Can't run installed program within Program Files (x86)

Am not sure if this is the right place to ask for this problem, let me know.

I gave a try to the Setup Project of VStudio 2008 to create and distribute an x86 installer of a program I develop in win7.

After installing, uninstalling and executing over and over some of the features of my release distribution, I suppose I broke a windows registry or something related. I can't run anymore this app, whether from executing from the shortcut or directly, it just sends an error "Couldn't start the application correctly (0xe06d7363). Accept to close", there is no other option.

Later I found out that moving exactly the installed content somewhere else out side the Program Files x86 dir, the application works flawlessly.
Browsing, finding and deleting all references in regedit for my program didn't fix anything. I double checked my project is fine, and also created another installer version using the tool Inno setup producing exactly the same behavior; good install, error message when executing it inside the Program Files folder.
Am clueless what else to do with the OS to fix this. Using CCleaner and/or my anti virus don't show any broken reference to my program, it seems clean. Can anyone help me?

When you were installing the Program did you do so in the Programs File Folder? The Program that is not portable would not normally work by installing it elsewhere and moving it to another location later.

When you were installing the Program did you do so in the Programs File Folder?

I did, anyways am getting closer to the solution.

Found anther clue, right clicking the executable -> Compatibility tab -> check "Run this program in compatibility mode for:" WinXP sp3 fixes the problem, all shortcuts and directly executing the exe works, but the most strange thing is; at this point reverting the selected compatibility mode, i.e. unchecked the option, the application works like a charm. Really wicked

I have the same problem for most commercial software. When a program installs in the Program Files (x86) folder there is most always problems. If possible I revert to installing in the root folder (c:\<subject program>) is the result. Not sure if it is an ownership/permissions issue or what. Now I am not talking about unsophisticated programs these are Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Acrobat, CorelDraw x5 among others. As with Carbonite it will not allow install in a folder other than the x86 - this results in the right click drop down menu being blank. Weird thing is the menu is there... I can run the cursor up and down, just no works of what the selections are...

What do you think? Help would be greatly appreciated. Dan

After being on tech support for 3 hours with Carbonite some progress has been made. The solution is not the best and I need additional help. When we turned the UAC control to the lowest possible setting, everything works fine. I do not like running the system with UAC set to the lowest setting but if that is what must be done for the programs to work that is it.

Apparently there are a number of programs written lazily which want to save data to the same folder where the program is installed. I do believe that Win 7 x64 does not like this in the x86 folder.

Ideas? - Dan

Whenever you closed the old drive onto the new one you'll have to re-install all your programs on the new hard drive.

The cause behind this you are getting the message you quote is because it will be a system registry issue like Windows on the new hard drive can't see Excel on the old hard drive.

voyageurs60 said:

After being on tech support for 3 hours with Carbonite some progress has been made. The solution is not the best and I need additional help. When we turned the UAC control to the lowest possible setting, everything works fine. I do not like running the system with UAC set to the lowest setting but if that is what must be done for the programs to work that is it.

Apparently there are a number of programs written lazily which want to save data to the same folder where the program is installed. I do believe that Win 7 x64 does not like this in the x86 folder.

Ideas? - Dan

windows 7 x64 wants programs to save to the "C:\users\<username>\appdata\(local, local low, or Roaming)\<program name>" that is why if you see an application data junction(looks like a folder shortcut) and the same for XP's MyMusic,MyMovies,MyPictures, and MyDocuments folders, this is to be able to be backward compatible for older programs that have not been upgraded from XP and up

Sorry, this is so old... i missed the link and page, anyways I managed to fix it by using another installer system, currently Nullsoft. I guess the other one was really lazy. Thank you guys