Cannot install NwN via disc

[Legacy__Lamia_]

               Okay, so here's my problem. I decided to reformat my laptop due to an old installation of XP Pro SP3. After I installed it, I updated my drivers, and everything was hunky dory until I reached NwN' disc and it wasn't reading the disc at all. I hear a few clanks and then that's it. No disc in the drive according to Windows. This was a whole "o.O" moment for me because I had rei-installed it on my desktop for nostalgia and I've had it installed numerous times on this laptop. So I tried doing the thumbdrive trick and then the autorun finally popped up, after I had to force it to pop up (i.e. clicking). It's Diamond Edition. Anyways, the autorun popped up, music played and then quicky realized there was nothing in the buttons where it SHOULD say "Install" "Exit". I had to ctrl+alt+delete into the task manager and end the process because there was no way to quit the application. Then I ran the setup. The InstallShield came up saying it was preparing to install, then a text box popped up saying "Information!" and following that small short box I had an "Ok" button. No other dialogue. Just -that-. So I did some digging, and all my efforts have seem to be exhausted. I tried updating Windows Installer, my DVD/CD-RW drive, switching the disc drives to one that I know for sure works, nothing. The only disc out of my many many discs, NwN isn't read or recognized and I can't figure out why.

Here's my System Specs of everything on this ancient computer:
Windows XP Professional SP3
Intel Pentium 4 Processer
512 MB of ram
Disc drive is TOSHIBA DVD-ROM SD-R9012
ATI Radeon Mobility 7500

The laptop is an IBM ThinkPad T41 (to my knowledge, it's refurbished and that's what it says on the display screen, or at least the original had said, but it's of the T40 series for sure as the parts are interchangable).

I'm not sure if you need dxdiag or not, but if you do, lemme know. I'm scratching my head right now being the fact as this has never happened before and I'm just in a mood. Any help is much appreciated!
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_SuperFly_2000]

               You do know that you can buy the game, quite cheap, (for download) at GOG.com right?

http://www.gog.com/e...diamond_edition
               
               

               

                     Modifié par SuperFly_2000, 26 août 2011 - 12:35 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_NWN DM]

               Could simply be that disk is toast... it happens.

GoG is a great alternative (link provided in post above).
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_UrkOfGreyhawk]

               I've got one of those disc repair kits. It can fix pretty much any disc that's not scratched completely through, but they cost a lot more than a $10 GOG download.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy__Lamia_]

               Sadly it's not the disk because it installs on other computers. And I've tried buying it from GOG after I posted, I get the same issues above. Plus I even tried copying the files from the disk to a flashdrive, installs on other computers andthis laptop which has had NwN on it before, it still didn't work. The only thing I can think of is somehow something changed either registry wise, or something's up with InstallShield. So basically I know this.

1) It's not the disc because it installs on other computers flawlessly and it's in good condition.
2) It's not the drive because it can install other games and software flawlessly (Morrowind, webcamera software, etc)
3) GoG throws the same issues while trying to install.
4) Copying files via thumbdrive, same issues as above.
5) Tried my friend's NwN disc, same issue.

It's either that or some reason my drive isn't reading the format of the disc, which I'm not sure how to fix that. Tried uninstalling the drivers, reinstalling, even tried other drivers. Got the same result. Which is why I think it's InstallShield or a Registry thing. =/
               
               

               

                     Modifié par _Lamia_, 26 août 2011 - 03:36 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Birdman076]

               When you reinstalled xp did you do a quick format? I've seen it a few times on a quick format residual registry entries and core windows files were still on the system and causing corruption and in a few cases the same issues which necessitated an install in the first place.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy__Lamia_]

               Nope. In fact I had to delete the partition because of a corrupted installation of Windows. I would blue screen in the middle of re-format and that's what the guy I take my computer into told me to do. Everything was working like a charm after that until I went and tried to install NwN. o.O
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               What version of DirectX are you running?

Are you using the same drivers for video/sound that you did before the reformat?

Bear in mind that I am clutching at straws and would be just as dazed and confused as you are placed in the same situation. 
               
               

               
            

[Legacy__Lamia_]

               DirectX 9.0c and the same drivers for video and sound. Even tried changing those last night and no goats. I also installed it on the laptop through copying the directory from another PC and the game at least RUNS. However it still doesn't fix the issue of the disc. I was brainstorming last night thinking it might be the disc format and the way the images are read through the disc, but I've no idea how to fix that. But then that doesn't explain how it wouldn't install from a flash drive ir GoG's installers.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

_Lamia_ wrote...
DirectX 9.0c and the same drivers for video and sound. Even tried changing those last night and no goats. I also installed it on the laptop through copying the directory from another PC and the game at least RUNS. However it still doesn't fix the issue of the disc. I was brainstorming last night thinking it might be the disc format and the way the images are read through the disc, but I've no idea how to fix that. But then that doesn't explain how it wouldn't install from a flash drive ir GoG's installers.

The directory you copied, was it already updated to v1.69 when you retrieved it?  You may want to pay a visit to the registry to make sure it is pointing to all the correct places on the drive.  Occasionally (not intimating this is the case with your set-up, though it is possible), old registry values are not cleared out completely and then when you try to re-install you force the CPU to pick from a duplicate set of keys.  I'm not sure if a reformat wipes the registry along with the drive itself.  You may want to check it anyway.

edit: Blast! I just noticed Birdman mentioned the same thing.  So definitely check it then.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 26 août 2011 - 06:40 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy__Lamia_]

               When you delete the partition it deletes pretty much everything. It was updated to 1.69, which it runs just fine. The registry shows that it's not installed like it should. You'd have several subfolders under NWN and I just got the NWN and a few strings in there. So it shows that it never was installed, rather it shows that it was more or less copied (from what I understand). The NwN that I copied over runs and I can play it, in fact I'm in Amia now, but I still don't understand why it won't read the NwN disc. It makes nooooooo sense. xD

I dunno if anyone's ever had an issue like this. Been searching and I found something that might sound like my problem, but with the bioware forums down I can't seem to see everything, only what's been cached by google.

Edit: And no, I didn't quick format. I always use the longer, normal format.
               
               

               

                     Modifié par _Lamia_, 26 août 2011 - 07:04 .
                     
                  

            

[Legacy_Lord Sullivan]

               Do you have other oldies (old video games) CDs around the same time of NWN's release or prior?

I you do, try installing them.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy__Lamia_]

               Yes, and they installed correctly without a problem. '>
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_Lord Sullivan]

               Then I guess your laptop's Optical drive gets a rash when trying to read NWN's CDs for some reason.

Cause, with the clues you've provided, it just doesn't make any sense what so ever. I have XP updated to SP3 and I never had any problems installing NWN, in fact, I never had a problem installing NWN on Vista either, while quite a few people apparently had problems on Vista.
               
               

               
            

[Legacy_HipMaestro]

               

Lord Sullivan wrote...

Then I guess your laptop's Optical drive gets a rash when trying to read NWN's CDs for some reason.

Cause, with the clues you've provided, it just doesn't make any sense what so ever. I have XP updated to SP3 and I never had any problems installing NWN, in fact, I never had a problem installing NWN on Vista either, while quite a few people apparently had problems on Vista.

I would have suggested cleaning the optical drive or swapping it out but the OP claims to have had the same gliche trying to install the GoG version on this machine.  So, apparently it involves how the code is being translated by his CPU.  I still suspect a corrupted registry myself and would take the time to set it up properly.  Either the wipe was not complete or some infection occurred after the reformat.

I have experienced some apparently-unexplainable gliches with a musical CD which skipped one track on one player but played fine in all others but that won't explain installing from a file directly on the harddrive.

Sounds like the OP has entered the Twilight Zone '>
               
               

               

                     Modifié par HipMaestro, 27 août 2011 - 01:01 .