# Help me w/ problem when installing software

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-w-problem-when-installing-software/276258>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 23, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-w-problem-when-installing-software/276258 "2004-11-23T10:40:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-w-problem-when-installing-software/276258/1 "2004-11-23T10:40:23Z")

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After a crash previous this fall, I’ve re-installed almost everything. One that will not work is the Encyclopaedia Britannica DVD-rom. When I start the setup.exe, a window shows up saying “The instalShield ® wizard is preparing setup…” Then that window goes away and nothing further happens.

I’m kinda stumped. It worked before on this very computer. Any doper who’s run into a similar problem and have a sollution?

Note: It _is_ the original DVD.

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**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-w-problem-when-installing-software/276258/2 "2004-11-23T11:22:08Z")

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When this has happened to me, the answer has always been simple patience. On one memorable occasion it took almost an hour between the InstallShield wizard starting and the install proper commencing.

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**Author:** ![RumMunkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@RumMunkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RumMunkey)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-w-problem-when-installing-software/276258/3 "2004-11-23T12:44:05Z")

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You didn’t mention your O/S, but I’ve had a similar thiung happen on some Windows 98 machines in my office.

I’ve found the problem is fixed when I updated the Windows Installer from Microsoft’s site. In fact, I ended up just keeping the file on the workgroup server, I needed it so often.

ymmv.

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\
**Post date:** [November 23, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-w-problem-when-installing-software/276258/4 "2004-11-23T13:51:21Z")

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Intel 1.4, Xp Pro.  
I’ll try to find Windows installer, start the install and take a nap.