#Installation of S 3-D
14 messages in this thread
I had similar problems with the installation of Simply3D. May I say something?
I HATE the Microsoft Installation Toolkit! Either it is junk, or the people who
use it to write their install don't know what they are doing. I don't know what
is causing me problems with your software, but every other time I have to use a
SETUP.EXE frpm a CD, I shudder. Look: Windows is just another program. Can't
software vendors provide a detailed list of the setup procedure, so that a
person can intervene and correct this miserable Install torture if something
goes wrong? I might never know if your software is any good, as I can't access
it!
>> I might never know if your software is any good, as I can't access it! <<
Denis: I had problems too, but my genius techie husband got the program
going… what type of problems are you having? If you will let us know, someone
will be able to offer
a solution.
The program is a lot of fun to use, and I think you will like it WHEN you get
it up and running.
Jinny
Jinny: Ok, problems I've had with install … The first time I ran SETUP.EXE,
it seemed to install the software correctly, but the intall froze the machine
before exiting. I didn't trust that installation, and deleted the Simply3D
Program group and programs from Windows, and deleted the Simply3D directory
from the hard disk. Since then, attempted reinstallations just freeze with the
opening blue screen of the SETUP.EXE intallation. Nothing is copied from the CD
ROM. I *hand-copied* all the programs from the CD, guessing where the files and
directories are supposed to be ( a tech support person I spoke to from VisSoft
promised to email a file contianing the correct file and directory structure of
a correctly installed Simply3D, but hasn't so far), and seem to be able to run
the program, BUT, ig I ever want to reinstall it, I don't think I could, as
that first installation put the system-oriented files where they're supposed to
go (in the \WINDOWS and \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directories, I assume), and I doubt
that I could do *that* by hand. My thinking is is that either the Setup
procedure has some bugs or that there is something wrong with the CD ROM
physically. To recapitualate: Original attempt at installation froze towards
the end. Attempted reistallations freeze at the start. What I've managed to do
myself seems to work ok, so far. I'm concerned about what happens if something
happens to my hard drive and I have to reintall the program.
Oh yeah! I've skipped entirely the nightmare of the Simply3D intall apparantly
doing something to the hard disk boot files. I think I was so traumatized by
that that I'm blocking it out of my mind. Luckily, that didn't
>>Oh yeah! I've skipped entirely the nightmare of the Simply3D install
apparently doing something to the hard disk boot files. I think I was so
traumatized by that that I'm blocking it out of my mind. <<
Denis: Yes, it did the same thing here… ate up the Fat file… one thing we
decided was that for some reason, possibly due to the controller card, we can
use S3D with 32 bit file access, but not with 32 bit drive access… (this is
my husbands area of expertise, not mine) and this was part of the problem.
About your other trouble, not being able to reinstall, I had the same problems
you describe when I installed Corel5 from the CD rom. It writes so many files,
here and there, it's almost like a little virus… when I tried to reinstall,
it wouldn't let me, because there was something telling it that it was already
installed… I suspect that even though you deleted the directory and group
there is still some little file saying no! (We solved that problem by deleting
everything that even looked like it began with a C, but I don't recommend that
method An uninstall program might have helped.) Corel has suggestions for
deleting their program, I think the same procedure would work for you to
eliminate your first install files… Do you have Corel5?
Until they send you the fix, I wouldn't worry too much if you can now use the
program, because IF, something happens to your hard drive, then you will
probably start from scratch and rebuild (which is what we did when we had the
above mentioned problem. We do think that the program is a memory hog, and it
needs the 32 bit access.
How much memory do you have and are you using a memory manager such as Qemm.
My husband believes that a good memory manager, such as Qemm, will help.
>> My thinking is is that either the Setup procedure has some bugs or that
there is something wrong with the CD ROM physically. << Yes, I agree, but I
don't think it's exclusive with this program, I doubt that you have anything
wrong with your CD.
(I would say for new users, have an up-to-date back up before installing, just
in case…)
Denis, I hope that you are using the program, and having fun with it… you
did say that you can use it now… what are you doing with it?
Jinny
Jinny: 8 megs of mem, 25 meg swapfile, and, yes, using QEMM. Mostly, I'm
exploring the Vfont utility, and so far think that this is worth the price of
the entire package. I always needed something like Vfont.
Hi Denis:
I didn't see this message when I answered your previous msg in this thread.
The fact that it hangs at the end of the install process does sound like a
"gunky" CD. Take it our of the caddy and look at it to confirm.
However, if something is happening to your boot files during the install
process, then something is _definitely_ wrong with your system: Simply 3D has
been installed on thousands of systems without problem…Do you have a SCSI
drive? Do you have 32-bit file access enabled? Do you have hardware cache?
Are you using smartdrive? Begin by disabling 32-bit file access.
BTW, another problem with installing manually, is that you must correctly
install the animation codex and modify the SYSTEM.INI accordingly.
Finally, if you still have not received the information you are looking for,
drop me a note at 74431,3611 with your phone number and I'll call you solve
this.
Best regards,
Nick Josephs
Visual Software
No SCSI, no 32 bit disk access, minimal Smartdrive (which I disabled when I
attempted reinstallations, no go). One of the things that happened during the
first installation is that the codecs and INI files were completed, thankfully,
but, as I said, I doubt that I'll ever be that lucky again. Also, to reiterate,
First installation hung right at the end, current attempts at Reinstallation
hang without even getting started (the temp directory is created, gets its
files, and that's [Hit. Windows totally frezzes with the opening install
screen. NO error or warning messages occur during any of this).
I appears that my SIMPHD.EXE file is corrupt on the CD. I can manually create
new Program Items for the group that refer to the CD and Self Playing Demos but
when I use the SIMPHD.EXE in the command line reference, the computer siezes.
How do I go about securing another CD?
John:
Call our marketing office at (800 669-7318 to obtain a new CD.
Nick Josephs
Visual Software
Nick:
I posted here a while back, and was requested by some VisSoft rep to provide a
day time number. No one from the company has ever gotten back to me. It was
suggested here that my installation problems might have been a bad CD. May I
obtain a replacement one also?
thnx, Denis B. Ryan
Hi Denis:
Sorry noone ever got back to you. Ray will contact you tomorrow (Feb-08)
concerning your needs.
Nick Josephs
Visual Software
Hi Denis:
The Windows installation is somewhat clugy and inflexible (I believe "junk" was
your term), making it difficult for the average user to intervene. But it does
work. If the installation process is hanging or failing when you try to
install Simply 3D, the problem might be the CD itself, or if you have problems
installing lots of programs, it might be a conflict between your CD drivers and
something else — I've seen _lots_ of that!
When does your SImply 3D install fail, and what msg does it give? Do a
physical inspetion of the business side of your CD to look for "gunk" on it —
don't laugh, I've seen it more often that I'd like to say. If you find gunk,
clean it off and try again. If that doesn't work, contact our marketing office
at (800) 8883-7900.
Nick Josephs
Visual Software
Hi, Nick. Well, as I've mentioned in previous msgs, I don't get *any* error or
warning messages during the install. First time installation died towards the
end, recent efforts at reinstalling die right at the beginning (the temporary
directory is created, ~MSSTFTQ.T?, something like that, and the files it gets
are copied, and that's it. Dead machine, blue screen. "conflict between CD
drivers …" begs the question in my mind, and puts me in rant mode again.
Either the applications need ONLY their own Windows, VFW, QuickTime, Indeo,
etc. files, or the setup/install procedure can't deal with previous versions of
Windows/video/sound (or newer ones!), well, neither of these things should kill
a machine, or not be dealt with by _intelligent_ applications and their
intallers, I think. In re the CD ROM, yes, it had some greasy thump-print
smear-looking things on it, and there was even some particulate matter in the
disk envelope. I carefully cleaned and dusted, etc. BUT, keep in mind that the
install almost went to termination the first time! AS much as I'd like to blame
the CD ROM too, I just have a feeling it isn't the case this time. I could be
wrong.
Nick, in regards to a request I made to your tech support, could I have a file
giving what a complete, fresh install of Simply3D looks like? Directory
structure and what files go where, etc.?
Thanks in advance for any help. (Love Visual Font, btw! Makes the whole package
for me).
Denis:
Your problem is consistant with the "smudged CD" theory. However, I'd like to
have one of our tech support people contact you directly. If you purchased
directly with use, we have you're number and will be contacting you shortly.
Otherwise, please send me your phone number and the time of day that you'd like
to be caled.
Nick Josephs
Visual Software