Install from CD problem

from Stardock Forums
Had an odd one. Tried to install from the retail CD on the Dell I bought in April for my Significant Other. WinXP Home. Autorun brings up the installation menu, but when I click Install Game the program goes immediately to "Not Responding." Can't even End Task to get out of it (or at least I have to do End Task multiple times). Once the program finally exits I see a message about Flash 5. I downloaded and installed the latest Flash player, but no joy. Any ideas?

[Mind you, it may be just as well if the game *doesn't* work on her system, as I won't be tempted to play if I'm awake in the middle of the night...which was the situation when I tried to install.]
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Try to get all updates for win XP home edition possible.Including directx 9.0b
[Message Edited]
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Make sure that zeroes and oohs are correctly typed as this can lead to not being able to register.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks for the suggestions, eradicus. I think all the Windows Update stuff is current, but maybe not directx (though why my older computer works fine is a mystery...perhaps not a mystery that I should look at too closely!) -- HtL
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Also, you should be able to copy the contents of the CD to the harddrive and then install from there, if nothing else.

 

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Oops. Embarassing to miss a personal message from CariElf! That could get me nailed to the wall of the Metaverse! I plead that messages scroll so rapidly off the first page...

I'll have to try the Revealed Wisdom next (thanks CariElf). The rest of this message is probably moot, but I'll report it anyway.

Last night I updated her system to DirectX 9.0b and to the latest driver for the Intel 82845G chipset, but no joy. The instant I click "Install" it hangs with two entries of GalCiv "not responding" (neither of which will respond to "end task.") Eventually I get a couple of those irritating "Send report to Microsoft?" dialogs, one mentioning Flash 5.0r and one mentioning menuinst.exe. I'll try copying the CD to the hard drive next time...which will probably be next weekend.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
It could be the sound drivers.  Sound drivers can be funny things. 
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Also on microsofts update page.If you have it scan for updates there are usually three categories in left pane,critical,recommended ad drivers.In the recommended there is one that will fix games hang when first initialized.Try this one.
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
eradicus: Thanks, I had done so (though I don't remember one about fixing games; her system is XP Home, if that matters).

CariElf: copying the files to the hard drive and installing from there worked. THANKS. Now I'm wondering *why* it worked, with an eye toward future installation problems of my own software.

During the copy-to-disk, I heard the CD drive apparently change speeds several times, which I had never noticed before despite installing several games on her system. I dunno...
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
sounds like the gal civ cd is dirty or the drive is

try washing the cd off in cold water and drying it (gently) with a SOFT towel and getting a cd lens cleaner for the player

most times when theres a read error the disk is the cause its rarely (cept in real dusty conditions or an old drive) is it the cdrom drive

~SDC~