Installation Errors at End of Setup with Freehand 4 on Windows 2000-Based Computer (250056)

SYMPTOMS

When you install Macromedia FreeHand 4, an error message appears at the end of the installation when you choose to have Setup modify your Autoexec.bat file. The message states:

Error carrying out the installation Internal error: Bad file position. 4646:16401

The program icon for FreeHand is present in the Start menu. However, when you try to start the program, another error message informs you that the program is missing .dll files (specifically, Aldncd.dll, Aldvm.dll, and Aldpls2.dll). Then the following error message appears:

Can't run 16-bit Windows Program - Cannot find file C:\FH4\FH4.EXE (or one of its components). Check to ensure the path and filename are correct and that all required libraries are available.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because FreeHand 4 does not process non-default situations, such as a zero-length Autoexec.bat file, a missing Autoexec.bat file in the root of the boot drive, non-default installation drives, and so on.

RESOLUTION

To work around this behavior, modify the path statement to include the Aldus folder specified in Setup. Follow these steps:

At the prompt about having Setup modify startup files, click Manual.
In the %Windir%\System32\Autoexec.nt file, insert (or append) a path statement to include the Aldus folder specified in Setup.

This allows 16-bit Aldus programs like FreeHand 4 to run after the 16-bit subsystem is restarted.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Installation Errors at End of Setup with Freehand 4 on Windows 2000-Based Computer (250056)

SYMPTOMS

CAUSE

RESOLUTION

STATUS