this app can't run on your PC - Windows 8

[andythomson]

hi all

thank you in advance for an help.

my grandma is needing a new PC/Laptop, mainly to continue family tree/genealogy research etc,

rumor had it the some of her programs won't run on windows 8/8.1 which is a bummer because she has many paid programs that will go to waste if this is the case.

i recently got a new PC that had windows 8 on it, not long updated to windows 8.1

she has sent me a copy of the cd to test, and to see if i can get it to work.

unfortunately i can't, when i try to load the setup it says
"this app can't run on your PC
to find a version for you computer, check with the software publisher"

now i've checked on the website of the publisher, and they do not offer a compatible version
http://www.macbeth.com.au/digger/support.html

i have tried run as admin, and troubleshooting compatibility, and taking the files off the cd-rom and placing them in various spots on the computer to try and install, but still receive the error

also, when i troubleshoot compatibility, and click test program, it does nothing at all, not even display the error

also my windows 8.1 does not have wow64 or hyper-v, but i do have the program files (x86)

hopefully we can get this sorted

thank you very much

Andy

 

[knight_of_baawa]

I'm going to assume it's 64-bit 8.1. In which case, you cannot run it unless you install something like Oracle's VirtualBox and install a legit copy of XP or some other 32-bit OS as a VM. You simply cannot get a 16-bit program to run in a 64-bit Window OS otherwise.

 

[andythomson]

I'm going to assume it's 64-bit 8.1. In which case, you cannot run it unless you install something like Oracle's VirtualBox and install a legit copy of XP or some other 32-bit OS as a VM. You simply cannot get a 16-bit program to run in a 64-bit Window OS otherwise.

yes it's 64bit sorry

ok, i just wanted to make sure i'd exhausted every option before i'd go that far
with a virtual pc are you able to move freely from virtual system to the actual system and use all drives etc?

thank you

 

[knight_of_baawa]

Depends on what VM package you use. I know that with VirtualBox, you can drag-and-drop between the host and the VM if you have it enabled. And you can create shared directories. If the program you want to install is on a CD, you could also make an ISO of it and mount the ISO in the VM to install it.

 

[andythomson]

Depends on what VM package you use. I know that with VirtualBox, you can drag-and-drop between the host and the VM if you have it enabled. And you can create shared directories. If the program you want to install is on a CD, you could also make an ISO of it and mount the ISO in the VM to install it.

ok this is very helpful, thank you muchly, i'll pitch this to grandma and see what she says

thanks very much knight_of_baawa

 

[lizzyg]

Depends on what VM package you use. I know that with VirtualBox, you can drag-and-drop between the host and the VM if you have it enabled. And you can create shared directories. If the program you want to install is on a CD, you could also make an ISO of it and mount the ISO in the VM to install it.

ok this is very helpful, thank you muchly, i'll pitch this to grandma and see what she says

thanks very much knight_of_baawa

I just thought I'd let you know there is software to enable access to Digger discs -
http://www.peppermintfence.com/BDMRevival.htm
By using BDMrevival you don't have to go to bother of installing a Virtual machine, but you still have to install each Digger disc.
I've just bought new PC and have same problem of wondering how to access Digger discs.
The only thing is, there is another learning curve using the new way the Digger info is presented in BDMrevival.
Hope this helps
All the best,
Liz