burned zipped exe won't open

Guys and Gals,

I have 2 minor problems which i'm hoping you can resolve;

1) I have 2 PC's running 98se and a CD with a whole load of skins on it in a winzip .exe file totalling 500mb - my older PC will open the archive no problem (1 CDROM) but my main newer PC will not open it at all and completely freezes in explorer when I put the CD in either drive (1 DVD CDRW/1 CDROM)

The old PC is a P3 500, 386mb SDRAM the newer is a P3 1100, 512mb SDRAM - the only software difference is the newer one has McAfee Internet Suite6 installed but i've tried opening the .exe with this all disabled still no joy.

The game requiring the skins is on my main P3 1100 machine, all other winzip files open ok on either PC ?? i've tried re-copying the archive but still it will not open on the new PC ???????????????

2) As a consequence I tried to open the winzip file in 'safe mode' on my main PC but neither CD/DVD Drive is recognised ?? why is this? On looking in Device Manager they are both there in safe mode but their properties say they cannot be accessed in safe mode??????? (or something along those lines)

Any help with these problems would be gratefully recieved,

Mick(UK)
NB, The main PC is a clean install of 98se onto a brand new 7200 40gig HDD.

 

Hi Mick,

The nature of Safe Mode is that it does not load Windows drivers. You will not have access to CD drives in Safe Mode.

Some things I might suggest for the file problem.
It may be the CD media you are using. Try a different brand of disks.

Try saving the files as a standard .zip file, not an .exe. You may wish to try compressing and transferring them using Windows Backup.

The CD burning programs on each machine will be different. If you are using a "Packet Writer" format (on a CD-RW disk), the format may not be recognised by the second machine. You may need to burn using an image file (.iso), which does not use a special "format" of the disk, OR make sure that there is a Packet Writer program installed on the "reading" PC.

Matt
PS If the machines are going to be near each other, consider setting up a LAN (local area network). Transfers and backing up are then very easy (share printers, etc).

 

Getting cdrom support in safemode is no problem when you know how……………

Safe mode with cdrom support:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=194846

Below is the sublink found with the above..
How to Use Real-Mode CD-ROM Drivers from Windows 98 Startup Disk: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=190303

-------------
Your Explorer freezes up on trying to access the cd may be the result of trouble with your cd or dvd reading the disk. Accessig and reading a cd/dvd rom can tie up all other processes until a successful read can be done or until the task times out and you can open the cd to remove the cd. Some burned cd's are fussy and may take several trys to get windows to read it. Usually you can tell, by the sound, if the cd is spinning fast enough for a read. The drive icon will also change to reflect the name or id of the cd you have in it. Your computer will try to access and read the cd several times and, as I mentioned before, this can tie up all other processes or tasks. You have to be patient and don't get mouse click happy. Continually clicking on the fussy drive can permanenty lock up the computer. Sometimes it helps to push your eject button on the cd until the cd spits out or right click on the drive letter and select eject. Normal function should return once the rom drive is opened.

Have you tried copying the file, from the cd, to a folder "name of choice" and then tried opening or unzipping the file, as opposed to opening it on the cd, which you shouldn't be able to do anyway as I am assuming this is a self executing zip *.exe.

 

Hi Ann, thanks for the links, but they are not working for me. (I got there from "q" numbers). Seems like knowledgebase has a new look, they may have changed location/sever.

Matt

 

Hi mattman,

Thanks for the headsup. I fixed it. I keep forgetting that some of the older qlinks no longer work for Microsoft database. They must be updated to the newer Kblinks. The slings and arrows of having older reference links.

 

Ann & matt,

I cant thank you both enough - excellent replies!

Unfortunately the pc totally locks not allowing ejection or anything else and requires a re-start.

I've tried 2 different disc manufacturers and re-zipped it twice on the other PC, it was originally zipped on my main PC's old HDD before my new 7200 HDD was installed and worked ok then.

I use Nero on both pc's.

This is a mystery to me but I will try the CDROM links to try an install in safe mode.

Thanks again,

Mick

 

SORTED!

Re-copied the skins as a normal zip file.

Thanks

Mick(UK)

 

Hi Mick,
I see Matt's suggestion worked for you and I hope the instructions for getting cdrom access even in safemode comes in handy. I still wonder why the original Self-Extracting Zip lost it's zip, so to speak. Oh well, if it doesn't work one way there's usually another way to do it and you found your particular work around. Your most welcome. Thanks for the updating your post.

PLEASE NOTE: If it is not to late and you can still edit your original thread, would you be so kind as to change the name of the topic from the current "2 Problems" to something more descriptive specific such as "burned zipped exe won't open ". This makes the archived post easier and more user friendly to find and use as a reference for others who may suffer this problem in the future plus it makes the other board members and moderators happy who find the "breaking, bending or forgetting" of the help.net Board rules tolerable only to a point.

 

Sure thing Ann.

BTW you loook gorgeous!

Mick

Soory theres no EDIT command available now!

 

Hi back at ya' Mick,

And thank you for the compliment, I'll take them when ever and where ever I can get them. Great, what a fuzzy jpg snapshot will do for ya'. Almost as good as "Photographic air brushing "...no wrinkles, no grey roots, etc.

As for the "Topic Title ".. perhaps, in a kind moderators free time (as if they have any..kiss, kiss) they will edit this for you. If not we tried..

 

I did the Edit for you.

 

Thank you Markp62,
Sending a hug to go along with them kisses.

 

Thanks Mark.