Trying to install CivIII Conquests

[kaelyn]

I hope this is the right place for this. Sorry if it's not.
I have been trying to get this game installed forever and it won't work. First it would load to 60% and give me this message:

Component transfer error
> > >Component: DirectX Installer
> > >File Group: DirectX Installer
> > >File: E:\DirectX\mdxredist.msi
> > >Error: Data error (cyclic redundancy check)
> > >

I emailed tech support and they said uninstall it, change the startup and try again. I now find myself in a loop of not being able to uninstall it, run it, or repair it. I have uninstalled from add/remove programs a million times because it's always an option. The tech support then said to delete the registry key so I did that and it doesn't help either. I really love Civ III and want to play this expansion pack but I just can't figure out what to do.
I have a Pentium III 801 mhz with Windows XP. I installed DirectX 9 so that's all current. Atari tech support doesn't know what else to do so they recommended that I try here.

 

[Padma]

For problems with UN-installing, check this thread. The information I gave there is expanded on in other posts in this forum, if you care to go digging.

 

[kaelyn]

Okay, I hate to sound stupid, but how do you know which folder it is?

 

[Padma]

You have to open each one of the folders in there and look at the file names - eventually you find one that is obviously Civ-related. (I forget the exact names, and I am at work and can't check.)

 

[kaelyn]

Okay, I'm feeling really stupid now. It seems so easy yet I am still not getting it. In the installshield folder is a bunch of other folders with numbers for names. When I click on any of them, they have set up, layout and data icons none of which have the name of the program they are associated with. I'm sorry for being dense, but I just want to play my game. Thanks for your patience and continued direction.

 

[Padma]

In each folder (like "C:\Program Files\InstallShield Installation Information\{0AD84416-63A4-4CF3-BDDF-8FA866711FB0}") look for the "setup.ini" file. Open it with Notepad (or any other text editor). The contents should look something like this:

[Startup]
FreeDiskSpace=0
[b]AppName=Civilization III[/b]
Engine=0
Copy=1
Source=0
[Languages]
Default=0x0009
count=1
key0=0x0009

Look for the line that starts "AppName=" (I bolded the one above). That tells you which Program the folder is for. (I got lucky and picked my Civ3 folder on the first try! )

 

[kaelyn]

Thank you so much. I found it finally. Now let me see if I can get the game installed!!

 

[kaelyn]

Sadly it didn't work. It still asked me if I wanted to reinstall or uninstall. I tried to install componnents manually but it gave me my original error message and wouldn't finish so I tried again without that part and it gave me a different error message. I'm annoyed beyond belief with this whole thing.
Thanks for trying to help me.

 

[kaelyn]

Okay, I couldn't just let it drop. I finally figured out what I did wrong and why I couldn't get the files off my computer. They are gone now. I also uninstalled CivIII. I reinstalled it, did MSCONFIG to get selective startup all set up and went to install Conquests. Well, it stopped at 60% and gave me my original error message which is in my first post.

 

[Padma]

Aarrgghh!

I don't know what else to offer, unless one of the other folks who frequent this forum have an idea ....

 

[kaelyn]

Hopefully someone will be able to figure it out. CivIII is one of my favorite games and I was really looking forward to playing an expansion pack.
Thanks for all your help.

 

[Herod]

You need to look at the error messages you are getting, a CRC is a technique for detecting errors. There is a possibility your hard drive had bad sectors on it (or its full up?), try error checking the hard drive, do this with My Computer-->R click on a drive-->Properties-->Tools-->Error Checking-->Check Now. Ensure the 'Scan for bad sectors' box is ticked, this will take a while. The fact that the installation always stops at 60% indicates there might be a physical error in exactly that place on the HD.

 

[Hawkster]

Another possibility is a problem with the CD - try lightly cleaning the cd with a soft lint free cloth (can you see any finger marks or scratches on the disk if you look).

The only other thing I can think of is a problem relating to directx (which is indicated in the error message) - it may be that directx can't install for some reason - possibilities include a faulty previous installation (try removing directx from control panel) or video driver problems (make sure you have the latest drivers installed on your pc).

Post back if you continue to have problems (personally I suspect a cd fault).

Good luck.

 

[kaelyn]

I have installed DirectX 9 again and again because it let's me, but I haven't tried to uninstall it because I didn't think you could. I'll try that when I get home tonight.

Could it be that the file from the disk is corrupted somehow?

My video drivers are current and windows is all updated as well.
I have never had this much trouble installing a game!!

 

[Isak]

If possible, try installing the game on a different computer (you will of course have to install Civ3 first) just to see if it's a defective disc - it might very well be.

If it installs fine on the other computer, then I think Herod's suggestion might be the next thing to try.

 

[kaelyn]

Okay, I tried it on another computer (Millenium Edition) and again at 60% I get an error message BUT this time is says 'please insert the disk that contains the file data3.cab'

 

[Isak]

Then there really doesn't seem to be much doubt that your disc is damaged in some way. If you've already tried wiping it gently with a dry cloth, then it's probably a scratch that makes the cd unreadable in the sector where the data3.cab file is located.

If the store you bought it from don't have a return policy, maybe you should look into returning it to Atari directly.

 

[kaelyn]

I finally exchanged the CD and guess what... Same exact thing!! I'm so mad.
There's no way that my computer doesn't meet the requirements to play this game since there aren't many but something is clearly wrong.
It gets stuck at a file named directx\mdxredist.msi

 

[Herod]

Try copying the entire CD to the hard drive, it might not install from there but see if it will copy. Also try the new CD on another computer... you might have a kamikaze CD drive - I dont think there is a problem with the actual game as i haven't heard anyone else having this problem.

 

[kaelyn]

Well, Atari tech support has gone back to telling me to try the very first thing that they told me to do. I'm not any closer to getting this game installed. The new CD won't install in the Millenium computer that I have either.
I installed DirectX 9 from the website on both of my computers and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with the trouble that I'm having.