I am running Windows XP SP1 (Home Edition – factory installed) on a Dell Dimention 4550 I bought a couple years ago. All that we use the computer for is email, some internet/web use (we have filtered internet using Proxy Watch) and a bunch of games for our kids. Until recently (the past few months) we were able to install new programs just fine. A couple months ago, I tried to install a new program for my son (Jonah – A VeggieTales Adventure – it says “XP Compatible” right on the package), but it didn’t work. I put in the cd, and the splash screen came up…I pressed “Install”, the splash screen went away, the pointer went to the “pointer/hourglass” for a few seconds, then went back to a normal pointer, and nothing happens.
I called the software company for support, but they just had the basic ‘maybe the cd is faulty’ or ‘did you try rebooting your pc?’ questions.
So, I would write this off as a fluke, but I am too curious. I booted up in safe mode and signed on as “Administrator” (even though we only have one logon on our PC, which is an administrator account). I attempted to install the program, and Presto! It worked just fine. Now I restart my computer and the program works normal (no longer in safe mode).
Now, a few weeks pass, and my son wants to install another game (Amazon Trail, 3rd Edition – this one brings me back to the old Apple IIE days ). Crazy thing is, I have the same problem! I can’t install the program, so I boot up in safe mode and the program installs just fine. Can anyone tell me what is going on?
I have run Spybot S&D 1.3, AdAware SE, (I updated both today)and updated my Norton AV definitions today. Spybot and Adaware did find some stuff, but I removed all that it found, and I still cannot install the program.
Why is this?