Re: Error message when installing on Win95

From: Kenneth J. Davis (jeremyd_at_ctc.net)
Date: Sun Nov 09 2003 - 18:24:17 EST

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    >Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 23:01:24 +0000 (GMT)
    >From: Alan Horkan <horkana_at_maths.tcd.ie>
    >To: Justin <j_freak_at_myway.com>
    >Cc: abiword-user_at_abisource.com
    >Subject: Re: Error message when installing on Win95
    >
    >On Sun, 9 Nov 2003, Justin wrote:
    >
    >>
    >> I just attempted to install abiword on a Compaq LTE ELITE 4/40CX laptop
    >> running windows 95, and after the select language box popped up, it gave
    >
    >Abiword can run on Windows 95 but not a clean out of the box version as it
    >needs some extra files.
    >If you have Internet Exlorer 4 (maybe 5) I think you will have an
    >adequately up to date version of msvcrt.dll (I'm pretty sure that is the
    >relevant file). As far back as I can remember windows 95 users have
    >needed to have a reasonably up to date version of Internet Explorer
    >
    >> me the "This program has performed and illegal operation and must be
    >> shut down" error. It installed just fine on my Windows 98 computer. Is
    >
    >It's a shame that the error message does not suggest a reasonable solution
    >but - shrug - what can you do? We've got people running abiword on all

    The error message is the generic Windows, your program did
    something bad message. It is possible installing IE will
    fix the issue, as it may be because the installer is assuming
    access to a feature standard in win98 but not available in
    win95. I didn't think so, but can't be positive. It may
    be one of the installer plugins (not be confused with AbiWord
    plugins), but I assumed they loaded earlier ... I will double
    check my Win95 setup Tues or Wed (I won't be home to do so
    before then). Note: the installer should provide an option
    to install msvcrt.dll on Windows 95 computers, so that is
    not an issue. It is possible the optional downloads are
    causing the fault, as to download extra dictionaries (and some
    installers the C runtime may be a download instead of included)
    requires Winsock 2, which is an update for Windows 95. No
    other updates should be necessary for Windows 95 to have a
    version of AbiWord that runs -- some things do need updated
    to have access to all features (i.e. toolbars will not be
    available unless you have updated your common controls dll).

    >manner of systems (most flavours of unix, most versions of windows,
    >twisted people like me trying to run it on top of Wine, OS/2 users running
    >it on top of Odin which is 'a cousin' of Wine, a Mac X11 version and a Mac
    >Cocoa port being quietly worked on), so help with testing is always very
    >much appreciated
    >
    >> there any way to fix this, or a different version I should try? (I have
    >> version 2)
    >
    >An older version of Abiword (1.0.x or older) might have less problems but
    >I really doubt it and I'm sure the developers dont want to exclude windows
    >95 users if it is does not require any radical changes.
    >So try upgrading Internet Explorer (maybe you have a magazine coverdisk or
    >an ISP disk lying around to save you downloading it) and if that doesn't
    >work and you have the patience we would really appreciate if you could try
    >a debug build (which you should be able to find from the websites that
    >carry Abiword nightly builds, I'll look up links for you later if I have
    >time).

    This is probably the best option, try
    http://abiword.pchasm.org/abiword/builds/nightly/win32/ABI-2-0-0-STABLE/VC6SP5/setup_abiword.exe
    (I haven't updated my site yet, so use this link)
    However, you will need to ensure your computer has msvcrt.dll
    or download from http://abiword.pchasm.org/microsoft/msvcrt.dll
    as this variant of the installer does not yet have the extras
    such as included c runtime for Win95 nor option to download
    extra dictionaries.

    >
    >Gotta go, really should be studying, deadlines, deadlines, deadlines.
    >Hope that helps.
    >
    >Sincerely
    >
    >Alan Horkan
    >http://advogato.org/person/AlanHorkan/
    >

    Please let us know if the alternate installer package fixes
    your problem, and if you would be willing to do some additional
    testing if I can't replicate the problem.
    Thanks,
    Jeremy Davis
    jeremyd_at_computer.org

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