Why CAD programs can be installed on some Windows 7x64 machines, but not others?

George · May 15, 2013

I have 2 CAD programs in new versions which certify compatibility with Windows 7 x64. Have used earlier versions of these programs on XP for years successfully. Found that I can install these into Windows 7 x64 easily on 2 laptops: one with an i3 processor, 8GB RAM, the other an AMD processor with 3GB. Unsuccessful on main desktop machine, which has an i7 processor and 8GB RAM. At completion on one program (Altium10), or double click start, I get no response at all. On other (Cadence 16.6), the license server balks. Debug log shows it could not write environment variable. Even manual entry of the correct variable yields nothing. Have compared debug logs, environmental etc. - the same disk just will not write the required section, and the programs balk.

Can not see anything in user accounts being wrong so far. In both cases, I call up install with administrator privilege. So WHY would a desktop balk at both?

Yes, have run Norton 2013 and Malwarebytes clean.

Thanks for your comment.

Wrench97 · May 15, 2013

Are they all Win7 Business, Home or a mix of both?
Are the accounts Limited user accounts or Admin user accounts?

George · May 15, 2013

Wrench:
Thanks for quick comment. These 2 are business (engineering) programs. Have tried install from both User with and without Admin privileges, and also from Administrator (hidden, enabled). Same balk.
Also ran sfc / scannow to be sure nothing lurked in windows itself.

Question: When I check Properties on the install file, and modify all users to have full access (still get balked installs), I get the warning box about permissions, but it is not clear if this is just for this file or becomes global. If global, that's asking for trouble and terror, I am told. Should I hastily rescind this permission?

Wrench97 · May 15, 2013

Yes but which version of Windows 7 x64 are they Home Premium, Professional, Ultimate, a mixture of all 3?
Compare Windows 7 - Microsoft Windows

Give the installer global perms from a full admin account, that will only apply to the installer not the program itself once installed.

George · May 15, 2013

Wrench:
The desktop and one laptop are both Windows Ultimate, and the other laptop is Windows Home Premium. Meant to include that in first post.

So should I look at the program file for the loaded-but-not-operating program the same way, i.e., set its permissions for all users to full control? I see that Authenticated Users and Users (computer name\Users) each do NOT have Full control, but SYSTEM and Administrators (computer name\Administrators) do show Full control as well as read, write, modify. But this configuration is also the same on the 2 laptops. Hmmmm.

George · May 17, 2013

George said:
Wrench:
The desktop and one laptop are both Windows Ultimate, and the other laptop is Windows Home Premium. Meant to include that in first post.

So should I look at the program file for the loaded-but-not-operating program the same way, i.e., set its permissions for all users to full control? I see that Authenticated Users and Users (computer name\Users) each do NOT have Full control, but SYSTEM and Administrators (computer name\Administrators) do show Full control as well as read, write, modify. But this configuration is also the same on the 2 laptops. Hmmmm.

FOLLOWUP 5/17/2013:

PROBLEM RESOLVED!

After using 5 different anti-rootkit programs and finding I am clean, I figured it was not some malware - something in Windows must be buggered. Solution: download a new Windows 7 x64 file from Digital River, and use UPGRADE INSTALL. Worked perfectly! Everything works. Hint to any who read this.

Wrench97 · May 17, 2013

Good to hear you resolved it, sorry I missed your last post :)

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Why CAD programs can be installed on some Windows 7x64 machines, but not others?

George

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Wrench97

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George

New member

Wrench97

Administrator, Hardware Expert

George

New member

George

New member

Wrench97

Administrator, Hardware Expert