Can't get old program to install under XP

[Igor]

I recently switched from Windows 98SE to XP. The other day, I tried
installing an older version of Micrografx Designer from its
installation CD. This program installed fine under Windows 95 and 98,
but it doesn't seem to want to install under XP. When I double click
on the setup file, it doesn't do anything. Is there anything I can do
to run this program under XP or am I SOL?

 

[VanguardLH]

Many install programs will check the version of Windows. They look for
a minimum and maximum version and will only install within that range of
versions. Often they do NOT leave the maximum open-ended because it is
unknown if their product works on as-then unknown and non-existing
versions of Windows and the vendor isn't going to expend any effort to
support their products on unsupported platforms.

You need to contact the software maker to see if their product will run
under Windows XP. If it does anything direct through DOS to manipulate
hardware, it won't work and the NT kernel bars that type of behavior.

Last I heard, Micrografx got swallowed up by Corel in 2001. They have a
KB site where you could search on "designer" to see if they mention
using it on Windows XP for whatever version of it that you have.

Alternatively, you could use VMWare Server or Virtual PC to install a
fresh copy of Windows 98 (if you did NOT upgrade from it so its license
is still valid) and run Designer from within a virtual machine that is
running Designer. If the safe mode install doesn't work as Don
suggested, and you can't get support or find an Corel article telling
you how to run the old version on Windows XP, using a virtual machine
might be the only way to get it working again by running it under
Windows 98 in a VM running on Windows XP. I had to do this for my aunt
that had some old greeting card and photo editing software.

 

[Igor]

You need to contact the software maker to see if their product will run
under Windows XP. If it does anything direct through DOS to manipulate
hardware, it won't work and the NT kernel bars that type of behavior.

Contacting them isn't an option since as you point out below,
Micrografx is no more. I'll have a look at the Corel site but I'm not
going to get my hopes up.

It's possible that this version of Designer uses DOS to access
hardware, since I think it was meant to be run on Windows 95.

Last I heard, Micrografx got swallowed up by Corel in 2001. They have a
KB site where you could search on "designer" to see if they mention
using it on Windows XP for whatever version of it that you have.

Alternatively, you could use VMWare Server or Virtual PC to install a
fresh copy of Windows 98 (if you did NOT upgrade from it so its license
is still valid) and run Designer from within a virtual machine that is
running Designer. If the safe mode install doesn't work as Don
suggested, and you can't get support or find an Corel article telling
you how to run the old version on Windows XP, using a virtual machine
might be the only way to get it working again by running it under
Windows 98 in a VM running on Windows XP. I had to do this for my aunt
that had some old greeting card and photo editing software.

Thanks. You've been very helpful.

 

[Igor]

On Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:37:17 -0700, "Don Schmidt" <Don

You might try installing from safe mode and if it does install then by
selecting the program icon, properties, run in compatible mode with 95 or
98.

How does one enter safe mode in XP?

 

[Jason]

Please select the operating system to start doesn't appear unless there are
at least 2 installations

 

[Jason]

Bad design for running under 95 if it accesses hardware directly.

 

[Igor]

Bad design for running under 95 if it accesses hardware directly.

Well, I don't know how to explain it, but I tried installing it again,
and this time there were no problems. The only difference between then
and now that I can think of is that I installed SP3.

 

[VanguardLH]

Well, I don't know how to explain it, but I tried installing it again,
and this time there were no problems. The only difference between then
and now that I can think of is that I installed SP3.

Windows: Where FM reigns.

FM = F..cking magic.

;-))