cannot run setup.exe (everything else works)

Hi.

I am new here on Seven Forums but i have used it several times before to solve various problems, so thanks for a great forum. But now I have i tricky one that doesn’t want to be solved.

It is a setup.exe file that doesn’t launch, nothing happens when I press it, (double click, right click then open or run as administrator). I did a search and found that you could restore default Windows 7 file extension type associations, so I tried that on .exe, but it still won’t start.

The setup.exe file is for a program I want to install and it is in a folder with a bunch of other stuff and not in a .iso file or something like that. I believe it isn’t broken because many of my classmates have used it recently.

Two or three times the following window has appeared but despite what i chose nothing happens (the program hasn't been installed on this disk/windows before)
(roughly translated it says:

Assistant for program compatibility

This program may not have installed correctly

If not installed properly, try reinstalling with
settings that are compatible with this version of Windows

Reinstall with recommended settings

This program is installed correctly)

So i tried with different capability settings, especially XP (sp3) (because the setup.exe file worked on a Windows XP (sp3) computer this morning), but still nothing.


I am grateful for any replies.

/Tommy

This may seem like a stupid question, but with some computers I've had to fix, Im going to ask it anyway...

When you double click the setup.exe there isn't an admin prompting permission in the task bar, is there? If so, click that.

otherwise I would advise installing the software as an administrator if you haven't already. If THAT doesn't work, then check your antivirus software and see if its blocking certain files from running.

let me know if none of those work, I have some other ideas.

Thanks for the replies. It's not a stupid question, I have a habit to screw everything up and not realy knowing what I do so a simple solution might do it, but I tried what you said and it didn't work. No prompts, tried right-click and launch as administrator and deactivated antivirus and firewalls.

I've even reinstalled Windows 7 so everything is in default but the .exe will not launch.

"Windows XP Mode" is that like when you launch "windows" on a mac?
How does that effect performance?

It was a very good computer a few years back and the software is Pro Engineer (CAD).

I will try and see if it works.

I tried it and I was able to install the program but it doesn't work well, there is to much lag.

I'm not sure I understand you correct, but it still launch XP mode and then the program

what did you mean with "running in windows 7 in compatibility mode"?