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Some preinstalled programs don't work


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#1 BenchFox

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Posted 16 March 2023 - 05:01 PM

Hello,
 
I joined this forum because I couldn't get much help on Reddit. I'm hoping it's different here.
 
I have a Dell Inspiron 4000 laptop running Windows ME and can't get certain things there to work.
I can't import the sample file on Movie Maker. I get an error saying "Proper decompression program not found." It used to work so I don't know what happened.
The Windows ME welcome program doesn't work. It tells me it can't find the file (It doesn't give me a specific filename though).
And the music for 3D Space Pinball doesn't work for some reason.
For the first two, I've tried replacing all the files with ones I got from a generic virtual machine, but that never worked.
 
I'm kinda stumped. Does anyone know what to do here?

 



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#2 Pkshadow

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Posted 16 March 2023 - 06:14 PM

Hi, Welcome to BC.

 

One thing that Win ME was good for was to install over top of it self from within a Folder that was held after installing.   No idea what folder name was now.  But if can find the folder on C : then can just install over top of itself from Setup..

 

Re videos well what format is it in and ya what compression program was used.  Modern stuff is just not going to work as Movie Maker was good for it's time but that was 23 years ago.

 

Unheard of these days that a Support Page is still up : https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-ca/product-support/product/inspiron-4000/drivers

 

See your Install Manual : https://dl.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-4000_service%20manual_en-us.pdf

 

You may need to install sound drivers again for the Pinball if had sound before.

================================================

There a reason you have not moved to Linux with this ??

 

Linux Mint Cinnamon Edition : https://linuxmint.com/edition.php?id=299  Most like Windows. : https://www.linuxmint.com/rel_vera_cinnamon_whatsnew.php

FAQ's plus Minimum Requirements : https://linuxmint.com/faq.php

Less Command Line stuff than others. Check out the videos : https://www.google.com/search?q=linux+mint+cinnamon&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=vid&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjzu4eQ-8L8AhViAzQIHSZ2D8oQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1536&bih=671&dpr=1.25

It Comes with Software as well there is tons of Software available : Open Source : https://alternativeto.net/platform/linux/?license=opensource check free and ....


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www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/health/mosquitoes-attraction-humans-future-wellness-scn/index.html
 

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#3 BenchFox

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Posted 19 March 2023 - 03:37 PM

Sorry for the late response.

 

What do you mean by "One thing that WinME was good for was to install over top of itself from within a Folder that was held after installing. No idea what the folder name was now.  But if can find the folder on C: then can just install it over top of itself from Setup..."?

 

The video is a .wmv file. It's the sample file that came by default with Movie Maker.

 

The MIDI on this laptop is the generic Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth, and reinstalling the audio driver didn't return the music on Pinball.

 

This is intended to be my Windows 9x computer, so I'm not intending on installing Linux there.

 

Hope I didn't miss anything.



#4 Pkshadow

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Posted 19 March 2023 - 05:54 PM

Look through C: for a another windows install folder. Is all i can remember from those days.   It may have been meant to be deleted after install but it never was on mine.

 

There was a full folder with Setup in it.  ME used to always get corrupted and would just go to that folder and click on Setup and would install over top of existing install.

 

Very simple what I said.


" mosquitoes really wake up everyday and choose violence "   — dalia (@_dalia7)
www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/health/mosquitoes-attraction-humans-future-wellness-scn/index.html
 

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#5 BenchFox

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Posted 21 March 2023 - 04:18 PM

I found that folder. It looks like there are some drivers in there too.

 

Do you reckon I should salvage those drivers before deleting the setup folder?



#6 Pkshadow

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Posted 21 March 2023 - 07:18 PM

I would not delete that folder.  Why told ya about the folder is you can install back over top with out doing anything else and will get back your pre-installed programs if lucky.  It is there for a emergency access from DOS and as well a install overtop should fix Movie Maker issues if lucky as well as Sound.  No you do not delete this valuable resource.

 

Would save your drivers from your Support Page : https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-ca/product-support/product/inspiron-4000/drivers which also may fix your sound issues.

 

You have not mentioned what these besides 3D Space Pinball

is on line : https://alula.github.io/SpaceCadetPinball/ or can get it from the Windows Store for 10/11 and is called 3D Pinball – Space Cadet for Windows.

 

Or can get it from oldgames : https://oldgamesdownload.com/microsoft-3d-pinball-space-cadet/

 

Maybe able to find other stuff in the Internet Archives : .archive.org or as said it maybe in the installer package.


" mosquitoes really wake up everyday and choose violence "   — dalia (@_dalia7)
www.cnn.com/2020/07/23/health/mosquitoes-attraction-humans-future-wellness-scn/index.html
 

I-7 ASUS ROG Rampage II Extreme  / ASUS TUF Gaming F17 / I-7 4770K ASUS ROG Maximus VI Extreme


#7 BenchFox

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Posted 22 March 2023 - 06:33 PM

Right, I reinstalled Windows ME using the setup file.

Windows Movie Maker and the Windows ME welcome program work fine now.

3D Pinball - Space Cadet still doesn't have working music, and I don't know why.

(Reinstalling audio drivers did nothing, and it doesn't have MIDI drivers because it uses generic MIDI)

 

Thank you for your help so far!



#8 BenchFox

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Posted 22 March 2023 - 06:43 PM

Alright, I got Pinball fixed. Apparently, the default shortcut for Pinball doesn't have music working, so you just have to make a new one for the music to work.

 

https://web.archive.org/web/20010414031535/http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q261/7/50.ASP






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