HELP! Could not open the file named: 'D:\ '.

This is an issue I've run into while trying to install Microsoft Softimage 3D 3.01 from the original cd, it comes up as the install is about to start. Searches don't really bring up anything, nor did I manage to get a clear answer from anyone else, so I thought someone here might know why this keeps happening. I've tried ripping it and installing from a file / folder, but the issue remains. Any thoughts? (Cd is scratch free)

 

Not for sure on this particular instance, but one thing to check out is disabling "Windows File Protection Services" if you are on a newer OS. That was how I was able to install a really old version of Windows. Running it in different windows compatibility modes may also help. (I'm assuming you are trying to install this on a modern os)

 

I'm presuming that D: is your optical drive?

Some programs won't install from the hard drive.

 

I'm using XP and Vista. Tried the compatibility mode already, but with no luck. I'll give disabling WFPS a go, once I figure out how to do that.
On a side note, version 3.7 installed just fine.

Oh, yes it is, sorry for not mentioning that.

 

didn't work :/

 

Since SoftImage 3.01 is from somewhere around 1994 or 1995 and 3.5 came out in 1996 for Windows NT. I can see you having a problem installing it.

 

3.01 came out in 1996 for NT. The irix version came out in 1994. Technically, I shouldn't be having any problems.

 

Your best bet would be to use some kind of virtualization software to get it installed, and then transfer the installed files out to where you need them. Most of the time I find crappy installers don't work, where most of the time the actual product works ok.

 

That's somewhat flawed logic. If it was designed for Windows NT, there's a chance it didn't even run on Windows 98 back then, let alone XP or Vista. I would assume you're using a modern PC, so again, the hardware might not be compatible. I appreciate your issue is before the program even has a chance to run, but there are lots of potential issues. Have you tried running it on an NT machine, or even a VM?

I know XSI required a licence server running on your network with a dongle attached, but I think that may have been a later feature. I never had 3.01 but always wanted it - would be interesting to know if you can get it to work. Keep us updated!

 

Yeah, it's a pain but setting up NT 4 in a Virtual Machine should allow you to install it.

 

I was using a system built in 2008 with vista at first to see if I can get away with using it in compatibility mode (some software such as lightwave 4.0 work flawlessly) but since It failed, I went and got an older PC to use with NT, but for some reason, the OS just didn't want to start installing (I'm guessing faulty CD). So I was left with trying it with XP, however, that didn't change anything. I've yet to try it with a VM, as I couldn't find the time to do it yet. Hopefully, I'll get around to it during next week.

 

One option might be a virtual drive, that way you can upload the CD contents and label the virtual drive as "D" drive; and install off that. The idea of a virtual drive back in the day was to make the OS think you had an additional drive unit in your computer with the disc present.

 

So, ladies and gentleman, after numerous tries, different operating systems and hardware, let me present you with the following conclusion:


Yep. It doesn't work. The exact same error keeps happening no matter what. I've been desperate enough to talk to M$ about it, and while they did try to give me suggestions, they didn't say anything new, and practically told me to pirate the software (lol?) and see if that works. Well, it doesn't.

Apart from that, the fact that Virtual Machine didn't want to install on a supported system, but did on an unsupported one, just makes me cringe. So here I am, owning legal software, that just doesn't work. What the hell.

So, what about "backups" of other versions? 3.7?


Yep. It works. With or without virtual machine. *sighs*

So, what I currently know from either research or whatever:

-3.01 just doesn't work, same error with different conditions
-no dongle (not confirmed, but answers from different people hint at that)
-Doesn't install from the cd, iso, file, flashdrive, or an unrelated backup
-Doesn't install on XP, Vista, 7, NT on a virtual drive

-3.7 & 4.0 work, even on later operating systems, natively on XP, on vista with virtual NT
-3.5 and the followup software use a dongle, but it's not needed for installation
-3.0-4.0 versions were all made for NT & IRIX

-M$ trying to be helpful, but as clueless as anyone else (they also own the rights to the 3.01, 3.5, 3.7 versions)
-Avid owns 3.8-4.x, DS and early XSI versions, and actually help out with licensing issues related to vintage stuff
-Autodesk owns the last numerical XSI 7.5 and the current brand, only gives support to 'subscribed' users (separate monthly fee for support) and only cares about the last few versions, even from their own lineup

If there's anyone that still has some sort of suggestion on how to get this damn thing to work, I'm all ears.

 

without having the iso, cant really help.

 

Copy contents of installation disk to a folder on your hard drive.

Make a new file in that same folder called "test.txt"

Open a command prompt in that same folder

type in:
rename test.txt " .$"

Run setup

 

maybe watching what files the installer is trying to access can be useful to debug. I used a m$ soft called filemon, i don't know if it will work on older windows

 

Wow, thank you so much, that helped. It works, and installed neatly. Not sure why we needed to do this though, seems weird.

Also, it looks like it needs to be licensed for the individual system, but I'm not exactly sure how, I'll try to dig up some info on this (several things are different with 3.7 in this regard, folders, env. variables ).

 

Well, that's good to know, although that licence is probably going to be an issue. Your problem is that it's technically not a legal copy - it was for the original purchaser, but their licence probably prohibited reselling. That said, you might find that Autodesk don't care about that version and might help you out. If they can be bothered, of course! Autodesk own the rights to every version as they bought out Softimage, Co. Microsoft and Avid might support their versions of the software as a goodwill gesture, but the rights went with the name.

Is there such a thing as a pirated copy of 3.01? Can't say I've seen one.

 

Well, it's more like a rip off another cd i guess, with some differences, but there's no crack for it, or atleast it doesn't come with one.

Left one is the original cd I have.


The M$ rep I've talked to said he can see that they own that version. And I remember trying to see if I could register the product with Autodesk, but failing, and reading somewhere on their site, that you're not allowed to use previous versions, unless you own them, and have a serial (which makes sense). Unfortunately, with Softimage, Autodesk states that you can only request usage back 'till Softimage 2011. So if you happen to own a 2010 license, they won't care, as they only provide support 'till 2011.

 

To get it to work, you need a license file (normally called SOFTIMAGE.LIC) and the matching hardware key. You also need to install the sentinel drivers so that the vendor daemon can read the serial number.

The dongle serial number should be marked on the key - if you open the license file and look at the first line it should say something like:

SERVER myhost ID=12345 744

The number after the ID= is the dongle that the license file was intended to work with - note that you can alter the hostname bit in that file, but don't alter the ID number because it's baked into the checksums on the FEATURE/INCREMENT lines.

I also seem to remember that the official SoftImage vendor daemon (normally in C:\SOFTIMAGE\FLEXLM\SOFTIMAGE.EXE) would only accept hostids based on the dongle - although there was a hacked one floating around that would accept MAC addresses or hard drive serial numbers, which made generating bogus license files a lot easier.