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Installation and Setup Help

  1. What are the system requirements?
  2. How do I properly set my Virtual Memory Size?
  3. What if I get Main Database Open Error 3343 when I try to run?
  4. What if I get Run Time Error 429 when I try to run?
  5. How do I run the FileChecker?
  6. Microsoft Component Checker?
  7. How do I update my Data Access Components?
  8. Jet 4.0 Modules?
  9. How do I determine the Version of a .DLL file?
  10. How do I un-install my current version?
  11. What if the screen images don't fit my display or show all items?
  12. How do I register this software?
  13. How do I use the Windows Explorer to find files on my hard drive?
  14. What Windows Settings must I have to run the game?
  15. What if I try to install and I get a message: "The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications"?
  16. What if I get the message "Error attempting to establish file scripting object"?

What are the System Requirements?

Runs on Microsoft Windows® based PCs with:

CAUTION: We recommend that you disconnect from any Local Area Network when you run the Install Programs.

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How do I properly set my Virtual Memory?

A key requirement for a smooth running computer is to have your virtual memory sized properly.

Click on the Start button (probably the lower left of your screen), then choose settings, and then Control Panel. You should get a screen that looks like this:

Select the System icon and double-click it. Then choose the Performance tab and click on the Virtual Memory button. Choose the option: "Let me set my own virtual memory settings." You will probably get a warning - don't worry about it. Your screen should look like this:

Set the minimum and maximum to the same value - 3 times your physical memory in megabytes, assuming you have the disk space available. For example, if you have 64 MB of physical memory, then set your Minimum and Maximum to 192 MB as shown above. That tells the computer to allocate 192 MB of your hard drive as a "Swap File" so Windows 95 can use it to swap portions of memory in and out. By setting the minimum and maximum values the same you reduce disk fragmentation which eventually affects system performance.

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What if I get Main Database Open Error 3343 when I try to run?

If you get the above error it could mean the Horse Racing Fantasy database format is Access 2000 or later, but the Horse Racing Program is looking for the older version.  You will need to contact us for the newer version of the program.

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What if I get Runtime Error 429 when I try to run?

A small number of users may get a series of errors when the first load up Horse Racing Fantasy which prevent operation. One of the first errors might be:

Runtime Error '429' : ActiveX Component Can't Create Object

A likely cause for this error is conflicting data access components, which can happen if various software on your machine use different subsets of components.

Step 1. Run our InstallChecker and FileChecker problem analysis programs

Install Checker looks at the Windows version and data access components to recommend a particular Horse Racing Fantasy configuration. File Checker is similar but does a more extensive search of required system components and their versions.

For users of version 9.154 and later, the FileChecker should have been launched automatically upon a fatal error. If not, try to find it with the Windows Explorer and double click on it. It should be located at: c:\ Program Files\Horse Racing Fantasy\FileChecker.exe

If you are running an earlier version or you cannot find them, then, download the File Checker and Install Checker and then install them. Run the InstallChecker first, then the FileChecker. After installation you should find them at:

C:\Program Files\Horse Racing Fantasy\InstallChecker.exe and

C:\Program Files\Horse Racing Fantasy\FileChecker.exe

The FileChecker will display the message below before it generates an email for you to send to us:

Be sure to follow the above instructions before sending the email. We will analyze the information and get back to you with a fix. You probably just need a different version of the program.

Step 2. Run the Microsoft Component Checker (if directed to do so).

Perform this step only if we ask you to do so. This step runs Microsoft's Component Checker to further analyze your data access components.

a. If you originally installed from a CD, you should have a program on it called cc.exe. If so, run it as follows:

b. Otherwise, download Microsoft's Component Checker by going to the Microsoft Download Site and scrolling down until you see the Component Checker:

Click on the Component Checker tool link which will allow you to download cc.exe.

Running this cc.exe program will generate a c:\comcheck\ folder on your computer with several files and folders within it. Run c:\comcheck\ComCheck.exe to determine the version of access modules that you have.  Choose the first analysis option:

When the program completes you should get a message that looks like this:

The above message example indicates that the computer has MDAC Version 2.1. Other likely results are MDAC Versions 2.5, 2.6 or 2.7.  Contact us with the results you get.

If the above message says you have MDAC 2.1 or 2.5, then go to Step 3 below.

If the above message says you have MDAC 2.6 or 2.7, then skip to Step 4 below.

Step 3. Download MDAC 2.5 to insure component consistency.

Download Microsoft's latest data access modules to remove any possible conflicts between components. You must resolve these conflicts so that all of your software will work on your PC without causing other software to be inoperative. Applications that used MDAC 2.1 should still function with MDAC 2.5.

a. If you originally installed from a CD, then run mdac_typ.exe on your CD.

b. If you installed from a download, then go to the Microsoft free download web site and download the latest service pack version of MDAC 2.5. Do not download MDAC 2.6 or 2.7. Be sure to choose English. This upgrade is 6 to 7.5 MB in size, so it takes 40-45 minutes to download at 28.8 connect speed.

After running this install program Horse Racing Fantasy and all your other software should have consistent data access components. Skip to Step 5 below.

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Step 4. Download Jet 4.0 Modules not included with MDAC 2.6 or MDAC 2.7.

You should only be considering this step if you have MDAC 2.6 or 2.7 as determined in Step 2 above.

Skip this step and proceed to Step 5 if your Operating System is Millennium Edition (ME), Windows 2000 or Windows XP. The Jet 4.0 modules should already be installed when the Operating System was installed.  To verify, see the paragraph below. If any of the specified files are not found, contact us for instructions.

If you have Microsoft Windows 95, Microsoft Windows 98, and Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0 then first verify that you do not have Jet 4.0 already. Scan your hard drive to see if any of these files exist: msjet40.dll, msrd3x40.dll, msjtes40.dll. There are several other components but the existence of all three should give you confidence that you already have the Jet 4.0 modules. To search your hard drive, click the Start button (usually the lower left corner of your screen), and then choose Search, and then Files and Folders. Type in each of the three file names one at a time and perform the search.

If all three of these files exist, then skip to Step 5.

To install the Jet 4.0 Modules:

a. If you originally installed from a CD, then you may have the install program Jet40SP3_Comp.exe on your CD. If so, run it as follows:

Otherwise, go to Microsoft's Jet 4.0 SP 3 Download Page to get the download. If the link no longer works, then go to Microsoft free download web site and find the new link to Jet 4.0 components. Be sure to choose the English language version.  After downloading, run Jet40SP3_Comp.exe to install the Jet 4.0 SP3 modules.

Proceed with Step 3 below.

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Step 5. Manually Register scrrun.dll

Perform this step if the above steps did not work. 

Another possible cause for the 429 error is scrrun.dll missing or not properly registered on your system. You can manually register this file as follows:

You should get a message saying the request was successful: 

Then try again to run Horse Racing Fantasy.  If it still does not run, please contact us for more help.

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How can I determine the version of a .DLL file?

In some cases we may ask you to check the version of a component needed to run Horse Racing Fantasy, in order to track down a problem. The example below is how you would do this for the component scrrun.dll.

First, load up Windows Explorer.  To do this, right click on the Start button in the lower left corner of your screen, and then click Explore. Then find the directory C:\windows\system\ and locate the file scrrun.dll. In some cases you may have to look within the directory C:\windows\system32\ . Your screen should look like this:

Right click on this file to see its properties. Select the Version Tab:

Take note of the File Version. In the above case it is 5.0.0.3715.

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How do I un-install my current version?

Click on the Start Button which is probably in the lower left corner of your screen. The select Settings, and then Control Panel. Next, double click on Add/Remove Programs.  You should be presented with a list of software that is on your system. Scroll down to find Horse Racing Fantasy, select it, and click on the Add/Remove button. You will be asked to confirm that you want to un-install; click on the Yes button.

In some cases this will not completely remove all application components. Be sure to delete the C:\Program Files\Horse Racing Fantasy\ directory.

During the un-install process you may get the following message:

This indicates that some of the programs you have installed have conflicting ODBC resources.  In addition it may be the cause of Horse Racing Fantasy being inoperative. If so, check out how to correct this. 

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What if the Screen images don't fit my display or don't show all items?

If the screens do not seem to show all the text, or the text seems too spread out, you may have your display set to use Large Fonts. Horse Racing Fantasy requires Small Fonts be used. To change this, click the Start Button (usually the lower right corner of the screen), then click Settings, then Control Panel.  Double click the Display icon and select the Settings Tab. Set your Display Area to 800x600 (or higher), your Color Palette to High Color (or better), and the font size to Small Fonts:

What to do if you get the message: "The system file is not suitable for running MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows applications".

First, contact us and have us send you a valid Autoexec.nt file. It should be saved into the C:\Windows\Sytem32\ folder. Then try running the game again. If that does not fix the problem then try the Microsoft recommended fix.

What if I get the message "Error attempting to establish file scripting object"?

Try downloading this File Scripting Object install program and then try running the game again.

This is a simulation PC horse racing fantasy game only. Our horse racing games contain no real gambling.

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