.Net Framework 1.1 Problem Solved

So I encountered an annoying technical problem. I was logging onto Lord of the Rings Online on Zephyr (my desktop computer) earlier this week, and got an error message saying that some .tmp file crashed. I closed the error message and the launcher still started up just fine, so I just got into the game and figured I'd solve the problem later. 

Upon getting into the game, for some reason the textures looked horrible. I went into the graphics options and no matter what setting I changed things to, nothing would change. Just a flash of the screen, and same pixelated appearance. Immediately I pointed the blame at that error message. There's no way I'm playing this game on my high-end awesome computer in anything less than HD textures, so I quit the game to solve the problem.

After turning the game launcher off and on again (the first step to many solutions), I recreated the error message. It appeared to point to Microsoft .Net Framework 1.1. I figured what the heck, that's a quick reinstall fix. I removed .Net Framework in preparation for reinstall it, but as I was reinstalling it it explained that there were known compatibility issues with the program. Wtf, Microsoft? You seriously can't make this easy by just making it compatible? .Net Framework 1.1 is still being used by many programs today. One of them being Lord of the Rings Online. A popular MMORPG with MILLIONS OF PLAYERS.

So .Net Framework seemed to install just fine, but its Service Pack 1 crashed upon install with the same error message I got from the lotro launcher. I think I found the source of the problem, don't you? I tried reinstalling it in compatibility mode for Windows XP. That did nothing, as expected.

After an hour of Googling around while reinstalling lotro as a (failed) experiment, I found many many useless forum posts and solutions that didn't work. Some of which involved deleting registry keys that did not appear to me to be the problem, so I didn't even try them. Incidentally, DO NOT delete registry keys without knowing what they do. My eventual solution worked fine without any alteration of the registry.

So now here we are today, about 4 days later, and I finally worked my way toward finding a solution again. I stumbled upon some Microsoft blog posts that helped me find the following solution.

The solution is to create an msi package via command prompt that will install a streamlined and fully compatible version of .Net Framework 1.1 based on your downloaded installation files. Here are step by step instructions on how to do this:

1. Download .Net Framework 1.1 and .Net Framework 1.1 SP1. Make sure .Net Framework 1.1 is named dotnetfx.exe, and .Net Framework 1.1 SP1 is named dotnetfxsp1.exe.

2. Open your start menu and type cmd. Right-click on cmd.exe and click run as administrator.

3. In the command prompt, type cd.. and press enter. Repeat that until you get to the root C:\> directory.

4. Type MD C:\DotNet and press enter, then type cd DotNet.

5. Now, outside of the command prompt, move the two .Net Framework installation files into the DotNet folder, located on the root of your C drive.

6. Now go back to the command prompt and type 
dotnetfx.exe /c:"msiexec.exe /a netfx.msi TARGETDIR=C:\DotNet"
and press enter.

7. Click okay to install the .Net Framework 1.1 and proceed through the installation as normal. If anything prompts you about compatibility issues, just continue the installation.

8. Once the installation is finished, go back to the command prompt and type
dotnetfxsp1.exe /Xp:C:\DotNet\netfxsp.msp 
and press enter.

9. Wait a few seconds, then type
msiexec.exe /a c:\DotNet\netfx.msi /p c:\DotNet\netfx.msp 
and press enter. If anything pops up, just click "ok" and move on.

10. Close the command prompt and go to the DotNet folder, located on your C drive.

11. Open netfx.msi (the customized compatibility installation file that you just created) and it will install a streamlined version of .Net Framework 1.1 which includes the Service Pack 1.

12. Wait for the installation to finish, then you're done.

Another problem solved. That was such a pain in the butt to have to go through for something that should be compatible in the first place.

Ideas and Passion

I just got to thinking about how many great thoughts - ideas - are out there in the world today, and how few of them are being implemented past the thought stage. How many dreams people have, but they lack the drive, motivation, passion to execute any of their ideas. Due to lack of money, lack of time, there are a number of factors.

I think that if these ideas were all released on a whim and all people were completely free to make their dreams come to life without worrying about having the motivation to go through with it or having enough money, or not being accepted, the world would be an extremely chaotic place, but it would also be extremely interesting. There would be a whole new level of creativity that would spark new ideas in those who hadn't considered their own creativity before.

I believe that if you have an invention idea, a concept idea, something you want to accomplish - a new way of doing things - if it's within your capability to think it up, as long as it doesn't defy the laws of science, it's certainly possible for you to accomplish one way or another.

If you have the passion to push through adversity to make your idea(s) come to life, don't ever let that passion go. When combined with great thoughts, passion has an incredible power to change entire civilizations. 


"Everything great that has ever happened to humanity, since the beginning, has begun as a single thought in someone's mind. And if any one of us is capable of such a great thought, then all of us have the same capacity, capability, because we are all the same." -Yanni

If you feel passionate about something, don't ignore it. Embrace it, cherish it, and nurture it. There's certainly a place for it somewhere in this world, and you were clearly meant to explore it. Find others with the same passion. You will not only become happier as a person for following your dreams and interests, but you will learn much about yourself, and the world, along the way.