xxx.exe is not a valid Win32 application
Having just upgraded from Vista to Windows 7 I now find that every .exe file I downl;oad and try to run returns the error message that the .exe is "not a valid Win32 application". I have run my ant-virus software in safe mode and that has not identified any virus. I have also run sfc/scannow and that has not revealed any system file problems. I attach a screen shot of the system information file.
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hpram99
Can you give links to some of the .exe files that you have downloaded?
It sounds like they are 16bit programs. Right click on the exe and choose "Troubleshoot Compatibility" and tell it to run like it is on XP.
ASKER
Links to the two exe files are:
http://www.avg.com/download?prd=isp
https://www.carbonite.com/manage/Download.aspx?Action=reinstall&packageid=932&
The second of these may not work for you because it is a reinstall link to a members' area.
Right clicking on the exe and going through Troubleshoot Compatibility does not help. They will not run as if on XP either.
http://www.avg.com/download?prd=isp
https://www.carbonite.com/manage/Download.aspx?Action=reinstall&packageid=932&
The second of these may not work for you because it is a reinstall link to a members' area.
Right clicking on the exe and going through Troubleshoot Compatibility does not help. They will not run as if on XP either.
These are not 16bit applications, and Compatibility Mode would not affect a "not a valid Win32 application" error.
Most likely your downloads are corrupted, especially considering the file is 110MB. If you download a smaller application (I'll use hashtab as an example: http://www.beeblebrox.org/HashTab%20Setup.exe) does that install fine?
If so, you can use hashtab to right-click your install file you downloaded and compare the Hash (CRC32) to the website you downloaded it from (if they give you a hash) I'll give you the CRC32 to the AVG installer when it is done downloading in 30 minutes - their server is slow...
Most likely your downloads are corrupted, especially considering the file is 110MB. If you download a smaller application (I'll use hashtab as an example: http://www.beeblebrox.org/HashTab%20Setup.exe) does that install fine?
If so, you can use hashtab to right-click your install file you downloaded and compare the Hash (CRC32) to the website you downloaded it from (if they give you a hash) I'll give you the CRC32 to the AVG installer when it is done downloading in 30 minutes - their server is slow...
As promised, here's the filename: avg_ipw_stf_all_90_697a172
CRC32: BFAAC197
This should match your CRC32 exactly.
CRC32: BFAAC197
This should match your CRC32 exactly.
Try this from an administrative command prompt (elevated)
regsvr32 /i SHELL32.DLL
regsvr32 /i SHELL32.DLL
Both those EXE files run fine on my comp running Windows 7 64bit....
You probably got some corrupted files.
You probably got some corrupted files.
ASKER
Sorry for the delay in replying, folks. I've been having problems verifying my email address!!!
First, hpram99, I tried to download the file you sent me and that would not run either. Then I looked at the file sizes of the files I've been downloading and, despite taking a long time to download in some cases, they all end up as 0 byte files. I ran the regsvr32 thing from the admin cmd prompt as you suggested arixsin and I got a "success" message but it hasn't made any difference. Where do I go from here?
First, hpram99, I tried to download the file you sent me and that would not run either. Then I looked at the file sizes of the files I've been downloading and, despite taking a long time to download in some cases, they all end up as 0 byte files. I ran the regsvr32 thing from the admin cmd prompt as you suggested arixsin and I got a "success" message but it hasn't made any difference. Where do I go from here?
If they are 0 byte files there is obviously something really wrong...Try downloading some other files from a different site?
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ASKER
Yes, clearly the issue is that downloading files is just not working. It doesn't matter which browser I use - I've tried IE and Firefox and the result is the same. And it makes no difference which site I download from. Basically since upgrading to Windows 7 I cannot download any exe file from anywhere. So what do I need to do to rectify that? Can anyone point me in the right direction? As it stands I have no anti-virus protection and no back-up since the I cannot download and run the files that govern both those things.
Hmm, you got other computers on your network that you can check if the same thing is happening? It's a long shot, but something could be wrong with your internet connection.
ASKER
Well, I don't know why but I've found an answer. Downloads all take place properly if I use Google Chrome but not when I use IE or Firefox. Clearly it is narrowed down to a browser issue. I intend to uninstall then reinstall those two browsers and see if that changes anything. I propose to accept multiple solutions from hpram99 and iWinSolveBust and share the points between you if that's OK.
Nah, hpram is the man, you can give the points to him.
ASKER
I asked the wrong question but hpram99 alerted me to what was really the issue.