Windows XP
Trying to install Stradock LogonStudio
Just before 100% installation complete, error stating "explorer.exe is not a valid win32 application" and the program does not install. Tried many times, but same error again and again.

Has happened earlier too, but does not happen with all program installations... please help! I have not been able to install some useful software because of this error....

Is everything else ok with the computer? Some replies to the issue state either a faulty install disk & or virus problems. But there are many different scenerios.

Is this the only error you get?

Look in your Event viewer: rt. click My Computer then click Manage then Event Viewer.
Or: Administrative Tools/Event Viewer or Start/Run/ eventvwr
Open the system as well as the application tabs & look for X errors. Click error line for details.
Post back the source & event id especially of errors that seem to coincide with an install attempt.

Have you checked the problematic program via start/all programs/accessories/program compatibility wizard?

Also:

Games: Error Message: Not a Valid Win32 Application


Error message when you install or start an MS-DOS or 16-bit Windows-based program


stardock.desktopx

http://www.stardock.com/support.asp

Yup, that's that's the only error I get.
I checked the event viewer error log - there are no errors listed related to the explorer.exe error... surprisingly enough when I went to the control panel to check the add/remove programs list, the Stardock thing was installed! But ofcourse it doe snot run - the folders are installed, but the program does not run... ObjectDesktop and LogonStudio....
The only explanation that fits is that the installation files must be corrupt..

You probably need to uninstall it & try again. Here is a pretty thorough guide:

Uninstall Programs Manually

Just because Windows XP has the Add/Remove Programs feature it doesn't mean your application will appear in the list. Furthermore, even if it does appear, it's no guarantee that the uninstall feature will work. When you run across one of these situations the items listed below will help in getting rid of the application. Be aware that these steps may not remove everything associated with the application and can impact other applications on the computer. Have a backup or restore point and use caution.

*

Find the directory for the application and delete all the files in the directory. Delete the directory.
*

Open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.
*

Open regedit and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.
*

To remove the application entry from Add/Remove Programs (if present) open regedit and navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\Uninstall and find the folder for the application. Delete the folder.
*

Some applications have Services attached to them. If this is the case, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es, locate and delete the service.
*

In Windows Explorer, navigate to the individual user settings and delete program references. Common places to check would be:

C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs and delete relevant entries.
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and delete relevant entries.
C:\Documents and Settings\%YourUserID%\Start Menu\Programs and delete relevant entries.
[Do this for each User ID listed]
C:\Documents and Settings\%YourUserID%\Start Menu\Programs\Startup and delete relevant entries.
[Do this for each User ID listed]

If no entries were found in the previous step and the application launches automatically, navigate to
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
and delete the entry.