Solidworks 2007 Programs and Windows 2000

[umbrau44]

As with many companies, we still have a significant number of computers running Windows 2000. They are old and cannot be upgraded to XP. They should be replaced but that won't happen for a while.

I have been trying to get the Viewer and Explorer installed on some of these computers. I was successful with the Viewer. I removed the check for Windows 2000 in the .msi file with Orca, and then added the gdiplus.dll file to the SolidWorks Viewer directory.

As for SolidWorks Explorer, there's something else going on there. I tried the same trick, but it failed. There was an error in the event viewer that said,
"A program run as part of the setup package did not finish as expected. ... Action Register_SA_sldwinshelextu.dll, location: C:\WINNT\system32\, command: regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Solidworks Shared\sldwinshellextu.dll" /s"

The reason that I wanted to install SolidWorks Explorer is for the picture previews in Windows Explorer. If there is another way to do it, I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Standing]

umbrau44,
We are running SolidWorks 2007 professional which comes with PDM Works. Too get to the vault SolidWorks is using SolidWorks Explorer. Try e-drawings as a viewer.

Bradley

 

[SBaugh]

SW doesn't support Windows 200 as I am sure you are aware... thats not to say it won't run on it... but if you can't get it to run, then SW will not help you, because it clearly sttes its not a supported OS anymore... Your company will have to probably bite the bullet and upgrade the machines or else they wasted their money on the CAD, because you need the right CAD to run the software.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[bsa11]

umbrau44

could you elaborate on editing the .msi file using Orca.
no experience in either, but we have the same problem with windows 2000. we would like to get the swx 2007 viewer to work on windows 2000 systems. i would imagine you edited the swviewer.msi file. i saw that you can download Orca editor but i was afraid to try until i know more. any help is apreciated. thank you!!!

 

[SBaugh]

I can bet if you edit the MSI file and you do get it installed it will not be supported... because if you can SW or your VAR with an issue you will have to tell them your OS and if you don't tell them what you are using and RX will show them the truth, so I think your Company should just get over it and buy the latest OS that is supported per SW recommendations and requirements.

Regards,

Scott Baugh, CSWP

http://www.scottjbaugh.com

faq731-376

 

[umbrau44]

Bradley: I will try the e-drawings viewer as well, probably tomorrow, but iirc, it doesn't do what I want.

SBaugh: I'm not trying to run the full Solidworks package on Windows 2000, I agree, that would be a waste if we were trying to do that. I just want the pictures in Windows Explorer for some people who are still on Windows 2000. And I'm not expecting support for any Solidworks programs that are running on Windows 2000.

bsa11: The first step is to extract the setup files using [insert favourite zip program]. Then open the Solidworks Viewer.msi file in Orca. On the left hand side, there is a section called LaunchCondition. There should be 4 entries there and you need to delete the condition called "Not (VersionNT=500)". The install should complete normally.
When you go to run the Viewer, it may say something about being unable to find gdiplus.dll. If this happens, search the computer for it. There are usually two or three in the Windows directory as part of .NET. Then copy the newest one into the Solidworks Viewer directory and it should work.

 

[bsa11]

umbrau44

thanks for the info. i'll give it a try.

 

[bsa11]

umbrau44

i downloaded Orca & edited my swviewer.msi file. that worked just fine as an example but i am running on XPpro.
can i now copy my swviewer.msi file to another system running windows 2000 & install viewer??? when i try to install sxw 2007 viewer on a windows 2000 system, it won't let me install - unsupported version. thanks for all!!!

 

[umbrau44]

I expect it to install on Windows 2000 after the .msi edits I described are completed.

 

[bsa11]

umbrau44

sorry for the interuptions, but i can't load the swx 2007 viewer from the 2007 cd on the windows 2000 systems - unsupported version. therefore i can not edit the .msi file. that is why i thought maybe i could copy the swviewer.msi file from my system (xppro) to another (windows 2000). do you think that will work???
thanks again!!!

 

[umbrau44]

Well, when you try to run it off of the CD, you're using an unedited version. I have the install program and modified .msi on a network share so I can run it from anywhere. However, you should be able to copy the directory with the modified .msi file to the Windows 2000 computer and then it should work.