Cannot install properly on Vista 64 bit. Help!

[Retro]

Hi,
I have been out of the game for a while due to a sudden interest in the Sims 2, after Apartment Life was released. I enjoy building lots and AL seemed very interesting.
Unfortunately my Monitor decided to pack up just as I was getting started and then major Hard Drive problems made my old XP machine unworkable.
I managed to get a new machine within my price range which did everything I wanted. It has Vista Home Premium 64 bit OS.
First installed the Sims 2 with all eight expansion packs plus patches and I expected problems because the Program Core was produced before Vista. However everything installed perfectly with no warnings or errors and it works fine. It also has a Widescreen Resolution for the Monitor.
Then I came to Rail Simulator. The program installed but came up with the box saying it may not have installed properly. I clicked on the option it had and loaded the program. Imagine my Deep Joy ( For those old enough to remember Stanley Unwin) when I got 65 fps coming out of Paddington with all the Birds and no jerks or pauses. My Deep Joy did not last. I tried to install Upgrade One next and got a several error boxes followed by the Expansion pack from Just Flight. Oh dear me !!. Loads of errors and strange happenings and all it managed to install was the documentation. I used one life installing it on my XP machine now defunct when I bought the pack and have lost the other two trying to install it on Vista. Yes I searched to see if it had installed the actual Route somewhere else because Vista uses Program Files x86 folder for programs that are not Vista Compliant. No Luck. The whole program would not work now so I uninstalled the lot. The amount of junk it left in the registry was phenomenal. I have removed all entries.
I am installing using the main user account I started when Vista installed called James. I have now gained access to the main Administrator Account by entering a command prompt. I was told it was quite in order to install my programmes through the James account by someone who has used Vista for a while now.
The Sims 2 and FS 2004 and FSX installed and worked without problem. In fact I have had no problems with any other of my programs not designed for Vista and all my old hardware peripherals work fine with the new software and drivers downloaded from the relevant Websites. This operating system is very stable and intuitive. KRS is supposed to run on Vista and clearly states so.
So where do I go next. Sorry if this appears a little critical or confrontational but the only program that causes problems with Vista is one supposedly made to run on it.
I want to get KRS running so I can continue with My Route.
Disappointed.
Any advice on installing much appreciated.
Regards James

[RiscaStation]

Hi James

If you look at the top of the page to the right of Atomic Systems there is a search facility. Enter in there 64bit and do a search for there are many comments of help and guidance to be found .
I use 32bit Vista so I am unable to suggest anything else. Someone else reading this who uses 64bit Vista may offer assistance to you.

Regards
Mike

[Retro]

Hi Mike,
Have tried as you suggest but nothing I can find seems to match the problems I am having. I guess the only solution ATM is to leave KRS in the box
until such time as I can get some answers on the correct way to install this program on Vista 64 bit if there is a way without getting all the error messages.
Thanks and Regards James.

[GenesisMan]

James,

I have Rail Simulator installed on Vista Home Premium 64 bits and it is working fine.

Do you have the latest drivers for your graphic Card ?

For me, not sure if it installed correctly the first time.
I did not take a note to install it as administrator so I think I installed it normally.

It is sure that if it give you a message that it could not be installed properly, you will get troubles after.

Hope this help.

Genesis_Man

[CaptScarlet]

Before installing the patch it might help to make sure that the Railsim folder is not set to read only in the folder properties. That may be why you had error messages when you tried it.

John

[Retro]

Thanks GenisisMan and John for that info. AFAIK I have the latest Drivers for this new GPU but I will check. FSX Gold installed with no problems and is running with everything set to Ultra High at my Native Monitor Resolution. Thanks for the P.M. John you have one back. I hadn't thought about the Read/Write settings. Hope to be up and running soon.
Thanks again.
Kind Regards James.

[Retro]

Hi,
Have managed to install the Main Program without any errors or boxes appearing under Administrator. This means that the shortcut on my User James Desktop has the Administrator Shield on it. Not sure if this will affect anything. I am just going to check the order of install now Because I can't remember if the Upgrade 1 came before or after the JFEP. After that I think I install the 66 pack, IOW pack then Upgrade 2. Download the latest Dev Tools and install them last. ?????
Regards James.

[Retro]

Hi,
Just installed Upgrade 1 with no errors but on restarting the machine and putting the RS disc in the drive the program started to install itself again instead of putting up the play or modify box to allow you to play the game. It seems like Upgrade one has caused it to think that it needs to install. When the continue to install or cancel box came up I clicked cancel to exit the installer. Now Railsim will not load and I get the Vista error box telling me that the program has not installed properly. All my other programs installed and ran with no problems at all even though they where not made for Vista at all. Kuju have made a complete mess of this program IMHO. About to uninstall again and clean up the registry. I can't afford to have one program mess up my new machine so unless I can get an answer as to why this is happening it will be staying in the box. Edit: Of Course the Machine decided to become unresponsive after KRS was uninstalled and left its folders in place.
Not Happy.
Regards James

[CaptScarlet]

James, which folder are you installing too ? Is it the default location or somewhere else ?

John

[Retro]

The Default Location John which appears to be (C)ProgramFiles(x86). I am using the original Upgrade 1 I used in XP with no problem. I wonder if there is a new version out ?
Regards James

[CaptScarlet]

Personally I wouldn't install it to that location. In Vista the "program files" folder on c drive is a "special" protected area with certain privilege restrictions. You would be better off trying to install RS outside that area unless you want to change the privileges for the folder. I dont think there is any difference to the mk1 patch but then it might not be a bad idea to get a new copy. Unless you turn off UAC you should always run a installer with administrator rights ( right click the file and select run as administrator to make sure) and RS requires admin rights to run every time you start it.

Iam not sure why you have had a problem after installing the patch ( I didn't ) but I normally turn off the auto run for my DVD drive so I wouldn't see it anyway. When ever I have got the message about a program not installing properly I have always selected "it is working ok " or something to that effect unless of course there were errors during installing.

John

[dkightley]

Allowing unprotected access to folders inside Program Files is easy....

1) In Windows Explorer, right click on the folder you want to open up access to, and select Properties

2) Select the Security tab and click the Edit button below the list of users.

3) Add a new user called Everyone and give it Full Permissions

Job done. UAC will no longer block writing to this folder.

[Retro]

Thanks for that info guys. I will allow unprotected access as instructed. I can't remember the key to hold down to stop autorun on XP. Does Vista have a key assigned for this purpose?
I am a little confused about the Program Folders of which there are 2 on my C Drive named Program Files and Program Files(x86). Why Two?. Before I installed Upgrade 1 the usual box came up with Play or Modify on inserting the Disc, It was only after Upgrade 1 was installed that the main program wanted to install itself again.
It it OK to install KRS on my Drive E which is not the System Drive but my Second Internal Hard Drive and will I have to create a Program Files(x86) on this Drive. Confused as usual.
I was up until 1:00 AM sorting out the mess produced when trying to install KRS. I eventually found a System Restore Point where all my programs worked again after trying 2 points that disabled Norton 360 and FSX. I ask myself is it worth all this trouble for one program !! (only 2 exclamation marks, I am making no attempt to equal the record probably set by Overmarze)
Regards James

[CaptScarlet]

James, there are two "program files" folders in Vista 64 bit because the OS is by default separating 32bit and native 64 bit programs into the different folders based on the installer I believe. So all 32bit programs will default to the "program files (x86)" folder but you don't necessarily have to keep that .

Because I prefer not to install programs to the normal default location ( I always put them in a separate drive either physical or logical ) all I do when installing is change the drive letter and keep the remainder of the default location name according to the installer, mainly because I find that easier, though everyone has there own methods on how to organise things.

As too whether it is worth it for one program, only you can answer that. I tend to look at these type of problems as a learning experience but then it does depend on one's "pain" threshold at that point in time. Why you are having the problems I don't know as I haven't run into many problems with installing RS and the patches etc in Vista 32 or 64bit other than the problems caused by the pre mk2 version of the package manager and how it wouldn't run in auto mode.

John

[Retro]

Thanks for that information John. I will try an install on my E Drive this time and still use the Administrator Identity as opposed to my normal Log on as James. I just can't understand what is causing the problem as everything else I have installed so far has been easier than on XP. It would have to be Rail Simulator that seems to mess up my system. I agree that there is a learning experience in using any new operating system but when it means working until 1:00 am to put things right it becomes a little tiresome.
I am using the Windows Aero Theme with Sidebar and now wondering if that could be causing problems because FSX switched it off when it installed and it does the same when you run the program.
Regards James.