William, The problem you are having is becoming a more common one. Your autoexec.nt is missing for some reason. Do a search for it on your computer and if you find it, move it back to c:\\windows\\system32. If you can't find it, you'll have to expand it off of your CD or find a copy on the internet somewhere.
There is a lot of speculation of why autoexec.nt files are going missing. Suspects range from adware to a virus to a Microsoft support patch gone bad. Nobody's really been able to nail it down just yet. It's not an AbsoluteTelnet issue exactly. It's a system-wide problem with the 16-bit subsystem within Windows.
Normally, this wouldn't affect AbsoluteTelnet, because it is a 32-bit application. However, the version of the installshield installer that I use is a 16-bit app and won't run if autoexec.nt is gone. The installer mentioned in this post was a test to see if I could get InstallShield to run in 32-bit mode (for a different reason). The install ran ok, but is not my longer-term solution.
Currently, I'm working on a 32-bit install solution using another product (Inno Setup: Inno Setup For now, just locate your autoexec.net file and place it back where it goes. Then, run the install for 3.50. Brian
That did the trick,
Thanks
I'm running XP pro SP2 and i have the autoexec.nt file on my system32 directory. Even after a fresh reboot i cannot install the 3.50 version . Please help! Your upgrade notification is annoying me 😀
Thanks in advance,
Patrick
Patrick,
Which error are you getting specifically? One of the side-effects of the autoexec.nt file problem is that it will often be removed AGAIN when you reboot.
Brian
the autoexec is not removed after reboot. Its still there. And i dont get an error message. I see the first unpacking stage of installshield and then nothing happens. Even after a fresh reboot. Anyway when i try to shutdown my computer after this, it's complaining about some 16 bits application not shutting down or something.
Thanks,
Patrick
I've developed a new install procedure using a different product (InnoSetup) instead of the old version of InstallShield I was using. The benefits are:
1. Smaller package - a full 1 Meg smaller than installShield. Installation file went from 3.3Meg to 2.3 Meg.
2. Faster, fewer prompts
3. Fully 32-bit - Eliminates installation 'hangs', 'autoexec.nt' problems, and other problems with the 16-bit Windows subsystem
4. InnoSetup is FREE and easy to use!!! Very cool for shareware developers...
AbsoluteTelnet Version 3.61 is the first version to be released with InnoSetup. As this process is still new, there MAY be other issues introduced by this product that will still have to be addressed. However, I've tested it with good results under Win98(English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese Traditional), Win2000, XP Home, and XP Pro.
If you have any issues or problems with the new install, please let me know!!! The first time your run it, you'll get two ugly popup message boxes that describes how it's going to uninstall the prior (InstallShield) version. Ignore this message box, it will be gone in a future version and is mainly there for verification and testing. Enjoy!
Brian
