box can sit on the shelf for a bit longer, maybe once vista is out I'll install it, or if I get the urge to play Age of Empires 3. Currently more interested in getting MacOSx86 running in my PC.

Thanks all for your help, was muchly appreciated.

[TBS]

Thats what I'm here for.

Enjoy the game :)

[artefact]

oh btw all, I tried to get online support from THQ here's their response.

Thank you for your interest in THQ products. You have emailed technical support for the United States and Canada. Please contact the support department for your respective area for advice at

AUSTRALIA
Technical Support & Games Hotline 1902 222 448.
Calls cost $2.48 (incl. GST) per minute.
Price is subject to change without notice.
Higher rates may apply from mobile or public phones.
E-Mail: feedbackaustralia@thq.com

[TBS]

To be fair to them the THQ support guys probably have a lot more to deal with than us, we are able to respond quicker and be more personal about it.

[Moe]

TBS let's charge money as well! We'll be rich! :)

In all seriousness, we get maybe thirty new problems per day here - those poor tech support blokes will get tons more.