Windows 32-bit applications???

Every time I try to run a setup.exe—specifically for Jane's fleet command this time, though it’s the same old story with most of these vintage titles—I get hit with that "setup.exe is not a valid Win32 application" error message. Tried messing around with compatibility mode, but no luck there... just a dead end. I'm running Windows XP. Honestly, I have no clue what that error is actually trying to tell me, but it feels pretty useless at this point. I mean, I know I'm on a Windows 32-bit platform... any ideas? 😢

Are you running Windows XP 64-bit?
If not, just toss those files—including that EXE—directly onto your C: or D: drive instead of burying them in some random subfolder, and give it a shot.

I'm pretty sure I'm running Windows XP 32-bit here. The file itself isn't busted—it worked just fine on a 98 machine—and the disc looks clean, barely even got a scratch on it. My CD-ROM drive reads it without any issues, the autorun kicks in perfectly, and everything seems to be cruising along smoothly... until it hits the point where it actually tries to launch setup.exe, and then it just throws this error at me...

But what if it isn't just some old 16-bit Jane's application?

So, I copied the files from the disc onto my hard drive and tried running the setup directly from there, but I'm getting the exact same error message.

@redheron12/">@@redheron12

Here’s what shows up under the setup.exe icon—it’s in that thin, kind of washed-out font... you know the one I mean.
"32-bit setup launcher
InstallShield software Corporation"

No clue why it won't launch... just stuck...

The setup exe is... well, it’s from InstallShield or something similar—it definitely isn't from Jane's

redheron12, no offense, but what are you even talking about? Almost every single installer uses InstallShield—I don't know if it's some industry standard or whatever—but whenever you're setting up a game or software, it’s always right there doing the heavy lifting. It isn't actually the issue... I was just listing everything on the icon in case it helped anyone out. The real headache is that it claims to be a Win32 application, yet my "brilliant" Windows XP with Service Pack 1 keeps insisting it's not a "valid Win32 application." Damned Windows 😠 😠
...

Well, you could always pack all that data into 16-bit chunks—it’s a bit old school, I know—and then just bundle it all up for a Windows installation using an InstallShield setup.exe... which, mind you, is a Win32 application.

Alright, but how the hell am I supposed to actually run this thing now? Anyone got a clue? I need the full breakdown if possible... Come on, tech wizards, help me out here 👍

fadedpanther8 said:Every time I try to run the setup.exe for Jane's Fleet Command—and honestly, this happens with plenty of other old-school games too—I get hit with that annoying "setup.exe is not a valid Win32 application" error message. I already tried messing around with compatibility mode, but no luck there. I'm running Windows XP. I have no clue what that error actually means, though it feels completely nonsensical to me since I know I'm on a Windows 32 platform... Help! 😢

You need the install patch designed for Windows 2000/XP:

http://www.sonalystscombatsims.com/d...oad_games.html

Make sure you actually read the readme file on that same site before you go through with the installation.

Benjamin King2 said:There's an install patch for 2000/Windows XP:

http://www.sonalystscombatsims.com/d...oad_games.html

Make sure you actually read the readme on that site before you try installing anything...

Thanks, Care 🙏 🙏 🙏 .
I owe you a beer next time I see ya 👍

Right-click the .exe file, go to Compatibility, and check the box for "Run this program in compatibility mode for..." Give this a shot and see if it works!

Shelby said:Thanks, man 🙏 🙏 🙏 .
The first round's on me next time I see you 👍

Meanwhile, the rest of us can't even get a coffee 🙂