error involving installing older games. please help!

[Lilabercrom]

Hello. Today I tried installing Army Men, Sim City 3000, and The Sims and each time, I would get this error: "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."

Can I just take all the files on the disc and move them into a folder onto my hard drive instead of clicking 'install' for each game? It will probably just give me the same error when I click 'play'.

Please help guys.
Thanks
Liz

[Smoothie]

What operating system are you running?

[Smoothie]

If you are running XP try using the "Program Compatibility Wizard" to install the old software.

[Lilabercrom]

windows xp

[Lilabercrom]

yea can you tell me where that program is located?

[Smoothie]

Start > All Programs > Accessories > Program Compatability Wizard

[Lilabercrom]

yea i tried but i just got the same error...

[Smoothie]

Try this from MS Technet Knowledge Base

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324767

[Lilabercrom]

that didnt work for me either.. it couldnt find any of the directories for config.nt, autoexec and command..

do you have any other ideas?

thanks
liz

[Smoothie]

You noted that you could not find the files listed. You are not looking for files but installing them from the system disk. The article describes how to repair damaged or corrupt config, autoexec, and command files.

Maybe this will clear things up a little. The task as described in the technet guide are items you need to expand from the XP cdrom, they are not files to search for.

"expand" is an operational command that extracts files from the system disk.
The listed processes are intended to repair your autoexec, config, and command files.

expand (your CD-ROM Drive Letter):\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt
expand (your CD-ROM Drive Letter):\i386\autoexec.nt_ c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt
expand (your CD-ROM Drive Letter):\i386\command.co_ c:\windows\system32\command.com
exit

I first asks you to open a command line dialog box by

clicking "Start" >then "Run" >then typing "CMD"

A black DOS type box will appear. This box is where you will type all of your expand entires.

The entries above are intended to extract the files from your XP disk.

for example if your CD drive is the D:\ drive on your computer, to expand the config.nt file from the disk you would type the following in the command line dialog box:


"expand D:\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt" (without the quotation marks)

This would be repeated with the appropriate file path for each of the three system files.


Try then installing the programs again. You may still need to install them using the "Windows Compatability Wizard".


If that does not work then try creating the note pad files listed in the remainder of the technet article.

[Smoothie]

To help you understand the enties you are typing.

They are made up of three parts. The command, (devided by a single space) then the source (divided by an underscore and a single space) lastly the destination.

The command: expand (followed by a space) this is the operation entry that extracts the file.

The source: D:\i386\config.nt_ (the underscore is shown - follow it with a single space) This is the location of the compressed files on the system CD.

The destination: c:\windows\system32\config.nt This is where the file will be expanded to on your computer.

All together should look like this:

expand D:\i386\config.nt_ c:\windows\system32\config.nt

remember that the "D" is or should be replaced with the drive letter of your CD ROM Drive.

[Smoothie]

If you complete these items and it still does not work. Then the game manufacturer may have information or patches on their web site that will help the game work within XP.

[TJolly]

Hi Lilabercrom

If you have SP2 installed then please take a look here:

http://support.packardbell.com/uk/mypc/index.php?PibItemNr=6945970000#show

Hope it helps.

[Lilabercrom]

ok thanks for all your help guys! i get to play my old skool games now!!!!!



liz