Not a Valid Win32 Application 1

[Melroyster]

Hello all, its been a while since I posted, but theres a problem, so I'm back. lol

I have a Windows XP Service Pk 2, Intel Core 2 computer, with a Sony NEC Optiarc 18X DVD±R DVD Burner, and I'm trying to install the Adobe Encore CS3 software. When I place the software in the drive, I hear the fan spinning, but it doesn't load. Then when I go to "my computer," the software wasn't recognized under the drive. I double clicked on the drive and I received an error message saying "E:\ is not a valid win32 application."

I recently updated my Windows, restarted the computer, and now the software still doesn't run once in the drive, but it is now recognized in "my computer," but still won't load.

I've tried updating the drive, but couldn't find any updating sites for the software. I tried updating Windows again, but none are available. Any suggestion?

Melvin Royster
Windows XP Service Pk2
Intel Core 2
trying to install Adobe Encore CS3

 

[kjv1611]

Well, it seems odd, and seemed odd to me on my laptop. I've got a Toshiba U205 series notebook, and I had disabled the startup of a program related to the optical drive. Well, all of a sudden, I got similar issues to what you are having, and some.

So, after trying everything else, I searched the startup items, and re-enabled the app (Toshiba app regarding drive speed for the optical drive) in the startup options.

Now the optical drive works perfectly.

Whether or not that is the cause, it does sound like it has something to do with your optical drive - either hardware, or software like in my situation.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Melroyster]

Thanks kjv1611,

But how do I get into my startup programs? And how do I recognize when I have disabled something that needs to be enabled?

Melvin

 

[wahnula]

But how do I get into my startup programs?

Start->Run->type "msconfig" without the quotes->Startup

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[kjv1611]

And to add to wahnula's instructions, you may also want to look at "Services"

Another way to go without burrowing through the list is just to look at the General tab, and select "Normal Startup", hit "OK", and then restart your computer when instructed to do so.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[Melroyster]

Thanks wahnula, and kjv1611, but no avail. Everythings seems to be starting up properly, and all the services are correct. I didnt' see anything un-checked.

I'm guessing it has something to do with the drive though, correct? B/c of the "E:\ not a valid win32 application" errror. I even tried using an older CD/DVD drive, and I came up with the same error. And I'm not able to update the driver.

 

[wahnula]

Sorry to ask, but is this an original, Adobe CD? Is it physically scratched or damaged? You could try copying it with Nero or another CD burning app, and set it up to "verify after writing". I've had OS CDs that were physically damaged and would not work, but copies of them WOULD work.

Another thought would be to navigate into the CD drive (right-click the drive->Explore) and look for an .exe file or one called Setup.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Melroyster]

No problem, but yeah it is an original. The first one I had wasn't an original, and thats what prompted me to purchase the actual software and see if that was the problem.

Well what I did, I copied the software from the drive by using Ctrl + C, then paste it to the desktop and ran the software from there. So it works now, but I still want to know how to fix this problem for the future.

 

[PRPhx]

I've seen the same behavior on an HP desktop. I have many cd's that the dvd burner will not read. In fact, I've seen some dvd's not read in my dvd burner. (Crysis is 1 example). What i did in this case was load the dvd in my laptop's dvd and shared the device on my network. Then copied the files from the laptop to the desktop. Ran the install from the hard drive. Seem to have worked.

I added an older dvd player to my system and that works. You might want to think about the same thing.

 

[cdogg]

Melroyster,
A few questions:

1) Are you running the 32-bit or 64-bit version of XP?

2) Does the disc work OK on another computer?

3) Do you have any 3rd-party software for managing virtual drives (like Alcohol 120%)? If so, uninstall them and reboot. They can interfere with some installers when run from a DVD/CD location.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[Melroyster]

Thanks PRPhx, and cdogg,

But I dont' know what version of XP I'm using. I just know its a Service Pk 2 on a Intel Core 2 processor. I just updated the driver, and still it doesn't work. It works in the Safe Mode, but not in the normal mode.

It does work on another computer, and I don't believe I have any 3rd party software for virtual drives, just Nero has the InCd and I already told that to do nothing when installing a blank CD so its not confused or intere with anything. Could it be a virus on that drive or something?

 

[kjv1611]

I don't remember, but I thought you could tell by looking at "Properties" of "My Computer" or "dxdiag" in the "run command".

However, looking at the following link, it may not always be so obvious. You can download a script at this site that will tell you automatically what version you have:

http://www.mvps.org/marksxp/WindowsXP/xp64.php

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[cdogg]

Actually, the 64-bit edition of XP will have the version build # of 5.2.3790 whereas the 32-bit edition will be 5.1.2600. So going to Start -> Run and typing dxdiag will bring up the version info that you can check.

Melroyster,
I highly doubt the driver for your burner has anything to do with the problem. I understand it works when copied to the hard drive first, but that doesn't necessarily mean there's a problem with your CD/DVD drive. It's more likely that something is running or disabled in Windows that shouldn't be. This is even supported by the fact that an older CD/DVD drive had the same problem.

The only real test if you want to be sure is to remove your hard drive and throw in a spare that you or a buddy might have lying around. Load Windows from scratch and see if that CD still has problems. I doubt that it will. If it doesn't then you can be sure there is a program or service running in Windows on the original drive that's interfering with the CD/DVD drive.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[Melroyster]

Thanks,

Actually I am running the 32-bit edition will be 5.1.2600. What does that mean?

I've checked my startup and services, and the only thing I see, is a program within Nero called InCD. Is that something I should be worried about? I reset the settings to do nothing when a CD is in the drive.

Are there certain services or programs I should look for?

 

[cdogg]

Even "experts" that know the ins and outs of every service running might not recognize one from a 3rd-party app. It could be a particular service or a certain combination causing your problem.

Point is there's no easy way of finding the culprit. Remember also that it could be a corrupt setting in your registry too, and diving into that is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Your best bet is to try that test I suggested above. At least that will tell you if it's a hardware or software problem.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[Melroyster]

Thanks,

I tried that earlier, I used an older CD drive, and it was the same problem. Should I just take the computer somewhere?

 

[cdogg]

I tried that earlier, I used an older CD drive, and it was the same problem.

Re-read my suggestions above. I was NOT advising you to try another CD drive. The suggestion was to reinstall Windows on a spare hard drive, just as a test.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[kjv1611]

Melroyster,

As to which version of Windows you have, if what cdogg pointed out earlier was correct, then you have a 32bit version of Windows.

As to the hardware swap, this is exactly what and why cdogg is suggesting:
[ol][li]Turn off your computer.[/li]
[li]Take out your current hard drive that has Windows installed on it.[/li]
[li]Install a different hard drive in it's place.[/li]
[li]Install Windows from scratch on that drive[/li]
[li]Try to run your disk, and see if it runs correctly from the drive (BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NOT INSTALLED ANY 3RD PARTY SOFTWARE, WHATSOEVER - NOT NERO, NOT ANYTHING)[/li]
[li]This should tell you for sure whether the problem is software or hardware, b/c if it is hardware, you'll get the same problem: if it's software, you shouldn't get the same problem.[/li]
[/ol]

One other suggestion you could try would be:
[ol][li]totally uninstall Nero[/li]
[li]Totally uninstall InCD - if it didn't uninstall along with Nero[/li]
[li]Uninstall any other application you've got on your machine relating to your optical drive(s).[/li]
[li]If you have a Creative Labs Sound card, you can try disabling the startup/service item, called "ctdetect.exe"[/LI]
[LI]Try uninstalling your optical drive under "device manager", and then reinstalling it.[/li]
[li]Then try your CD that doesn't want to run. I know I ran into a case at least once where doing this fixed a similar issue on a desktop.[/li]
[/ol]

Once you've verified whether that worked, if it did, you could try reinstalling whatever software you uninstalled - if you think you need it, or either try a replacement software. If you do not need to burn to multiple burners, or if you don't have some particular reason to stick with Nero, you could try one of the many freeware apps out there.

For just basic CD burning, you can use CDBurnerXP Pro - it works, and has a somewhat nice interface. Of course, it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Nero, but most people don't even use 1/10th of the Nero features, anyway.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[cdogg]

Great explanation kjv1611! I suppose I wasn't being as clear as I should have been.

For the record, I just want to say that Nero is not usually a problem in Windows XP (the versions I've used which are 6 and 7). It's just that sometimes the order in which it is installed with other 3rd-party apps can cause problems like the one described here.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.

 

[kjv1611]

Yes, I would agree fully with that. I had an issue once, and I think it had to do with something with the installation order between Nero and Alcohol 120. Was a real bugger to get straitened out, but once did the above list, it worked just fine. :0)

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me