MS World Atlas 98 No Install

Hi, WA98 installs ok on my desktop comp using XP, but on my laptop its no go. I really need this program as I do a lot of longitude/latitude plotting. The laptop XP is more up to date, so I assume its something to do with this?

Anyway, I currently have it installed in MS Virtual PC 2007 (win98), but it isn't convenient using it like this. I have tried copying all the CD files to a partition and installing that way. What happens (via CD or hdd) is I run setup.exe and nothing happens, it just won't run. Any ideas if/how I can sort this big problem, else it's a bloomin Win98 partition, just for WA98! Thanks.

 

Perhaps try running the EXE install file in compatibility mode? That should at least get the thing installed, and if the program doesn't run after that then make that EXE run in compatibility mode.

 

Hi, thanks. Unfortunately there is no 'right click' option to run the Setup.exe in compatability mode, or on the Autorun.exe on the CD. Strange, I tried Music Central 97 and Cinemania 97 CD's and they were ok. There isn't anything wrong with the CD (and I have cleaned it) as it works ok with Virtual PC. What a pain!

 

The compatibility mode option is not in the right-click menu...you have to dig a bit deeper than that. Right-click the EXE file, and go to Properties. Go to the Compatibility tab, check the "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" box, and select an option from the drop-down box. I'd recommend choosing Windows 98 or Windows 95, since the program was designed for that generation of Windows. Hit OK, then run that file.

 

Try to turn off your anti-virus program first

 

Hi, thanks for help. There is no compatability tab, just General/Version/Summary tabs. Also, I tried turning off AV and Firewall, and also checked disc was ok by running on desktop comp.

I have seen that Compatability Tab when using my desktop, but none of my installed progs offer it on the laptop. Its the same licenced XP Pro installed on both, kept upto date on laptop, a few updates behind on the less used desktop.

 

I'm wondering whether Compatability Mode was something I stripped out with XP Lite?


Update: Yep, it was. Thanks for mention of Compatability Mode, I would never have thought of that!

Now I have Compatability Mode reinstalled and WA98 does the install thing as expected, but I get an error during install "SWFlash.ocx was unable to register itself in the system registry". This is a message I have seen before. Now I have to try remember how I get around that. Anyhow, I'm sure It can be sorted.

 

I did some quick digging about that error. It seems that you will need to first uninstall Macromedia Flash on your computer, then install your Atlas program. After that you might want to reinstall the latest version of Flash, rather than using the ancient one included with that program.

See if that works for you.

 

Hi tritium4ever, Yep it has to do with XP and that old version of Flash. Reading around it seems WA98 will install on XP before SP2 and will run ok after, but won't install if SP2 is installed - I had it on my desktop before updating with SP2.

I tried registering SWFlash.ocx in the registry, but post XP/SP2 just won't recognise it, so I guess no way have WA98 now.

What I have done is copy CD to a partition, share the folder with Virtual PC and install it again as part of VPC (win98) - now it runs from that shared folder, without the CD, which is much better for me.

Thanks for your help!