Problem with Installation

[Marcus]

FOF looks great but I can't install it!

The file that I downloaded from the purchasing site extracts data with the normal preparing Install Shield message but then fails quietly. If I manually extract the files I get a setup.exe program that fails without an error message. The installer used version 5.x of InstallShield; a brief look online says that there are issues with this version and recent XP. Has anyone else had this problem? If so how did you solve it?

Email to ViaTech has not been answered yet.

[JeeberD]

Have you tried rebooting? On my computer Solecismic products simply won't install until I've rebooted...

And if you've already tried that...I'll leave that up to people who are smarter than me to figure out.

[Marcus]

Thanks. A reboot didn't help.

[Marcus]

This is crazy. FOF seems to have a semi-thriving community of fans but there is no place for technical support! ViaTech has not be responsive to my submission of support forms. Solecismic hides their support address.

I like the idea of the game but I'm about to give up and attempt to get my money back.

[VPI97]

[email protected]

[Buzzbee]

You might also try downloading the game again. All the files may not have come across completely. Just a thought. You might also check the FAQ on the solecismic site. I've had technical issues that were easily solved by the suggestions in there.

Good luck. I hope everything falls into place, as the game is certainly worth it.

[timmynausea]

Is there any error at all? I had a similar problem and had to download a file to make the installation work. If this is your problem, it is covered in the FAQ including links to the necessary file. http://www.solecismic.com/faq/index.php

[Marcus]

Problem solved. However I disagree that the FAQ says anything about the problem. I did not get the error message stated in the FAQ. Nor did I have an installed game that did nothing when clicked on.

Props where props are due; the Solecismic support email account responded rapidly which was wonderful.

[DaddyTorgo]

that's cuz Jim has nothing better to do than sit around at his computer all day corresponding with us. Aaaah, what a life!

/sarcasm off

No really, that's cuz you get what you pay for and more with Jim. (and you dirty guys can take your minds out of the gutter!)

[JeeberD]

Jim who? Ethan Potter is the man, yo!

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by JeeberD

Jim who? Ethan Potter is the man, yo!

Leave poor Ethan alone. One of these days, he might actually play the game. And then watch out.

I've begged ViaTech to resolve this problem. They simply deny there are any problems with the license and XP. My guess is that the reason for the behavior is closely related to security issues that are core to their technology, so they just won't talk about it.

I asked them for a message box instead of just a program exit. They deny that it can happen, yet it still does every once in a while and the 16-bit fix often resolves it. And many more people get a more useful 16-bit error message. Still, I wonder why a 21st-Century product requires a 16-bit library.

In the meantime, they had me make some changes, which was the reason for 5.1c, that they said would resolve everything. But they really didn't help, except hopefully the problem where a couple of people lost careers because of an inopportune shutdown is no longer possible.