Office 97 set up disks no longer work.

[Andilinks]

I needed some advanced function for macros in Access 97 and was instructed to install them from the disk. I inserted the (genuine orig MS) disk and instead of the usual installation routine was given an explorer window with the files on the CD. Clicking on setup.exe returns an error message. I rebooted and tried the Word97 disk as well, same thing.

Is this the result of some Windows auto-update? I'm going to try a system restore to my earliest date available...

I don't need this trouble now!!!

Andi

[Randall]

If it was just one CD I'd figure it was scratched or something, but two scratched CDs behaving the exact same way is unlikely.

What's the error message?

Randall

[Andilinks]

Double clicking (or choosing "Open") the SETUP.EXE file returns this message:C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\AUTOEXEC.NT. The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications. Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.My earliest restore point was May 13, but that restore failed. I'll try a later restore point. It can't be an SP2 thing, my laptop installed these disks--it came with SP2 pre-installed.

Thank you Randall.

Andi

[Randall]

Here's a general KB article on that error message:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=324767

I'm seeing some reports that it may be SP2 specific, like you suspected (you can never be sure that just because it worked on one machine, SP2 isn't involved). Will keep digging.

Randall

[Randall]

The SP2 link seems to be in dispute, but everything I'm seeing so far points to XP (as opposed to a general NT issue). And it won't just affect Office 97, since any 16-bit application will trigger that error.

A couple of possibile causes:

TrojanDownloader.Win32.Dia.a (http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsxp.general/msg/a448971496ce38b5)
Avast Antivirus (http://groups.google.com/group/microsoft.public.windowsupdate/msg/96ee5e8bfe70996a)

Still looking...

Randall

[Andilinks]

Entering the commands at the MS support page returns another error, claiming the destination given is not a directory. Perhaps the trojan got it.

All my restore points earlier than Aug 4 fail, and Aug 4 does not help.

I think I'm just going to look for a work around--I just want to truncate many lines of text at 25 characters, there has to be an easier way to do that.

Thanks for your trouble Randall.

Andi

[Randall]

You'll still want to solve this problem at some point, since it's liable to bite you again down the road. Entering the commands at the MS support page returns another error, claiming the destination given is not a directory. Perhaps the trojan got it. Ah, no. If the system32 folder is missing, you'd be having a heck of a lot more trouble than this. :wink:

It's easy to mistype something with these long command lines. You should be able to cut and paste them into the Command Prompt window (just remember to change "CD-ROM Drive Letter" to the actual drive D: or whatever).

From what I've read, the first four steps should be enough. Then you have to see if it "sticks" -- that trojan I mentioned would undo the changes and send you back to square one. If it's still OK after a restart, then you're in good shape.

Randall

[Andilinks]

It's easy to mistype something with these long command lines.Yes I know, that's why I triple checked to see that I didn't.You should be able to cut and paste them into the Command Prompt windowCtrl+V just enters a "v" at the command prompt for me....the first four steps should be enough. If only I could get past step one.You'll still want to solve this problem at some point,Yes, but really a macro that truncates lines is all I want now.

Thank you Randall

Andi

[Randall]

Ctrl+V just enters a "v" at the command prompt for me. You can right-click in the Command Prompt window to paste. :smile:

Randall

[Andilinks]

You can right-click in the Command Prompt window to paste.Oh, ok thanks, I'll try this again. But like I said, there was no transcription error the first time so I expect the same error msg.

Andi

[Andilinks]

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\andi>expand CD-ROM Drive Letter:\i386\config.nt_ c:\wi
ndows\system32\config.nt
Microsoft (R) File Expansion Utility Version 5.1.2600.0
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corp 1990-1999. All rights reserved.

Destination is not a directory: c:\windows\system32\config.nt.

C:\Documents and Settings\andi>

[Randall]

Hmm ... don't know what to tell you about that. :ytthink: I checked just in case there was a syntax error in the KB article, but it worked on my system. Is your Windows folder called something else, like "Winnt"?

Anyway, I'll zip up the expanded files and put them on my server: wowfiles.zip (http://randallblank.com/stuff/wowfiles.zip). Unless there really is something weird happening in the windows\system32 folder it should be a quick drag & drop operation.

Randall

[Andilinks]

Is your Windows folder called something else, like "Winnt"?nope

[Andilinks]

I extracted the files to the correct folder, was prompted "replace?" I clicked "Yes to all." Problem persists. Thanks anyway... :)

[Andilinks]

ooops. forgot to reboot. Problem solved (the one with Access anyway).

Thanks Randall.

Andi

[Randall]

ooops. forgot to reboot. Problem solved (the one with Access anyway). See? You know I don't give up that easily. :yeah:

Randall

[Andilinks]

See? You know I don't give up that easily.OK then, what's an easy way to truncate a large access memo field to the first 25 characters in each record? This original problem should have been easier to solve than the secondary one. :)

Andi

[Randall]

OK then, what's an easy way to truncate a large access memo field to the first 25 characters in each record? I'd probably do something along the lines of [field] = left([field], 25). There are a few different ways you could implement it in Access, and probably other ways that I haven't thought of. This original problem should have been easier to solve than the secondary one. This is Windows we're talking about -- nothing is ever as easy as it should be. :hrmm:

Randall