Digital Workshop

I recently developed a publication and produced a master copy containing a setup.exe file, auto run file and info word doc. Everything works fine on this master. However, having passed this on to a company for duplication I find that that the setup.exe file on these copies now won't open! Inserting the cds produces the message 'setup.exe is not a valid install file.' As far as I can see, this setup.exe file is identical to that on the master. The auto run and word doc files are fine - problem relates just to the setup.exe file. I can reproduce the master copy without problems on my own pc. I have worked with this duplication company before and never had problems on opus projects - any help, ideas greatly appreciated in order to solve this mystery!


Opus Pro 6

I'd start by ensuring that the setup file you have is 'identical' to the one received and burnt by the distribution company.

You need to check the hashes for each file and compare them. I recommend hash tab for this: http://www.beeblebrox.org

If the hashes don't match then the files didn't transfer correctly and it's simply a case of resending and confirming on the other end.

If they do match then let us know and we'll have to think of something else Can you also add a bit of extra info such as transfer method and whether you used an ISO container.

Regards,

Mack

Hi Mack,
I went and checked the hashes as you mentioned and found that there were not identical -

Master
CRC32: 56B3A19A
MD5: 627DE83A72B772A820CAE91DC9E0B07D
SHA-1: 1DD1E3069BD073EFF6AE16B6B8045E95AF411A0E


Copy
CRC32: 351836DE
MD5: 47D1E77F5EE99F9BCC25DAC87C13E021
SHA-1: 015A40E39DA74CEE1550D72E38D4EF40EECF946C

I hand delivered delivered the master copy on CD ROM and this was working before I handed it over for duplication. Could this have anything to do with anti-virus software on the duplication side?
Many thanks for your assistance,
DanielH

Hi Daniel,

If they don't match then yes, the file has been corrupted. If you handed the duplication company a working disc, then it would seem they have messed up some where.

As for it being the AV, I've never heard of this, but this doesn't mean it can't happen. If you've got the master and it doesn't match the copies, then the company should redo the discs.

Regards,

Mack

Hi Mack,
The mystery here is that the company have duplicated several cd roms for me, one since I had the corrupted file problems, and they've all worked fine. The company are adamant that they've done nothing different in duplicating the rogue setup.exe file.

Would republishing the publication and producing a new setup.exe file help?

Many thanks for all the help,
DanielH

Hi Daniel,

Bad logic, I think. Simply because something normally works doesn't mean that it won't fail once in the proverbial blue moon. From my experience, this is the more common situation for data corruption.

As for whether republishing is right, the answer is yes and no. Yes, it probably would help because it's likely a one off problem and giving them another copy should hopefully avoid the circumstances that caused the problem last time. If it fails again, then something more serious is afoot.

And No, because if there was nothing wrong with the master you gave the company, then technically there is no need to republish.

What are you trying to achieve from the exercise? To successfully burn the discs, to find the fault or to show where the problem occurred.

Regards,

Mack