absolute nightmare, can't reinstall. Have read sticky

[mrfish88]

As this is my first post I would just like to say I am a huge fan of Paradox Interactive. Hearts of Iron 2 and EU3 are fantastic games and I regret that I only found them a few months ago.

I tried to install the Graphic Improvement Mod, and it went pear shaped from there. I copied it into my Armageddon folder (I have the HOI2 Anthology) when I think I may have had to put it into the DD folder. After this, Armageddon didnt work with a 'excel file not found' message upon trying to start the game.

I then uninstalled all the games, but then came up with an error message when trying to reinstall them (which I can not remember, I think it was the typical Windows XP crash), so I used the System Restore to the point before I uninstalled the games.

They didn't work even then. I saw about how to do the manual uninstall, and I've deleted the files from the registry and deleted the game files on hard drive. At the time, I couldn't find the references in the InstallShield Folder (see next paragraph) so at this point I hadn't deleted anything.

Now when I try to install HOI2, the initial InstallShield Wizard goes about half way before I get the following message:
"An installation support file 'C:\DOCUMEN~1\Sam\LOCALS~1\Temp\{98786147-80E3--41A5-A80C-1F3C028558CF}-\IsUser.dll' could not be installed.
Catastrophic failure"

I realised this was the reference to the folder in Install Shield (as i was writing this), so I located that folder and deleted it. After I had done this, HOI2 installation got past the opening Wizard, and got to about 35% when it ran into a different problem. It was something along the lines of "can not install this particular file, the medium from which you are trying to install from could be corrupt/damaged." The installation had to abort.

I restarted my computer expecting it to happen again, but it has now reverted to referring to the C:\DOCUMEN~1\Sam\LOCALS~1\Temp\{98786147-80E3--41A5-A80C-1F3C028558CF}-\IsUser.dll problem. Yet that folder is certainly not in InstallShield, has been emptied out of the recycle bin, and there are no registry entries under Paradox Interactive that relate to HOI2.

I have successfully installed all of the HOI2 games on my friend's laptop, so it appears that the CD is fine and it is definitely my computer

These are my specs.

Game Version & Patch (incl. publisher): HOI2 Anthology. Initially had everything up to the latest patch, now just trying to install from disc.

OS & build/SP: Windows XP Professional, SP3 Build 2600 (although was running SP2 until a few days ago.)

Computer, CPU & speed:
System Manufacturer - INTELR
System Model - AWRDACPI
System Type - X86-Based PC
Processor - x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 3 GenuineIntel - 3192 Mhz (as said in System Information)
- Intel (R) Pentium (R) 4 CPU 3.20Ghz (2 CPUs) (As said in DirectX Diagnostic Tool)


RAM: 1023.48MB

Free HDD space: C drive - 9Gb
D drive - 40.5Gb (this is where HOI2 is installed/installing to)

Video (brand, model, driver, memory):
Radeon X800 Series
ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x5549)
256MB
Main Driver - ati2dvag.dll

Sound (brand, model, driver):
C-Media Rear Panel Audio
Driver - cmudax.sys

DirectX Version:
DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)


I appreciate that this is a ridiculously long post, and I apologise if it is needlessly so. I thank you for your time, any help will be much appreciated.

 

[unmerged(112641)]

Sigh.
The easiest way is just to go all the way back to the system restore point before you tried to install the GIM mod, make a copy of the arma folder, and proceed to the mod's thread for more info; of course I don't use them, I enjoy my vanilla, but if someone else with GIM wants to give some advice, please do it.

 

[mrfish88]

I've tried that, going back to the day before I even downloaded the mod. What happens then (for HOI2, DD, and ARM) is a message saying "critical error...excel file not found."

 

[coreymas]

Try the following:

1. Physically delete all folders containing HOI2
2. Open up the Registry.... (type Regedit in the Run command)
3. Do a text search within Regedit for "Paradox"... delete anything with HOI2.
4. Reinstall Arma Only (from the Anthology CD)
5. Find the Arma 1.2 patch for the Anthology

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showthread.php?t=346220

.... install it.

6. You should be good to go

You only need to install Arma to play the game... DD and HOI2 Regular are on the CD if you dont want to play ARMA.

Corey

 

[mrfish88]

Thanks for your help so far.

It looked like that would work for a sec. Armageddon installer uninstalled all the files without a hitch..but after about 10 seconds installing it I get the following error message:

"Component Transfer Error.

Component: Core Files
File Group:
File:
Error: Catastrophic Failure

I really have no idea...it seems I've somehow cursed my computer. Can anyone please think of any other way, or am I simply going to have to format my hard drive to play it again?
Thanks again.

 

[mrfish88]

If it's any help, the file that it always freezes on is named 'CC3250MT.DLL'

EDIT: Actually, that reminds me, I used CCleaner to clean the registry in an attempt to sort out the registry problems. Is there any chance that it deleted something that it shouldn't have? I ask this as I google searched CC3250MT.DLL and I found a site where you can download DLL files, including that one.

Is there any chance that could be part of the problem?

 

[mrfish88]

Sorry, yet another update.

After restarting the computer, the installation of Armageddon makes it past the beginning. It has got to 40%, where it then crashes with the following error message:

"CRC Error: The file D:\Armageddon\gfx\interface\tech\8110.bmp doesn't match the file in the setups .cab file. The medium from which you are running the setup may be corrupted; contact your software vendor."

But the CD installs fine on a different PC. I'm starting to think this is going to be impossible to fix? Any more ideas please?

 

[Red Jacket]

But the CD installs fine on a different PC. I'm starting to think this is going to be impossible to fix? Any more ideas please?

1. Install the game to the other PC. Do not mod that install. Patch ok, mod not ok.
2. Obtain a USB flash drive - 2 gb.
3. Copy the good install to the flash drive. Everything including and below the doomsday directory. Should fit easily on the flash drive.
4. Put the flash drive on your target PC (that you want to play on).
5. Copy from flash drive to your PC desktop.
6. Create shortcut to the desktop\doomsday\hoi2.exe file.
7. Now you should be able to play the game on target PC.
8. Delete install from 1st PC.
9. Keep copy on flash drive for future catastrophes.

 

[mrfish88]

Thank you Red Jacket, my friend is my housemate so I'll be able to just send it across the LAN in future if needs be. Thankfully, I didn't need to do that this time though, as it seems to be working fine after I told it to 'Ignore' the corrupt file. Strangest problem I've come across with a game.

Thanks everyone for helping