This page contains information to help you through difficulties you may have using the CD-ROM, and should be considered as a first step in solving any problems you may have. Most of the information on this page is also included in the readme_english.txt file located in the CD-ROM. However, you will find any late-breaking information here as well.

Running the program

On most Windows systems, the program will start automatically when the CD-ROM is inserted in the CD-ROM drive. If this does not occur, then click Start button-->run and type D:\vangogh.exe (Assuming D: is the drive letter for your CD-ROM drive).

If you have installed the program, you can run it by clicking Start button-->Van Gogh Browser-->Van Gogh Browser.

If you cannot find the "Van Gogh Browser" program group in your start menu, then you can start the program by finding the location that you have installed the program, then running StartVanGogh.exe. (If you cannot remember where you installed the program, click Start button-->Search-->For Files and Folders. Then enter StartVanGogh.exe in the search box.)

Oleaut32.DLL

Symptom

When trying to run the program in Windows 95, you receive an error message stating that your OLEAUT32.DLL file is out of date.

Cause

This problem only occurs on Windows 95 machines which have not been updated for Year 2000 compliance. (OLEAUT32.DLL is one of the files that must be updated for Year 2000 compliance on your computer.)

Solution

You can run D:\vangoghbrowser\comp_w95\dcom95.exe
(assuming that D: is the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive).

This will update your OLEAUT32.DLL file, and install other components necessary for running the program.

OR

You can learn about and download Microsoft's Year 2000 update for Windows 95 here.

Wallpaper

Symptom

On Windows 95, after installing MDAC components (to run the program), your Windows wallpaper is removed or constantly reverts back to a previous setting.

Cause

This issue is recognized by Microsoft as a bug in Microsoft's MDAC 2.5.

Solution

In D:\vangoghbrowser\comp_w95 there is a file called Rem_dlg.inf.
(Assuming D: is the drive letter for your CD-ROM drive)
Right click this file and click Install.

Error messages and other problems

Symptom

The program produces error messages such as Error 430, Error 429, or Error 3709 and then closes.
Or the program produces other error messages and then either closes or behaves unpredictably.

Cause

This is likely to occur if the program did not install its required components.

Solution

When prompted by the program, click "OK" or "Yes" when asked to install such components as DCOM95, MDAC, or the Visual Basic run-time files.

If for some reason, you were NOT prompted to install these components, then do so manually:

For Windows 95 machines, in this order run:
dcom95.exe
MDAC_TYP.EXE
vbrun60sp5.exe

These files can be found on the CD-ROM in this directory:
D:\vangoghbrowser\comp_w95\
(assuming D:\ is the drive letter for your CD-ROM drive)

For non-Windows 95 machines run
MDAC_TYP.EXE
vbrun60sp5.exe

These files can be found on the CD-Rom in this directory:
D:\vangoghbrowser\comp\

For Windows XP users please also see Windows XP issues

Windows XP issues

VB6 run-time files

Symptom

The application prompts you to install VB6 run-time files when it starts. After installing the VB6 Run-time files, the application closes. This is repeated each time the program starts.

Cause

This is a bug in the application caused by compatibility issues with Windows XP.

Solution 1

Click cancel or no when prompted to install the VB6 run-time files and the program should continue normally.

Solution 2

If you have installed the CD-ROM to your hard-drive, click here to download a patch.

Instructions for downloading and installing the patch:

1)Click here to download the patch: vangogh.zip

2)Use WinZip to extract the file called vangogh.exe

3)Locate the program folder for the Van Gogh CD-ROM application (by default, this is called vanGoghBrowser).

4)Inside this folder is the main application folder with the same name (vangoghbrowser)

5)Copy the file vanGogh.exe into this program directory (.../vanGoghBrowser/vangoghbrowser/...), overwriting the current version of vangogh.exe.

Important:  Do not copy the vangogh.exe file into the first vanGoghBrowser folder, copy it into the second one.

Msstdfmt.dll error message

Symptom

At startup the application reports that MSSTDFMT.DLL is missing (even when it is there).

Cause

This is a bug in the application caused by compatibility issues with Windows XP.

Solution

If you have installed the CD-ROM to your hard-drive, click here to download a patch.

Instructions for downloading and installing the patch:

1)Click here to download the patch: vangogh.zip

2)Use WinZip to extract the file called vangogh.exe

3)Locate the program folder for the Van Gogh CD-ROM application (by default, this is called vanGoghBrowser).

4)Inside this folder is the main application folder with the same name (vangoghbrowser)

5)Copy the file vanGogh.exe into this program directory (.../vanGoghBrowser/vangoghbrowser/...), overwriting the current version of vangogh.exe.

Important:  Do not copy the vangogh.exe file into the first vanGoghBrowser folder, copy it into the second one.

Korean, Japanese and Chinese incompatibilities

Symptom

Using Korean, Japanese and Chinese language Windows operating systems, some users are unable to view any of the images.

Cause

This is due to an inconsistency in this specific port of the Microsoft Windows OS series.

Solution

If you have installed the CD-ROM to your hard-drive, click here to download a patch.

Instructions for downloading and installing the patch:

1)Click here to download the patch: vangogh.zip

2)Use WinZip to extract the file called vangogh.exe

3)Locate the program folder for the Van Gogh CD-ROM application (by default, this is called vanGoghBrowser).

4)Inside this folder is the main application folder with the same name (vangoghbrowser)

5)Copy the file vanGogh.exe into this program directory (.../vanGoghBrowser/vangoghbrowser/...), overwriting the current version of vangogh.exe.

Important:  Do not copy the vangogh.exe file into the first vanGoghBrowser folder, copy it into the second one.