Whenever I try to run setup extracted from the zip file here, I get a popup saying “Failed to launch the program.” and setup disappears without installing anything. So I miss the offer. But when there is a normal setup file and an Activation file, the software installs and is activated & registered perfectly. What am I supposed to do? Before, there was no such problem but since about a month, this is the case each time. Did GAOTD change their setup.gcd files or what? Anyone has the same problem (and/or a solution) maybe? Thanks for any suggestions. (Yeah, I am the admin and the connection is there, IE is working and it is Win 7/64.)
"Failed to launch program." errors
(15 posts) (8 voices)-
Freelancer
MemberPosted 9 years ago # -
ChrisS
AdministratorAFAIK, the wrapper hasn't changed.
I think your issue has been reported before but I don't think it was ever resolved. A big part of the problem is it every program of the problem type or is it every program of the problem type that you've tried? I don't install many and I don't pay any attention to the installation method.
It may be a simple matter of your PC not meeting the program's minimum requirements.
There have been a number of reports in the past few months that turned out to be related to the security software. So the first thing I'd try is to boot in "safe mode with networking" and try to install the program. If it installs then you've got a workaround, if it doesn't then you've eliminated not just the security software but everything else that loads above the minimal "safe mode" boot.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Freelancer
MemberThank you for the suggestions, ChrisS, but...
1) I don't know how to do anything in Safe Mode and I do not dare,
Furthermore, I think it is not necessary because;2) My laptop is topnotch, so it cannot be a problem of meeting requirements. I have over 1000 software installed, only a 3-4 caused problems with DEP sofar, nothing else.
3) I have the same AV software (AVG) since 2 years and never had problems with GAOTD installations until recently, and yes, I install many (some I uninstall afterwards, but I do not use any virtual drive) and thus, before, EVERY setup from GAOTD site worked, now, NONE of them work, with always the same popup saying Failed to launch the program.
The only difference in my system "MAY BE", I have recently installed AVG's Tuneup Utilities and that, you can never turn off or deactivate, not even through Taskmanager, so do you think that this SW might be causing the problem? I can only uninstall it, then I might lose it, and the money paid for it would be gone, if I cannot reinstall it and it still doesn't solve my problem.
Any more suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Posted 9 years ago # -
ChrisS
AdministratorYou might pay attention to who publishes the software that won't install. It may well be that the installation method is now unique to "Bob's Software" and its various wholly owned subsidiaries. Your problem may be with the installer that "Bob" uses and not with the wrapper. It may also be that the failure is always on similar type software from independent providers and that installation conflicts with something already on your PC.
The wrapper prevents any error messages from the installer passing to the user so what looks like the wrapper may be something else.
If either of those are the case then you could try to install the trial version of whatever GOTD installation failed and see if it installs. Ideally, it would fail with an error that when fixed will allow the GOTD program to install.
The only other suggestion is to make sure you close all programs, including your browser, before attempting the install. You might be experiencing one of the rare cases where it actually matters.
The only difference in my system "MAY BE", I have recently installed AVG's Tuneup Utilities and that, you can never turn off or deactivate
If all else fails and the GOTD program is important to you then a system backup is your friend. Backup the system, uninstall the utility and test the install. Evaluate the result and then either restore the backup or not.I suspect that you could turn AVG's utility off with a startup utility that will prevent if from starting (Ccleaner has one, or you could use Autoruns)
Another solution is a VM if you have a spare license.
Posted 9 years ago # -
rrodken
Blocked@Freelancer, I would try uninstalling Tuneup, or stop it from starting with Windows. The only reason is I used to have the same problem and I never did figure it out, but I used to wonder if it was because I had Tuneup installed and it would start with Windows (I used Styler). I now have a new pc with Bitdefender and no Tuneup Utilities and haven't had a problem since.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Freelancer
MemberI was away so I could not respond. Thank you guys for all the tips, I will first try to close everything, and then try to stop TuneUp's starting and then,if still no good, give up, I guess. I am just afraid if I stop TuneUp from starting, could I cause some problems during booting of my PC. How deep is the entanglement of this evil program? Anyhow, I will let you guys know what happens, when there is a program worth installing from GAOTD again. TC
Posted 9 years ago # -
chinaboy
MemberI have the same problem as Freelancer, I have downloaded may programs from this website without any problem, but since a month I am getting this “Failed to launch the program” message.
My PC has not changed; the same essential programs, the same browser every test: topnotch PC.
I have stopped all extensions, the anti-virus, and also uninstalled TuneUp utilities, but no change.Posted 9 years ago # -
chinaboy
MemberNow I downloaded the trial version of the AntiLogger from the Zemana website and that download installed without any problem. Earlier I had the same problem with the Project Lass give-away and now I downloaded and installed it without any problem from the sellers website.
It seems to be a problem with the way the Give-Away is being constructed?Posted 9 years ago # -
ChrisS
AdministratorIt seems to be a problem with the way the Give-Away is being constructed?
The problem is likely with how your security software interacts with the Thermida wrapper that GOTD uses to ensure it's a "Giveaway of The Day" instead of a "Giveaway of Every Day".You say
I have downloaded may programs from this website without any problem, but since a month I am getting this “Failed to launch the program” message.
but the wrapper hasn't changed so the fault lies in your PC. Your PC is not exactly the same machine that it was a month ago. You've installed and uninstalled programs, you (or your PC) has installed Windows and program updates. If you restore a backup from two months ago then the GOTD program will install without trouble.
My PC has not changedYou didn't say what security software you're using but Kaspersky seems to have a problem on a tiny, and possibly growing, number of PCs and the only workaround is to boot in "safe mode with networking", install the program and then reboot normally. It's not enough to stop the anti-virus, you have to prevent it from loading in the first place.
At any rate, my only suggestion is to try the safe boot. If it works then consider switching to one of the free anti-virus programs if you intend to install GOTD programs frequently.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Freelancer
MemberUpdate:
Just like Chinaboy, I used to be able to install everything without problems with setup.gcd before, now I cannot. Diabling or unisntalling anything does not work. I can install and activate when there is a normal setup file and an Activate.gcd, but not when there is no Activate.gcd and only a setup.gcd. ChrisS, I do not know if you are working for GOTD or just an educated/expert user, but I do NOT believe that the wrapper or whatever you call it has not changed, as it MUST have. Someone at GOTD fucked it up and now many people cannot install their giveaways. I do not know if it was on purpose or just by "fixing something which ain't broken", but I wish someone at GOTD would read this and REVERT back to how it was maybe 3-4 months ago. Or just get rid of that setup.gcd crap and use only Activate.gcd to keep track of the day of installation. They are turning their fans to frustrated haters. Pity.Posted 9 years ago # -
ChrisS
AdministratorI understand the frustration but it really is your problem to solve (and I fully realize how unhelpful that statement is). The problem impacts a very small number of people and it's almost impossible to troubleshoot a problem that you can't replicate.
Failing a real solution, the only known workaround is to boot in "safe mode with networking", install the program and then reboot normally (enter msconfig in a run box to select safe mode). The workaround prevents your security software from loading and, evidently, bypasses the issue for some people.
I have no idea if the workaround will work for you but you might give it a shot. Also, you say that your PC hasn't changed but I manually update my PC so I know how many Windows and Security Updates there have been over the past several months and there have been a bunch (and for last year... yikes!).
One other thing - you might run procdump and monitor setup.exe (or maybe setup.gcd) and see if the resulting failure gives you something to work with. I have no idea if it would work. You might also want to read How to use the Userdump.exe tool to create a dump file.
Posted 9 years ago # -
Tiffany
MemberI don't even use the setup.gcd and it goes in fine. When I have problems I will do what it says in the Read Me file and its no different. I will even change browsers to see if that works.
Honestly, I don't even know why its there. Maybe some folks need it. ???
I find that if I can not download it even from the publishers website, then I can not download it. Period. I hate messing with my computer as I know I will blow it up. Joking a side. :/
Posted 9 years ago # -
Re Tiffany "I don't even use the setup.gcd and it goes in fine. ... Honestly, I don't even know why its there. Maybe some folks need it. ???"
The .gcd-file is used by the .exe file with the same name before the dot. It contains the wrapped version of the installer or activator.
If you use MS Outlook, you can compare the .gcd file to the .pst file. You personally will never use/open the .pst file, but outlook.exe will. The .pst file is the database containing all your mail etc of your mail account.
If you drive a car, you personally will never drink the fuel in the gas tank of your car. But your engine will. No gas, no transportation. With the giveaway: no .gcd file, no installed giveaway.
Posted 8 years ago #
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