Civ IV "Gold Edition" won't install Win7 x64: side-by-side configuration incorrect

[MarkSide]

Recently purchased the "Civilization IV Gold Edition" boxed set, can't get it to install on my PC. PC is running Win7 x64, fully updated.

Error message is:

G:\setup.exe

The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect.  Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.

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In the App EventLog:

Activation context generation failed for "G:\setup.exe".Error in manifest or policy file "G:\setup.exe" on line 21. Invalid Xml syntax.

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Using sxstrace:

=================
Begin Activation Context Generation.
Input Parameter:
	Flags = 0
	ProcessorArchitecture = AMD64
	CultureFallBacks = en-US;en
	ManifestPath = G:\setup.exe
	AssemblyDirectory = G:\
	Application Config File = 
-----------------
INFO: Parsing Manifest File G:\setup.exe.
	INFO: Manifest Definition Identity is InstallShield.Setup,processorArchitecture="X86",type="win32",version="1.0.0.0".
	INFO: Reference: Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls,language="*",processorArchitecture="X86",publicKeyToken="6595b64144ccf1df",type="win32",version="6.0.0.0"
	ERROR: Line 21: XML Syntax error.
ERROR: Activation Context generation failed.
End Activation Context Generation.

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Note that G:\ is my DVD-ROM drive. I've tried running setup.exe in Admin mode, under WinXP Compatibility Mode (SP2 and SP3), no change.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,

--- Mark ---

 

[MarkSide]

FWIW, the MD5 checksum of the offending (?) setup.exe file is d7108a999d5bef547fb2eb8d67297e9e. Would someone mind checking the copy on their CD/DVD media to see if it's the same, to make sure mine isn't corrupt?

My setup.exe file is listed as last-modified 2/27/2007 @ 3:08:44 PM; Windows Explorer gives its properties as being File-version 12.0.0.49985 . . . just to make sure you're hashing the same file. You can use a tool such as http://corz.org/windows/software/checksum/ to generate a checksum for it.

Thanks,

--- Mark ---