Cannot Install Pro 5 after installation of Trial -ACID Product Family

Subject:Cannot Install Pro 5 after installation of Trial Posted by: ericx Date:5/3/2005 8:46:10 PM Hello, I am new, and I need help. I downloaded the trial version and used it to determine that I need this software. So I bought it. I went to uninstall the trial and I get an error message saying that "Program Files" contains an invalid character. What? I have no problems with my Machine. P4, 3.2GHz, 2GB RAM, 800MHz Bus, 2 36G 10K drives, and 1 74G 10K drive. Lots and lots of programs, including many SONY products like Sound Forge and Vegas, and no problems with them. So I decided to delete the SONY Acid folder and its contents, including registry entries. Then I try to install the real product and I get a new message stating that a newer version (5a) is installed and then it kicks out of the installation with no modification. When I try to re-install the Trial version, I get the message about the invalid character. So now what? I cannot install the program I purchased. Please help me...if you can...
Subject:RE: Cannot Install Pro 5 after installation o Reply by: JohnnyRoy Date:5/4/2005 5:02:22 AM The unfortunate part is that there was no need to uninstall the trial in the first place. You could have just used your license key to unlock it. (good to know for next time, I’m surprised you didn’t know this from owning Sound Forge and Vegas) Physically deleting directories and registry entries is never a good idea because there are shared directories with other Sony products that you probably missed and the registry has data all over the place. I’ve done the same thing myself when programs would not uninstall properly so I don’t blame you but its always a gamble. Can you use System Restore to get back to a point before you uninstalled the trial? That should fix everything? (providing you didn’t turn off system restore) You might try getting a program that cleans the registry (e.g., Registry Mechanic). It will attempt to find entries for which there are no longer programs and delete them. This might solve the problem where the installation is claiming that 5.0a is already installed. As for your invalid character message, what language was your OS installed with? Perhaps there is an NLS character in the path name that is causing the problem? It’s odd that the ACID installer would give this error but the trial did not. Could your file system have gotten corrupt? Right now I think getting the uninstall cleaned up with a registry repair program is the first thing you should try. Always create a system restore point before you attempt to do anything. ~jr
Subject:RE: Cannot Install Pro 5 after installation o Reply by: ericx Date:5/4/2005 8:53:05 AM Thanks for your time on the Reply Johnny. No need to be surprised, you're not working with a Rocket Scientist here. I blame myself. I know just enough to get me in some real trouble. It's both exciting and frstrating. At any rate, I contacted SONY Support for ACID and they directed me to a Microsoft Windows Installer Cleanup Utility that can be downloaded from Microsoft's site. It worked and in a matter of minutes I was able to load and launch ACID Pro 5. I just want to note that SONY's Support people were kind and responsive. Though I think their support hours leave a lot to be desired, I do appreciate their efforts and ability to find a resolution. Thanks SONY.

Subject:Cannot Install Pro 5 after installation of Trial

Posted by: ericx

Date:5/3/2005 8:46:10 PM

Hello, I am new, and I need help. I downloaded the trial version and used it to determine that I need this software. So I bought it. I went to uninstall the trial and I get an error message saying that "Program Files" contains an invalid character. What? I have no problems with my Machine. P4, 3.2GHz, 2GB RAM, 800MHz Bus, 2 36G 10K drives, and 1 74G 10K drive. Lots and lots of programs, including many SONY products like Sound Forge and Vegas, and no problems with them. So I decided to delete the SONY Acid folder and its contents, including registry entries. Then I try to install the real product and I get a new message stating that a newer version (5a) is installed and then it kicks out of the installation with no modification. When I try to re-install the Trial version, I get the message about the invalid character. So now what? I cannot install the program I purchased. Please help me...if you can...

Subject:RE: Cannot Install Pro 5 after installation o

Reply by: JohnnyRoy

Date:5/4/2005 5:02:22 AM

The unfortunate part is that there was no need to uninstall the trial in the first place. You could have just used your license key to unlock it. (good to know for next time, I’m surprised you didn’t know this from owning Sound Forge and Vegas)

Physically deleting directories and registry entries is never a good idea because there are shared directories with other Sony products that you probably missed and the registry has data all over the place. I’ve done the same thing myself when programs would not uninstall properly so I don’t blame you but its always a gamble.

Can you use System Restore to get back to a point before you uninstalled the trial? That should fix everything? (providing you didn’t turn off system restore)

You might try getting a program that cleans the registry (e.g., Registry Mechanic). It will attempt to find entries for which there are no longer programs and delete them. This might solve the problem where the installation is claiming that 5.0a is already installed.

As for your invalid character message, what language was your OS installed with? Perhaps there is an NLS character in the path name that is causing the problem? It’s odd that the ACID installer would give this error but the trial did not. Could your file system have gotten corrupt?

Right now I think getting the uninstall cleaned up with a registry repair program is the first thing you should try. Always create a system restore point before you attempt to do anything.

~jr

Subject:RE: Cannot Install Pro 5 after installation o

Reply by: ericx

Date:5/4/2005 8:53:05 AM

Thanks for your time on the Reply Johnny. No need to be surprised, you're not working with a Rocket Scientist here. I blame myself. I know just enough to get me in some real trouble. It's both exciting and frstrating. At any rate, I contacted SONY Support for ACID and they directed me to a Microsoft Windows Installer Cleanup Utility that can be downloaded from Microsoft's site. It worked and in a matter of minutes I was able to load and launch ACID Pro 5. I just want to note that SONY's Support people were kind and responsive. Though I think their support hours leave a lot to be desired, I do appreciate their efforts and ability to find a resolution. Thanks SONY.