What are the symptoms of the problem?  And have you checked InstallShield's forums?

 

Also, check out this post.

Maybe this will fix it...?

http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/16bit_fix.htm

Ron

appreciate the advice but unfortunately was of no help.  if it helps two of the progams were the software that came with the creative audigy 2 notebook and a dell update R82491.  The symtoms are the same for both and there is no error messages.

Can you install them in safe mode?

thank you rohe,  it worked.  i have only ever used safe mode on computers for if windows has startup problems.  however, it does not provide a full solution and i'm not too sure how to use this advice to diagnose the problem.  Any further help for an obvious novice would be nice, thanks in advance.

Whew! I wasn't sure that would work. :)

But it suggests that something loading during normal boot up is interfering with InstallShield software. First thing would be to scan your system for malware using latest updates for your antiviral software, Ad-aware, Spybot, and CWshredder (last 3 are free). If it's clean, you may want to contact maker of the applications you were trying to install to see if they have info on any potential installation conflicts.

Other than that, you might have to turn off things, one or a few at a time, on Startup tab in msconfig until you find the one that blocks the installation.

Update: Don't know what antiviral software you use, but post on the web said that older version of Norton incorrectly identified InstallShield files as Nimda virus and a fix had been released. So you might want to turn Norton off on Startup tab in msconfig and see if InstallShield can load something from a *reliable* source. And if that works, update Norton. First time you boot after turning something off in msconfig, you'll get warning that system is running in selective startup or diagnostics mode. Just check 'Don't bug me' box and click ok. And don't forget to turn antiviral back on in msconfig when you finish testing.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 04-19-2005 02:39 PM

gave the advice a go but unfortunately disabling all the startup programs did not work.  I Still need to start in a safe boot mode for the programs to install.  do you think i should ask dell for the original disk so i can do a complete re-install.

 

 

Sorry turning off all the startup items didn't work. :(

Definitely worth asking Dell for the disks but don't wait because if it's past a certain point they probably won't give them to you. I'd hesitate to hassle with a reinstall now unless you find some other symptoms or problems. For now, Safe Mode gets around the problem. I know that's not a real fix but it works. And you just might want to post this issue on one of the inspiron forums to see if somebody there has found a real solution.

Ron