Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

[computernewbie]

I tried to install Alpha Centauri (an old but VERY good game) and an odd error appeared:

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Windows 16 bits subsystem
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c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt The file is not appropiate to run ms-dos and windows applications. Choose "close" to finish the application
______ ______
|Close| |Ignore|
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Note that i have installed this game before under windows xp and i didn't have any trouble. Also there is a patch tha fixes incompatibility issues with xp but you must have the game installed first, so don't bother suggesting it. Also note that hitting ignore doesn't do any good and running the setup program in any compatibility mode doesn't works either.

Thanks in advance.

[Darthtanion]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

An old trick I have used at times on my daughter's machine may be of help to you. Create a shortcut for the installation executable and then right click it. From there you should be able to go into the shortcut properties and under the compatability tab change it to Win95 or Win98 or some such. It doesn't always work, but I have been able to successfully fool the OS at times and it will go ahead and install the game.

[computernewbie]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

Didn't work :'(, but thanks for the suggestion. I don't know why this happens, it never happened to me before and i have installed this gem in windows XP several times in the past.

[Amd_Lover2004]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

I have also done it before, but you need to use that trick on the setup.exe files on the install cd to make it work. Good to see others still enjoying that game

[Darthtanion]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

You also might try creating a directory on the hard drive and copy all files into it. Then try installing the game locally from these copied files (after once again choosing an older compatibility under the exe file's properties).

[computernewbie]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

Didn't worked either, i tried using win 95 compatibility, win 98 compatibility. This is an odd error because i have installed this game before under windows XP, then i formated the computer, reinstalled windows xp and downloaded all services packs and now i want to install it and i can't, so i suspect service packs have something to do with it but then again i don't know.

[maximus7001]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

Same thing happened to Williams Classic Pinball sometime in 2003. It used to work just fine with xp but some update wrecked this great game forever.(it will still install on an unupdated non sp1 xp machine)

[computernewbie]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

it will still install on an unupdated non sp1 xp machine

Do you or anybody know a way to revert the service pack effects on a computer?. I'd sooner risk security holes, virus, spyware, worms and errors in windows than rather bear the possibility of not playing alpha centauri

[maximus7001]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

Do you or anybody know a way to revert the service pack effects on a computer?

Reformat it. Or better yet, run dual boot with win98se just for your older games and such.

[computernewbie]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

run dual boot with win98se just for your older games and such.

this is an excellent idea why didn't i think of it before , thank you kind sir you just prevented my world from falling appart. :)

[maximus7001]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

I mentioned 98se because most people already have a copy of it laying around. Win2000 would also be a good choice.

[Shadowfire_2005]

Re: Odd error when i try to install alpha centauri

http://www.atsoft.fi/tiedostot/win/xp/autoexnt.exe

Download this file and open it and let it install to the preset path. This fixed the issue.

-Shadowfire