Windows 7 XPMode Can't Install CD Software App

I am running XPMode on Windows 7 for legacy applications. The PC does not have a CD drive. I have OEM software on CD but it will not install from an external USB CD drive. If I copy the whole CD onto desktop of XPMode and try to install from there it still won't install. The self install exe doesn't run and when I go to the Disk1 folder and try and run the Setup.exe file a popup window with the complete path to Setup.exe is listed and reports 'The parameter is incorrect'.

I suspect the path name is too long? The application is an older one for native Windows XP machine.

Thanks for any advice.

Out of curiosity, right click on the setup.exe on the physical CD and select Properties. In the Compatibility tab, set it to run in XP mode and apply. Then, right click on it and select "run as administrator." Does it run?

I am trying to install within XPMode not Windows 7. XPMode is running within Windows 7.

I tried that earlier to install in Windows 7 and set compatibility to XP SP3 but a pop up stated incompatible version of Windows and mentioned 64 bit not a 32 bit.

OK, I created an iso file from the CD and mounted in XPMode. Now it went a little farther but now displays this following message: 'SETUP1 caused a General Protection Fault in module WIN97EM.DLL at 000102C9SETUP1 caused a General Protection Fault in module WIN97EM.DLL at 000102C9'.

Upon investigation on internet I found the following solution to the above message:

1. copy HIDE87.com to windows\system32 directory

2. add to c:\windows\system32\autoexec.nt file FIRST line:

LH C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\HIDE87.COM

3. reboot virtual machine

After doing this the install worked perfect and so did the app. I then changed back to the original autoexec.nt and the app still works fine.

Yeh, I understood what you wanted to do but thought we could check the disk to make sure there wasn't a problem there.

I'm glad you found the solution.