Autorun.inf method - question about using file it references

[DBrag1]

I have a question about a software installation CD for Quicken 2004 that I have that uses the autorun method. The autorun.inf file in the root directory has 2 lines which are:

[autorun]
open=autorun\autorun.exe

There is a subfolder called autorun on the CD with the autorun.exe file in it. I also have an install.exe file in the root directory of the CD.

I want to try to load the software on a Win 7 system without using XP mode. With some help from internet searches about possible ways to do this successfully (including a couple on Tom's Hardware foruns), I decided to copy the CD files to a folder on my C drive and set some compatibility and administrator options for install.exe. This is because the documentation with the CD says to run install.exe as an alternate to autorun. I get an error when I try to run install.exe.

My question is: could I go to the subfolder autorun and execute the autorun.exe and get the same result as if I ran install.exe?

Thanks for any input.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

Start by telling us exactly what error message is thrown when you execute install.exe

 

[DBrag1]

I right click on the install.exe (on the C drive) and choose Properties and the Compatibility tab. I choose "Run this program in compatibility mode for Windows XP (Service Pack 2)" (have tried SP3 too) and "Run this program as an administrator". I then try to run install.exe and get the following message:

"The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need and x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and contact the software publisher."

I did run the "compatibility troubleshoot" function and it said to set it to Win XP (SP2) or (SP3). Same error message. That's why I was wondering if there may be something going on with the install.exe file and I could get an install with autorun.exe as I mentioned in my original post. Thanks.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

All of the methods of installation tell you to run "start.exe" not "install.exe"

 

[DBrag1]

Thank you for your reply. You are right that most of the internet references talk about start.exe. There was one reference on one site the talked about install.exe (I can locate it again if I try). I have done a search of the Quicken CD I have and there is no "start.exe" in the root or any of the subfolders. That's why I started looking at the autorun.inf file to see what it pointed to. It's possible that different levels of the Quicken 2004 CD (Basic, Deluxe, ones sold in England, etc.) have different .exe files they start with.