There are two parts to the "high DPI" issue. The first is the settings you have for your machine. If the screen resolution you have set (usually what is recommended for the monitor), results in text or images that are just too small for you to see clearly, you might go to the setting to make the text larger. It is like a permanent zoom factor that makes older programs think you have a smaller resolution than you really do. I have mine set to 150%. There used to be a way where you could set the amount but I don't see that on my Windows 7 machine. I just see: Smaller (100%) the Default, Larger (125%), and Largest (150$).

Because these make the apparent resolution smaller than the default (for me 1920 X 1080), you may need to tell some (usually older) programs to ignore that scaling that is done because of that zoom factor.

In this case, it's a program by program basis. It is not EVERYTHING. Sometimes I don't do it because it makes the window larger than if I told it to ignore that scaling. This setting is found in the Compatibility tab of either the shortcut or the .exe for the product. It's a simple checkmark (that's saved int he registry) to ignore the high DPI scaling and use the actual resolution you have set.

Dragonlair, thanks for your comment! It's great to get more tips that cover additional successful software installation functionality.

To be clear, are you talking about turning off the high DPI scaling in the Windows Settings under "SYSTEM (Display, notifications, power)"? On my system it ("Change the size of text, apps, and other items") is set to 250%; and if I understand you correctly you change that to 0% for your games to work correctly?

If so, changing the system's display "settings" would possibly be an alternative to adjusting the individual application's (the game software's) "compatibility" Properties setting. I don't play games (so far), so I don't know if they are equivalent methods towards achieving successful game play.

Also, on this other thread:

Latest GAOTD won't install

https://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/414518

...among other ideas there is often mentioned this additional tip to achieve successful software installation if all other methods are not working: Restart (reboot) your system in "Safe Mode" and then retry the installation.

I used to have to sometimes do this when running Windows XP for successfully installing things that typically would directly interface with hardware, say, video drivers; but since running Windows 10 I have not had to resort to using this "more drastic" step (so far, which is probably why I forgot to mention it earlier!).

However, the more you know, the more you can achieve. Hope this proves useful.

FWIW, before seeing this thread, I have tried to consolidate most of my tips/steps I use for almost-always successful installations. Admittedly my "article" is a bit wordy/lengthy, and I've noticed a few additional tips in this thread (great!), but hopefully it might prove to be a useful read:

Installation tips; and dealing with tiny text, etc., on higher-DPI "4K" displays

https://www.giveawayoftheday.com/forums/topic/467145

Thanks for all your comments -- very helpful and interesting discussion!

I have found that 90% of my games I install (I go for the older "casual" ones, need the high DPI scaling turned off. I have found that the placement of that option, while still always under compatibility, changes based on the version of Windows being used. I know it's different for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 and I suspect its position changed again for Windows 10.

I often will set that flag even before I test the game -- especially if it's tangram or card game from MyPlayCity that was developed by 8Floor! I KNOW they won't work.

However, this problem is very easy to spot -- if the display is only partial or shifted to a corner and buttons are not visible right away, it's that problem. It's ONLY a display issue. It does not affect how the game works except that without it, you may not be able to use the mouse along the perimeter of the play area.

Just as a side note. There is one game that won't allow you to use that setting. "Murder, She Wrote 2" will refuse to open in this case, IF the font size is set over 125%. For some reason, it allows 125% (my 8.1 laptop) but flat refuses to do anything on my 7 desktop at 150%.

You can set the option with either the shortcut or the executable -- it works either way!

Good grief -- I forgot to mention a strongly-recommended basic precautionary step: Set a Restore Point and/or otherwise backup your system before performing an installation in order to be able to completely recover from a potentially "bad" system-altering/crashing program.

While such programs have become rare as GOTD-tested-and-offered titles, there have been some (such as some webcam or audio hardware monitoring/capturing/altering/modifying utilities, for instance) that have more-or-less made undesirable changes to systems that are near-impossible to remove without a "restoration" via Restore Points (not always successful) or from system backups.

Some other people with more advanced skills mention taking the alternative precaution of first installing the new software application in a "virtual PC" or within a "sandbox" environment where, if something goes wrong, all traces can be completely deleted as if nothing existed in the first place.

Then, if all goes OK, they will install it again permanently in the "real" Windows environment as we normally do.

Often the best protection is to wait until later in the offer period, then decide if the issues and problems as reported (and solved) by others are worth the risk and your time.

Frequently I have found myself repeatedly offering the same advice to other users struggling to get their offered-title-of-the-day installation working correctly. I thought I would join with others posting here in the forums and create yet another entry on this popular topic!

Here are my tips for successful installations, and others for dealing with some GOTD offers which, after installation, display with really tiny fonts, menu items, etc., on high-DPI displays:

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You may have had no trouble at all in the past installing GiveawayOfTheDay-offered titles, then something like a recent Windows update may have changed your installation experience even if your antivirus or other software has apparently not changed (with Windows things seem to always be in a state of flux!).

Many advise temporarily deactivating your anti-virus protection program for the duration of the installation. (While this may indeed prove necessary for some people's systems, fortunately I have never needed to do so -- having previously used Norton, MacAfee, Kaspersky, AVG, Avast, I am now running Windows Defender and free of the constant nagware for extra features!)

I will caution that you should carefully "vet"/screen/scan any other Internet-downloaded software (coming from sources other than the carefully pre-screened GOTD offers) with your antivirus tools; perform a search of the Internet for any reported problem alerts; and/or upload the installer file(s) to a service like VirusTotal.com to help ensure there is no malware/spyware/worm/"bot"/adware/etc. payload before installing when using these steps. To install software containing malware using the "Run as administrator" permission could really wreck your machine and/or result in identity or financial theft!

Before disabling your anti-virus product, try the following things to see if they help (as presented on my USA-English Windows installation -- things may be presented differently in your language?). Hopefully routinely following these simple steps will make your GOTD installations work successfully/reliably again:

1) Try "unblocking" the downloaded file if "blocked" (which is typical for most files downloaded from elsewhere) before extracting/copying the Setup.exe, Readme.txt, and/or other files for installation -- it may help:

After downloading/saving the GOTD file, right-click on it (whatever type it is, ZIP, EXE, etc.) and select "Properties". (Do this even if the file is instead downloaded from the developer's site as a result of clicking on a link in a registration e-mail which some titles require.)

In the Properties window that appears, on the "General" tab, at the bottom below "Attributes" you frequently will also see the item "Security" (for files I download from this website it is almost always present). If you do see it there it will say "This file came from another computer and might be blocked to help protect this computer." (This may well be a source of your anti-virus program's alert, and for the well-intentioned but possibly-misguided advice to disable it.)

Simply click to place a checkmark in the box "Unblock", then click the "Apply" button -- you will see that the warning text will disappear -- then the "OK" button (next time you can simply click the OK button if you prefer). Again, it should be safe to do so since all daily featured titles from GOTD are carefully screened for malware before they are offered as file downloads to the public.

2) SHORT VERSION: For a more reliable installation experience, unpack/copy all the installer and Readme.txt files (from within the usual downloaded ZIP file) into an empty folder at the root of your C: drive, say, a newly created folder named "C:\INSTALL" or "C:\GOTD" or "C:\TEMP" -- your choice. (This is good practice for installing any software application.)

LONG VERSION: Some application software titles will install better when the installer (or "setup" file) is launched from your C: drive, and especially from within a top-level (or "root" level) folder. This ensures that there should be no issues with what is known as "folder depth" or "path length" where the reference info as to where a file is located in any sub-folder structure gets so long that the system cannot handle it, and so the installation fails.

A "scratch" folder is a file folder that is set up for occasional use. It gets its name from a "scratch pad" on which you might doodle down an idea or play with some numbers to get an answer before drawing/writing your formal answer elsewhere. The Windows system has many of these scattered all over the place for its own purposes (and which has given rise to the birth of an entire class of "utility" software -- such as Piriform's CCleaner "Crap Cleaner" -- to reduce the performance-robbing "clutter").

If you don't already have such a mostly-empty "scratch" folder set up for YOUR own purposes at the root of your C: drive (useful for, say, software installations!), create one and name it anything you like.

For instance, if there is not already a mostly-empty folder C:\Temp, make one. Or you could name it INSTALL (C:\INSTALL) -- it is entirely your choice for an easy-to-remember name. Try not to use a folder that already has a lot of unfamiliar or cryptic files within which would indicate something on the system is already using it.

Anyway, create (or choose) such a directory and copy all the installer/setup file(s) (or contents of the downloaded ZIP file) into it, then run the installation from that directory (following the directions in the Readme file).

Afterwards, when you are satisfied that the software works OK, you can easily find, select and delete those temporary installation files from your "scratch" directory to keep it cleaned up for next time.

3) SHORT VERSION: I have had consistent success with these GOTD software titles by running/launching the installer file (typically Setup.exe) as an "Administrator" which temporarily lowers protections.

To do so, right-click on the installer file, then select "Run as adminstrator". Proceed with the installation (but first see next step).

LONG VERSION: You may find it necessary to right-click on the setup file and choose to "Run as adminstrator". When an installer is launched this way it grants access permissions/privileges to the system to relax some security rules that might be preventing the installation from proceeding normally.

Again, featured titles offered by GOTD are carefully screened for malware and should be considered safe for granting such permissions (although there still may be undesirable "nagware", "ad-ware", promotional material, possibly "report-back-ware" perceived as spyware, etc., that the title might include as part of the installation -- but the presence of such fluff is what the GOTD user community is good at discovering!).

IMPORTANT: as with suggestions to "temporarily disable" your anti-virus/anti-malware protection during installations, similarly you should NOT get in a habit of using "Run as administrator" when installing just any old random software you download from the Internet -- that would be a really easy way to get infected with malware!

4) After the installation is complete, there is often a checkbox (pre-checked) with the offer to go ahead and "launch" the software application. At this point the installer file is still running and will continue to run if the application also begins running.

Although this is intended as a convenience, I usually UN-check this "convenience-launch" box before proceeding for the following reason:

If the above 3rd step was followed to install the new software (and you then chose the "convenience" launch) you would continue to be temporarily running as an "Administrator" when the new application appeared on screen.

Any registration info you then enter may be tied to the temporarily-enabled "Adminstrator" account.

Later, when you next re-launch the application as an "ordinary user" you may discover that it is no longer registered, and it may be too late to try and register again under the GOTD registration/activation rules! I believe this may be source of some posted complaints.

I prefer to finish the installation (including the typical return to the GOTD website for the "thank you", "please share" window, or to the developer's website for a post-install discount-buy offer, etc.) without launching the new software. Simply uncheck the "launch/run" box and complete the installation.

Then, when the installer (and any other stuff it may have launched in turn) has been exited (which ends the temporary "Adminstrator" status), I launch the new software as an ordinary user from any of its proper icons in the traditional way: in the Start menu, QuickLaunch icon or from the desktop icon, etc. I then register/activate and have had no problems afterwards.

5) If the installation seems to proceed without error, yet the application still will not launch or work correctly, try restarting your system. Often that finalizes the installation and it will begin working correctly.

6) Sometimes (but not always) it works to download the software direct from the developer's website, then using the GOTD activation program or registration key code; but do try the intended GOTD download first.

----------------

If none of these general "tips" work for you (and I've likely missed including a few others -- sorry!), and no other suggestions in the GOTD comments have helped, it's probably time to give up and uninstall any non-working titles. I suggest using a good, free, safe, reliable uninstaller (like Revo Uninstaller) to ensure most of the left-behind traces are removed.

Following these steps I've rarely been unable to successfully install a GOTD offer. That doesn't mean the software will perform without issues -- some newly-released versions/editions of titles simply are "not ready for prime-time" and we GOTD users are apparently their test-bed experimental guinea pigs!

----------------

Also, in "Options" or "Preferences" be sure to look for and disable any automatic update setting that would likely result in later deactivation/unregistering actions.

----------------

Some software application programs are not yet written with code capable of being high-DPI aware, and the tiny/small fonts/windows/objects will display incorrectly/improperly on higher-resolution so-called 4K video display monitors.

To help deal with these installation issues, Windows 10 has the ability to help deal with this "Compatibility" problem as follows:

On my 3840x2160 pixel laptop a few aspects of many offered GOTD titles appeared very tiny, while with others the "objects" in the application's window (menus, buttons, info blocks, column headers, etc.) sometimes appear jumbled on top of each other to the point of not seeing everything as intended.

This matter can often be easily solved by right-clicking on one of the icons used to launch the application; then

select "Properties";

select the "Compatibility" tab;

under "Settings" click to place a checkmark in the box for "Override high DPI scaling behavior. Scaling performed by:";

from the little drop-down menu just below, select "System" (or later re-try "System (Enhanced)" -- whichever ends up working better for your system);

click the "OK" button (or "Apply" then "OK" if you prefer -- it should not matter);

...and re-launch -- it should display much better.

-----------------

To GOTD and its generous title developers: Thanks for this wonderful web site -- I've been using it for years to discover many useful applications, and also to sometimes learn new skills from the other user-commenters!

You could setup a directory like "GOTD Downloads" which would be used to hold the downloads and the extracted files. Then, set an exclusion for "GOTD Downloads" plus all sub-directories. That would work for most anti-virus programs. Note, however, that you should never download programs from other sites to "GOTD Downloads" because those downloads don't have a long reputation for "virus and malware free" behind them. Any program that you execute from an "excluded directory" will be ignored by your security system.

The above would not work if you're using Kaspersky. The GOTD installer will not run if Kaspersky is present at system startup. Disabling it doesn't work, nor does setting an exclusion.

FWIW, I don't install many of the GOTD offers anymore but the last one I installed required me to disable my security for the first time. I had never had a problem before. However, between that GOTD installation and the prior one I had installed a new version of the anti-virus program (Avast!) and installed a number of Microsoft security updates. I don't know which one caused the problem or if was a combination of several discrete changes.

Rather than turning off the anti-virus completely, can anyone tell me what the filepath is so I can add it to the exclusions list of my anti-virus program?

What I find so strange is that I was able to download with no problem until one day without my changing my anti-virus program, it just stopped working. I have the same issue as jgf and many others.

Thanks.

jgf, if you haven't resolved the problem then you'll need to disable your security for the time it takes to install the game. You don't need to download it again.

However, temporarily disabling your security doesn't work for some security software (Kaspersky for example) which will either require you to:
(a) boot in "safe mode with networking", install the program, and reboot normally, or
(b) disable the program's "auto start" in the general settings, reboot, install the program, then manually start the security software (and set the "auto start" back on).

In addition, Zemana AntiLogger and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware are known to cause problems with some installations. If you have one or both installed then you might try disabling the active monitoring and see if the game will install.

Had the same issue with today's Beetle game. Never could get it to install. Setup runs briefly, goes immediately to the "software informer" screen, I close that and a browser tab opens to the giveaway page stating "successfully activated" ...but nothing was installed. Downloaded again with same results. Never had this problem in the past.

(Couldn't post in the comments section, get a red "wrong parameters" message when trying.)

The problem you are having is security software related. You need to disable your security software temporarily and install the game after that. After that you can re-enable your security software. Your security software is mistakenly blocking the files because the files are secured using themida wrapper protection. The themida wrapper is sometimes used to conceal viruses in downloads. Thankfully that is not the case with this site. I have installed a huge amount of the giveaway games on my various windows 10 computers. Also make sure you clicked the setup.exe file in the download after unzipping the folder that files are in to install the games. Hope this helps.

I have that same problem on my laptop running windows 10. the folder with the game shows the gcd as a blank page and windows 10 has no program associated with it. I have not been able to download any of your programs since I got this laptop. it says it's installed but like the others it's not there. the actual programs menu to install never shows.

Your security software is preventing the installation of the program. Right-click on the Avast icon in the bottom right of the screen, select "Avast Shields Control, Disable for 10 minutes" from the menu(s) and try the installation again. You don't need to download the file again.

When it installs, right-click on the icon and re-enable the shields.

I have windows 10 on my pc and avast for antivirus. It's been a while that i try to donwload a programme or as today a game and though it seems like it is activated it isn't installed on my pc.Of course i follow the guide, extract all the zip file in another one with all its files and run the setup.exe but no isntallation takes place. Any advice? Thank you.
'

If you search the forum you'll find that a number of people started having trouble with AVG last fall. The solution was download the GOTD program, then do a "safe boot with networking", install the program, and reboot normally. However, you might still be able to use a startup manager to disable AVG, reboot, install the program, and then manually start AVG.

GOTD programs are generally Windows based. Most will probably install in Linux using WINE but it might take some effort. You can easily install them in a VirtualBox or VMWare Windows VM using a more manageable security system (or no security as desired).

Correction; I'm using AVG Antivirus free edition. Win 7 os.

What other os platforms is GOTD compatible with? Linux, BSD? Virtual OS?

You're saying 'Setup' application file is the .exe file?
Yes, it's an efficiency improvement. Instead of looking at one column and seeing "setup.exe" you look a two columns and see "setup" and "application", combine the data and get "setup.exe". Two columns is binary, so it's better. To change, try entering "Folder Options" in a search box (or open "Folder Options" in the Control Panel). Click the "View" tab, and uncheck "hide extensions for known file types".

I double click the application file (key icon), a few seconds, a 'Successfully Activated' screen shows. (that is all)
Which means the setup is aborting at (4) and it's either a problem with your security stopping the installation or the application not liking something it finds on your PC. Since it appears to be happening on a lot (or all) of the giveaways it's likely either your security or account credentials. If you can install other programs then it's probably not your account credentials.

I also have and use Avast free edition.
I'm running Windows 7 and an older version of Avast. I'm a slow updater these days so it may not be that similar. The error log for Avast should be in C:\Users\All Users\Alwil Software\Avast\log but you should also check Event Viewer (type "Event" in a search box to find it).

Did you recently upgrade to Windows 10? If so, have you verified that both Windows Defender and Avast aren't running?

One other thing you might try:
open an run box (windows key and "r" key), enter "msconfig.exe", click the "startup" tab, uncheck "avast!", click "apply" and reboot the PC. It's not quite a "safe boot" as the avast services will probably still load but see if the giveaway will install. If it does then you'll know where the problem is. Afterwards, open "msconfig" and recheck "avast" and "apply". You don't need to reboot at that point, just double-click the Avast program icon to start it.

You're saying 'Setup' application file is the .exe file? I double click the application file (key icon), a few seconds, a 'Successfully Activated' screen shows. (that is all)

I also have and use Avast free edition. Had no problems with seeing and activating the .exe file in the past, only when an email input was needed, now .exe file appears missing or hidden.

With a Windows os or Avast security, what is the best way to review the security log; then correct viewing the .exe file?

I'm not sure what you're asking but I'll type ahead and maybe it will answer your question.

2) Setup (application file, key icon) would display as "setup.exe" if you changed the folder settings. To install a program you need to run "setup.exe" and then follow the instructions in the "readme.txt" file, which in most cases tells you to insert the provided license for the software.

Setup.exe does several things:
1) it checks for an internet connection
2) it determines if the giveaway is valid (date/time check)
3) it unpacks setup.gcd to memory
4) it calls the application installation routine
5) and finally it opens a window giving the good news about having installed a new program.

Setup.exe will display error messages and abort the installation if (1) there is no internet connection, (2) the giveaway is no longer valid or (3) the file manifest for the unpacked application is not correct. You don't get an error if (4) fails. Unless (4) hangs or crashes your system you will always go to (5). Seeing (5) means nothing other than the program installation routine was called by setup.exe and your PC survived the process.

In your case, it's most likely that your security is preventing the installation. The GOTD wrapper normally blocks error messages (it's designed to prevent "reverse engineering" of the installation process) but you might check your security log. Some security problems appear during (3) when files are quarantined and a "setup files are corrupt" error message is generated. Other security problems occur in (4) when you see what you're seeing.

You didn't have the problem before because you were using different security software. You might switch back to whatever you were using. FWIW, I use the free version of Avast! and it works fine.

View options include various icon sizes, list, details, tiles, content. I viewed them all, they all have 3 files. 1) Readme (text file) 2) Setup (application file, key icon)
3) Setup.gcd

Is exe. within the application file? (extract?) Or a firewall issue? (configure; allow certain settings?)

The files you listed above: 1) Readme; 2) Setup; 3) Setup.gcd are really: 1) Readme.txt; 2) Setup.exe; 3) Setup.gcd

You're using the default explorer mode of "hide extensions of known file types" so you don't see the txt or exe extensions. GCD is not a known file extension so it's visible. You can change the mode via the "View" tab in "Folder Options".

More or less; same, once you extract the archive you get a more direct .exe file to install the program. Now, .exe files appear at times, varying from user to user.

Is Setup.exe within 'Setup.gcd'?; because when I double click: Setup (key icon), a message just shows: You've activated the program.

Is there a freeware gcd program to open Setup.gcd? (or why isn't there a Setup .exe file?)

As another alternative, can daily software providers have a direct GOTD link on their webpage or a link from your page to download the .exe install file?

is there any way to revert back to the original direct download file?

The readme file tells you how to install the program. The instructions are generally "Unzip the package you`ve downloaded and install the software by running Setup.exe, then register the software using the registration key provided."

In the past, GOTD had a direct download link that included an exe. file. (direct program install)

Now, they feature an 'email input' signup.

As an example, the latest giveaway is called: Aiseesoft Screen Recorder.
Extracting and opening the email download shows 3 files.
1) Readme
2) Setup
3) Setup.gcd

Is the exe. program file contained within the gcd? A quick online search shows that gcd can be opened up with programs such as isobuster. (paid program)

Now perhaps your site has been spammed with too many spam posts; spam users, or spam emails, though is there any way to revert back to the original direct download file?

Consider that people have different os's, cleaning software, firewall configurations, etc, this might make things easier, simpler, overall less hassle.

Before doing a Repair Install, let's try something less drastic:

Open your file manager and see if msconfig.exe is in c:\windows\system32

If it is, then open a run box (windows key + the "r" key), click the browse button, navigate to c:\windows\system32 and select msconfig.exe, click OK and you should be able to get to "safe mode with networking".

This article, Windows Cannot Find Msconfig, tells you what to do if msconfig.exe isn't present or if you want to change the App Path so that Windows can find the program. The path you list above is the correct path so maybe the file has always been missing.

You might want to run virus and malware scans. Your PC might have always had the issue but, if not, you might have something that needs attention.

Neither of the first two helped me, although I really appreciate learning some new skills, so thanks Chris! I have switched focus to Super moon/Eclipse mode, so will maybe have to try the last idea tomorrow or next day. Again, my thanks to GOTD team & Chris S, also Mikiem...really appreciate that you tried to help a noob and were so patient & kind. That's why I love this place and don't want to leave it. I'll keep you posted...

Susabella, three suggestions:

Your account might not have access to msconfig. Enter "msconfig" in the search box, right-click on the search result "msconfig.exe" and select "run as administrator" from the menu. If it works, give "safe mode with networking" a shot.

If it still can't find it, type "cmd" in the search box, right-click on "cmd.exe" and select "run as administrator" and enter "sfc /scannow" in the run box that opens. Note that you might need your system disk. The "System File Checker" will replace files that are corrupted and add files that are missing if they should be present.

Finally, you might need to do a repair installation. Make a full system backup first. Sadly, this isn't something you'd want to do in a rush so you might miss out of this game.

Dang. Not sure why, but I get this when I try to run Safe Mode: "Windows cannot find'C:\Windows\system32\msconfig.exe'. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again."

What happened to msconfig on my computer? I think I may have more serious issues...any advice?

Thanks for all your help....

Ok, looking at Event Viewer, I can see there are some errors and some security "audits" but can't seem to get much detail on when they happened (other than last 24 hours) or what program etc caused them...sorry to bug you guys again, but if you see this - and don't worry if not in time for this game because I know I'm posting late in the day - could you advise me a little on what to do next? Thanks!

Editing: OK! Figured out it's not errors based, I think - and possibly is security...I did disable AVG but maybe trying to run in safemode is the key. I thought I tried that, but will try again. Thanks guys!