Please Help. Arcanum Installation FAIL

I have a problem. I got the original Arcanum on 2 CDs, but i cannot launch the game. When I go to install Arcanum the first CD works fine, then asks for changeover and when the bar reaches the end I get an error message:

Error 1305. Error reading from file:
D:\Sierra\Arcanum\arcanum2.dat Verify that the file exists and that you can access it.

I looked around the net for solutions but could not find a definitive answer to this issue. Most deal with a downloaded version of the game and once it actually starts. My game does not even install.

I found a post on this forum, which mentions a manual unpack of the CD contents, hinting to a comprehensive description earlier in the forums, but that is years and years back and i cant find it.
http://www.terra-arcanum.com/phpBB/view ... hp?t=13953

Can someone please help??? I only played the game once years ago and never even finished it. Now I cant even get it to start.

 

I think the file arcanum2.dat is corrupted somehow. I have managed to install the game by copying all the files from both cds to one folder and using 'JFileRecovery' to move arcanum2.dat in place. But it does not patch the file and copies it with holes, which only enables me to run the game and see the first 2 opening screens Sierra and Troika...then jumps out to desktop...so frustrating

can someone just upload their clean arcanum2.dat file so i can download it...

I really cant think of any other way to fix it...

 

What operating system are you running? Also, have you tried cleaning the cd?

 

I tried cleaning it didn't really help much. I had the same problem maybe six months back and i posted in various forums and never got a solution so gave it up, but now i really wanna figure this out without having to download the whole thing over again. Had a look around online just for that file alone but its not available unless you download the full game.


Win XP Professional Version 2002, Service Pack 2

 

Well, firstly, you need to update XP. Massively. Secondly, while I am happy to provide troubleshooting information, and help people get the game running, I'm reluctant to upload files, out of a concern of it being considered illegal filesharing... and the fact I don't know that Vorak would approve, and we all want Vorak's approval.

 

I think this is a genuine case of man the fuck up.

 

its all good now got the cd cleaner and scratch filler and then ran the files manually from hd to install...thanks for your help