Spore Creature creator (trial), installing it

from GalCiv2 Forums
I've got a ridiculous problem.
I download Spore CC (trial version) few times, then at last the installer works. Downloaded it from official finnish spore site (i live in Finland) and the game's in finnish. Despite that i'm finnish, i hate games in finnish (i read all my books in english too) so i uninstall it. Now the real problem starts. I start DLing the frigging installer from diffenrent sites. Official UK, US and finnish Spore sites, and other dowloading sites. Problem is that no installer works (not even the one from finnish Spore site... and that one worked once.) I've already deleted the original working installer (in hindsight, stupid thing to do, i've got some 140GB space...)
The installers either don't start and may or may not give error message.
Some copies do start but they state that sound.cab (or something like that) doesn't match with the one with installer (or something like that, the installer (when it works) is always in finnish (finnish Vista) no matter the file's source, i can't translate the text to english really) and the device the file is located may be damaged.
This is strange. The laptop works otherwise fine and other programs install ok (Soldat zip didn't, second try di so that was zip corruption apprently)
Defragging says that HD is fine and doesn't need defragging (i might defrag it anyway just to be sure) and scandisk didn't find any problems.  No viruses.
I used Firefox 2 and 3 to download the files and even IE(7? or 8? dunno, whichever came with Vista) and i ran  the file from bot C and D drives, no avail.

Posted this here as this was only forum i'm logged in currently, and somehow i don't believe i'd get any real help from EA support... nor fast.

76,486 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
I think I read that they have region stuff built into the frigging demo. The joys of going legit eh?
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
...So only finnish version works on finnish Vista? Ok... but that doesn't explain why the finnish installer worked fine once and now it complains HD being possibly broken.


EDIT here's the error message translated (hopefully)

CRC-error File C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\SPORE\sporebin\SporeCreatureCreator.exe (sometimes it's \Data\CSA_Audio.package) doesn't match to installer's .cab file. The storage media may be damaged. Contact the program's provider.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
That makes me think corrupted cab file, but with EA who knows. They might have overwritten your installer with another regions version.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
*Shrugs* I've download the installer from about 6 different sites.... fails every time, either due the CRC error or the installer just doesn't start.

I'll forward this to EA... but i have a feeling their answer is: "you'r computer's broken" after waiting two weeks.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
*Shrugs* I've download the installer from about 6 different sites.... fails every time, either due the CRC error or the installer just doesn't start.I'll forward this to EA... but i have a feeling their answer is: "you'r computer's broken" after waiting two weeks.


HOLD UP THERE ozo.

They have to lose your e-mail address first. ha! X-(
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
LOL.... You mean i send the message and i don't get a response till 2020 as they lost my Email? Did something like this happen to you?
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Are you forgetting that it has Securom? And phones home? If that doesn't turn you off, I'd look for a torrent of it (hey, it's technically legal if it's freely distributed), and check that version as well.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
Make sure that it is completely uninstalled by using some third party uninstaller perhaps? None come to mind right now... sorry. But it's just an idea... or just look in your Add/Remove program list to make sure it's completely gone... that includes any secure rom crap that might be installed on your comp.

Just grasping at straws here...  :NOTSURE: 
Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It was JUST A TRIAL. So why'd it have securom stuff etc?
Still... maybe registry cleaning and using third party program isn't a bad idea.
Reply #10 from PolMach Forums Top
From my understanding, Securom is really too bad. Its still something on your computer you wish wasn't there, but it doesn't effect anything except Securom games from my understanding. Don't trust be 100% on this though.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
Before you go doing something crazy, like removing SecuRom. Make sure you don't need it. :)

If you've already had it and didn't know, removing it will disable all your other games that use it.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I still don't get it.. does the trial version include securom or something like that?
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Duh... i contacted EA support few days ago by email (4 days?)... no answer. And the answer hasn't gone to spam file so they haven't bothered.
Last trick i have is to download the file to the other computer and copy the file to my MP3(I don't have USB stick but MP3 works as one fine) and install Spore from it.
When i find it. I dunno where it is, and it's pretty small after all...
If that doesn't work, i dunno what i'll do. My computer's fine, only Spore CC installer doesn't work. EA doesn't answer and i'm not going to send email to them again, they don't care wether things work or not as long as their products are bought (and this is only trial, they're going to lose a would-be customer)...
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Apparently reason's that my computer's registry is a bit damaged or something. Flash player gave error number and Adobe support page stated that the error could be due damaged registry.
If one doesn't install right due registery, isn't it logical that other neither due same problem?
So how do i fix possible errors in Windows Vista registry?
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
Find a good third party registry fixer for Vista.
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
reinstall EVERYTHING

that always works for me :P


ya ozo


you sure you got the VISTA version of SPORE CCtrial?

i've had + got the trial + full SPORE CC and it warned me theres a few different downloads
1 for Vista, 1 for XP (myn) 1 for Linux... maybe more.. but dont remeber that one...


@ frostmage
i have no idea what a third registry fixer etc. is or how to get it so i'll assume OZO doesnt either (if he does then i didnt say anything)
so might explain some more about it...
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I dunno any registry fixers.
As Spore Trial, is there truly different versions for Vista and XP? There's no choice, only DL link.
It's possible that some of the downloaded installers were for Vista as they started but gave error for some files and some of the installers didn't even start... just gave some sort message or didn't start at all.
Oh and i can't reinstall Vista (if you mean Spore i did uninstall it but second time i tried to install didn't work) as it's OEM (right? The version that's installed at factory?) version, no install CDs or cd-key here...
Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
Ummmm ... if you have Google, you can find these kind of things in no time. I just typed in 'Vista + registry fix' and I got a ton of hits.

Here's the link: http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=SUNA,SUNA:2006-20,SUNA:en&q=Vista+%2b+registry+fix

good luck :)
Reply #19 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Ty but i tried the first link and DL the program. Run installation... dang, same error message as in Spore trial..... So if the problems are caused by registry, i'm in deep shit here if i can't even run repair program's installation

EDIT other one worked, a trial version, let's hope it fixes stuff..

EDIT 2 What i'm gonna do if no registry error are found?

EDIT 3 RegFixMantra didn't find any problems... it's a trial but... i'm in deep shit here... I really wish i don't have to send it to maintenance...

EDIT 4 another program found errors, let's hope that fixes this.

EDIT 5 lovely... the program refuses to fix stuff as it's shareware....
Sooo.... i ask, does anyone know free registry scanner and repairer? I can google for 'em but my luck doesn't hold when it comes to google.

EDIT 6 found Eusing Free Registry Cleaner, testing now...

EDIT 7 i noticed that using "EDIT" make's post look ridiculous.

EDIT 8 Scanned and fixed with EFRC... testing Spore installer now.

EDIT 9 How do you make a middle finger ASCII art? I want to send one to EA. Registry fixer "fixed" registry only partially, the Spore installer still doesn't work, EA doesn't reply to email. If the HD is damaged (strange that many things work normally, like StarCraft install and the game itself) then i'm in really deep shit and very pissed off.
Reply #20 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
This is an outrage... i contacted EA support.. no reply.. until today...
The frigging reply was just a question wether i'd like to participate customer service survey. I cannot believe this... Hate EA and i curse them because they own such great games like C&C series and Bioware's Mass Effect.
It seems that i'm not going to buy Spore.
Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top
Sorry to hear the registry fix didn't work. I'm affraid I'm at a loss ozo.
I wouldn't bother with this piece of crap software anymore. Sorry.
Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top
T_T

hope you do understand that spore = going to be THE best sim EVUR, and besides... Will Wright made it / supports it etc.

it happens alot tough, technical support not responding, or if they cant find a solution not replying any more
saw this happenning alot @ EA tech support (so far 3 problems, 2 of em are yet to be fixed.. no more replies after i wrote something like

"i followed all the steps, none of them worked, what now?"


i'm pretty sure tough Spore wil have a big community, like here on the sins forum you dont need tech support to fix a problem, just ask the friendly posters ;)

at the moment theres alot of small community's (they keep changing sites etc. so i lost track)

so my opinion.. dont bother yourself about the tech support not responding, write a final note about this being the #'th time you asked for support and stil l nobody cares in aiding you. explain you expected more from EA etc.etc.

then just leave it be, if they respond.. (YAY the asses finaly responded) if they dont then leave em be, try to solve it your own way, either making it public on any Spore forums, find a "pirate" site (those guys arent so bad) they'll mostly have a fix for a problem where the actual devs dont bother looking


one of the last things you can try = using the system recovery option, it allows you to reset your system to a specific date (it makes one of these saves automaticly every so often, everything wich got onto the PC after the save wil be deleted "you can undo the recovery even after some time tough"


it's not much, just found out this option.. helped me fix some weird issue on a file being used by a "ghost" program, so reset to a few days ago (didnt make any new files since then)



ok thats all... im in a hurry so plz dont mind the grammer :P
Reply #23 from PolMach Forums Top
EDIT 9 How do you make a middle finger ASCII art? I want to send one to EA. Registry fixer "fixed" registry only partially, the Spore installer still doesn't work, EA doesn't reply to email. If the HD is damaged (strange that many things work normally, like StarCraft install and the game itself) then i'm in really deep shit and very pissed off.


oo^oo
Reply #24 from PolMach Forums Top

This may be 2 years late reply but here's how to fix your problem.(i made this user to post this and probably wont use this forum place again.)

http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/spore-technical-support/335462-i-cant-uninstall-spore-creature-creator.html